Leading UAE-based facilities management (FM) company Farnek said its key unit Hitek is set to start an initial pilot programme in Bank of Khartoum branches in the Sudanese capital. 

 

Headquartered in Khartoum, BOK is the largest and oldest bank in Sudan managing assets worth $2 billion. UAE-based Dubai Islamic Bank has a 60% stake in the group.

 

Working with Hitek’s Khartoum-based partner, TAD FM, the pilot will start at BOK’s branches in Khartoum East Sector. Initially, to complete the pilot project, the bank has ordered five CAFMTek licences and will install eight IOTek sensors to monitor footfall, temperature, vibration and voltage.

 

Once the pilot is completed and if successful, it will be rolled out across BOK’s 140 branches to help digitalise and integrate all of their facility operations, it stated.

 

These state-of-the-art connected, automated and intelligent FM solutions complement a leaner and more sustainable operational process, improving productivity, lowering costs and reducing energy consumption. 

 

The solution digitalises, connects and automates facilities management, using innovative technologies that integrate people, process, assets and facilities logically and seamlessly.

 

One unique feature is Hitek’s WhatsApp AI Chatbot, which provides connectivity to onsite project teams wherever they are, through an integrated mobile CAFM, streamlining service requests and once complete an automated closure notification. 

 

This provides real-time visibility across various services and can also monitor, escalate and report dynamically through mobility, web portal and automated email reports.

 

On the project, Hitek MD Javeria Aijaz said: "This landmark project will digitalise BOK’s conventional FM, into smart, sustainable and secure digital facility operations, monitoring and controlling their assets as well the performance of their FM teams."

 

"With a centralised and dynamic AI dashboard, our cloud-based solution will provide continuous management and transparency for BOK’s operations, across all 140 sites," he added.

 

“Given Sudan’s geography, Hitek's mobility solution will make BOK’s operations more cost-efficient and sustainable. Their unique WhatsApp Chatbot will make it simple to submit and automate support requests,” said Mohamed Abdelhamied - CEO TAD.

 

"Whether it’s service requests, audits, or management reporting, the mobile solution ensures technicians and supervisors can communicate with each other in real time, efficiently and effectively," he added.