CapitaLand gears up for tenants’ return to its business parks and offices in Singapore with digital solutions and tech innovations
- CapitaStar@Work app for seamless contact tracing within tenant premises and feedback on building facilities including tech innovations
- Bulk procurement of sanitisation services, thermal scanners and digital devices for economies of scale
- Islandwide flex spaces to support tenants’ evolving workspace needs
Singapore, 25 June 2020 – With Singapore’s safe reopening underway, CapitaLand is working collaboratively with its ecosystem partners to safeguard the workspace community at its business parks and offices against COVID-19. It is proactively leveraging the Group’s digital platforms such as CapitaStar@Work and Capita3Eats, and harnessing tech innovations such as contactless technologies, to help tenants adapt to the post-COVID-19 new normal.
Mr Tan Yew Chin, CEO, Business Park & Commercial, CapitaLand Singapore, Malaysia & Indonesia, said: “Keeping COVID-19 at bay is not a once-off endeavour but an ongoing collaborative effort between CapitaLand and our tenants. Given CapitaLand’s portfolio size and digital capabilities as a real estate developer, owner and operator, we are uniquely positioned to extend technology solutions and value-added services into tenants’ work premises with better seamlessness and economies of scale than if the tenants were to do it on their own. These include visitor and staff registration, contact tracing and office capacity management through our CapitaStar@Work app, as well as aggregating demand for reopening services such as workplace and equipment sanitisation. The F&B tenants in our business parks and offices can also speed up their digital transformation by tapping the Group’s newest online food ordering platform, Capita3Eats.”
Mr Tan added: “Even before the onset of COVID-19, CapitaLand has been reviewing and conducting building drills with our tenants to handle pandemic situations. We have also been piloting and deploying contactless and other technologies such as facial recognition and UV disinfecting devices in our building mechanical and electrical systems. Entering Phase 2, we continue to actively co-opt tenants and service providers to create a cleaner and safer environment to deal with the unique circumstances posed by COVID-19. For example, tenants’ input on their workforce arrangements, including staggered working hours and lunch breaks, serves as critical feedback to help us plan and manage traffic flow during peak periods. As tenants reorganise their workforce to meet new business continuity or safe distancing requirements, we are also able to support their search for alternative sites by leveraging CapitaLand’s extensive portfolio of business park and office properties across major hubs in Singapore and through our various flexible workspace options – Bridge+, The Workshop, The Work Project and CoSpace Park.”
"Given CapitaLand’s portfolio size and digital capabilities as a real estate developer, owner and operator, we are uniquely positioned to extend technology solutions and value-added services into tenants’ work premises with better seamlessness and economies of scale than if the tenants were to do it on their own."
Digital solutions and tenant services to support safe reopening
CapitaLand has curated a suite of value-added services and digital solutions to support tenants gearing up to return to their premises. Given the scale of its network, CapitaLand is able to offer its business park and office tenants attractive rates for the bulk purchase of work area sanitisation services, thermal scanners and workplace sensors.
Tenants may also utilise the new features on CapitaStar@Work app for staff and visitor contact tracing within their premises, with near real-time data retrieval and analyses. The app will also allow companies to conduct pre-check-in of staff for up to five days in advance. Tenants will be able to track the number of employees expected to turn up at the office, effectively gauging staff load. CapitaStar@Work will also allow businesses to conduct health and wellness surveys customised for their staff.
As F&B tenants transform their businesses to cater to more takeaway and delivery orders, CapitaLand is onboarding over 60 tenants from its business parks and office properties to the Group’s new food ordering platform, Capita3Eats. Working professionals in the vicinity can conveniently choose between dine-in food orders, takeaways or food deliveries from these F&B tenants.
CapitaLand has converted Capital Tower’s Level 9 flexible event space into a temporary workspace for companies to lease on a short-term basis. Organisations under split team arrangements may rent these flex spaces at competitive prices with no minimum contract. Companies can also choose from CapitaLand’s existing suite of flexible workplace solutions provided by Bridge+ and The Workshop, or through its partners CoSpace Park and The Work Project located in the CBD, fringe CBD and the western region of Singapore. These workspaces are equipped to protect the health and safety of the members and visitors through varying measures, providing comfort, ease of use and convenience.
Tech innovations to enhance cleanliness and hygiene
Various disinfection technology and systems are currently on trial at selected CapitaLand properties, and tenants’ feedback via CapitaStar@Work will be taken into consideration before these innovations are introduced more widely. For instance, an automated Ultra UV handrail disinfection device is being tested at Capital Tower and Galaxis. Built into the system to prevent users from being exposed to the UV light, the device continuously disinfects the handrail when the escalator is in use.
An air decontamination system is being piloted in lift cars to eliminate air-borne and surface microorganisms such as virus and bacteria. Air Handling Units at selected properties are also fitted with UV lamp systems to eliminate microorganisms and purify the air entering the office premises.
To enhance contactless access and reduce touch points, properties such as 79 Robinson Road, Ascent, Capital Tower, Funan’s office blocks, Galaxis and One@Changi have deployed facial recognition or QR activated turnstiles to facilitate seamless and secure access in and out of the buildings.
Protective acrylic screens have been installed at a concierge and tenant service centre to safeguard visitors and staff during face-to-face interactions. Manual water taps at some property common areas have also been replaced with sensor operated taps.
Ongoing cleaning and precautionary measures
CapitaLand has implemented thorough cleaning and disinfection procedures at its business parks and offices across Singapore. These include increasing the sanitisation frequency of common areas such as washrooms, escalators and other high-contact surface areas. Sanitiser dispensers are available at entrances and lobby lift landings. Building facilities such as air-conditioning systems, cooling towers, water tanks and pipes will also undergo regular purging and flushing to ensure good air and water quality. An anti-microbial coating will also be applied at the high contact points such as lift buttons, door handles at building entrances and toilet doors of all CapitaLand business park and office properties.
In accordance with guidance from the authorities, temperature screening of all visitors and employees at the point of entry will continue. Building-level contact tracing using SafeEntry will apply and mask wearing is compulsory.