There are several dynamics at play within the corporate design workplace industry. From your perspective, which has been the most disruptive trend?
Hari: If I look back across my career in terms of what has been the most impactful and disruptive, I would put sustainability at the top of the list. It started long ago, initially focused on green trends—earning green points, reducing power consumption, and so on. Over time, we shifted gears within the same domain to focus on climate change and carbon footprints. Now, I don’t see any projects or clients who aren’t talking about carbon credits. Most of us know that carbon credits are critical at this point to reduce climate change. So, I would say sustainability is the most impactful and necessary trend today.
Q: The Fortune 500 companies often talk about sustainability, but what is the ground reality? What challenges do you see, and how have you addressed them?
Hari: Almost all of the clients we work with want to contribute to this domain. Most of them want to scientifically establish that they are doing something towards sustainability. Nearly all organizations have set a net-zero goal. At Cybils, we have also set a net-zero goal, declaring that by 2030, our operations will be net zero. Almost every organization we work with has mandated this, and many have declared when they plan to achieve net zero across their operations. It has become a key focus, not just for the organizations but for the employees too. Employees want to know what their company is doing to address climate change because they recognize its urgency. I’ve even sat in HR sessions where HR departments are pushing clients to take action, as it helps in attracting talent. This issue is now at the top of the agenda for CEOs.
Q: What are some innovations or technological changes that Savills has embraced?
Hari: There are a lot of products and systems available, and most clients and architects have adopted them. At Cybils, we go beyond just adopting high-level items common across the industry. We also focus on grassroots-level execution—how our engineers can contribute to improving sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint. We run internal competitions across the country for our employees, encouraging them to come up with innovative ideas to make even small improvements in their work on-site.
One simple yet effective example is from a site where engineers implemented a system to switch off construction lights during the daytime. Typically, construction sites leave the lights on all day, but our teams introduced switches to turn them off when not needed. This simple idea led to a massive reduction in carbon footprint. We calculated that this has saved the equivalent of around 22,000 trees. These small steps add up, and we encourage such initiatives by recognizing employees with awards, which motivates them to keep thinking innovatively.
Q: We’d also like to know about your experience working with dormakaba. What are your thoughts on their product portfolio and services?
Hari: Dormakaba is a brand that is involved in almost all the verticals of a project, from interiors to security systems, and they offer a wide range of products. While I can’t comment on the technical details of their products, I can speak to their service excellence. Throughout my career, they’ve been very supportive. Their India team, including senior leadership, is very approachable. There have been instances where issues arose that involved costs beyond the authorization level of the city or regional teams, but we were able to reach out to senior leadership directly, and they were responsive and supportive. Even though their products are supplied by GCC contractors, they don’t hesitate to extend support when needed. Technically, their products are on par with others in the market, but their level of service truly sets them apart.