How Arada is building a smarter, more scalable facilities management model
The vision for Arada has always extended beyond development with the goal being to create fully integrated, lifestyle-driven communities where people can live, work, learn, and interact within a single ecosystem.
Delivering on that vision requires more than strong design and construction. It depends on how every asset is maintained, how quickly issues are resolved, and how consistently the experience is delivered across thousands of units and multiple asset classes.
As Arada’s portfolio grew, so did the complexity of managing it. Sustaining long-term asset value across multiple developments and asset classes requires a level of control, visibility and performance that demands the right platform behind it.
Building a unified operations model
Arada made a key business decision to centralise facilities management (FM) within MRI Software’s, cloud-based solution — one where all vendors operate using the same system and data environment.
A key part of this model is ownership. Rather than relying on vendor-owned systems, Arada holds the licences and controls the data, ensuring that operational information remains consistent, accessible and independent of any single service provider.
Our approach is different by design: we provide the licences to our vendors, which means all the data and work stays with us — not tied to any single provider.
– Sameer Kulkarni, Chief Community Officer, Arada
From activity tracking to informed decision-making
With all activities captured, categorised and tracked through MRI’s facilities management solution, Arada now has clear visibility into recurring issues, performance trends and root causes — enabling teams to act on patterns rather than react to symptoms.
The impact extends beyond operations. By identifying issues early, Arada can make proactive adjustments to materials, maintenance strategies and processes, reducing unnecessary spend and improving long-term asset performance.
Vendor performance is measured accordingly — not by volume of activity, but by outcomes, assessed through structured KPIs covering asset condition, safety, cleaning standards, administration and overall management quality.
Accountability that works at every level
A key priority for Arada was ensuring that performance management was both transparent and fair. Using information brought together through MRI’s FM solution, monthly evaluations combine service request resolution data, audit results and on-site inspections to create a clear, evidence-based view of performance that reduces subjectivity and supports consistent decision-making.
The model is designed to be balanced. High-performing vendors are recognised through ratings and future contract opportunities, while sustained performance improvements can also lead to financial rewards, particularly in areas such as energy efficiency.
Efficiency that keeps pace with growth
Arada delivers approximately 4,000 new units each year across a multi-asset portfolio, with a long-term objective of maintaining high standards while managing operational costs. Centralised data, improved visibility and better decision-making directly support this.
The platform also enables a more specialised vendor model, where services are delivered by expert providers in defined areas rather than bundled into a single contract — improving service quality while reducing cost layers across the value chain.
Built for how the work actually gets done
For Arada, facilities management is a highly operational, on-the-ground function. The role of technology is to equip teams with the tools and information they need to perform — wherever they are.
Mobility and ease of use were non-negotiable. Teams can access MRI’s FM solution in the field, reducing manual reporting and eliminating fragmented communication channels.
In our business, everything happens on the ground. The system has to be simple, mobile and usable by everyone. That is what makes it work.
– Sameer Kulkarni, Chief Community Officer, Arada
A foundation for long-term asset value
At its core, Arada’s approach rests on a clear principle: the value of a community is directly linked to how well it is maintained and experienced over time.
By combining a centralised platform, data-led decision-making and a performance-driven vendor model, Arada has built a facilities management strategy that supports both immediate operational efficiency and long-term value creation — one that scales as the portfolio grows.