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Graphic with text "Go digital with society ERP"

apnacomplexnitin
June 13, 2022

What is Society ERP and Why do You Need it?

Housing complexes today offer facilities and amenities that can range from strict security to facilities like clubhouse, play areas, and maintenance services. While these amenities can add substantially to the quality of life for every resident, their management can often be quite challenging. Other than handling periodic or annual tasks, it can also involve the day-to-day minutiae, from tracking inventory to vendor expenses. These challenges can be further compounded in a large complex.

Society ERP solutions have emerged as an efficient and cost-effective means of ensuring end-to-end management of residential complexes. As a digital solution, it enables resident organisations to significantly improve their efficiency while cutting down on costs.

What is society ERP?

ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning. In the context of residential societies, ERP is a software that automates various functions, strengthens internal control while offering invaluable insights by drawing on a wide database. Today, society ERP solutions encompass all functions, from automated accounting and billing to visitor entry, asset and facility management.

ApnaComplex offers a comprehensive society ERP with a host of features for end-to-end automation of various functions while offering residential complexes different avenues to track and measure their performance.

Why do you need society ERP?

ApnaComplex society ERP is specially designed to assist the functioning of residential complexes. When taken together, it can offer resident organisations far-reaching benefits that go far beyond financial benefits.

Budget optimisation: You can track your expenses, while automating billing and collections with ApnaComplex smart budgeting tools. Key features like automated budget variance report, expense tracking, and bookkeeping services allow one to trace every expenditure and pinpoint where actual expenses have overshot the planned outlay.

Optimal resource allocation: At its core, ERP is designed to improve resource utilisation. The automation of functions like visitor management and invoice collections remove many tedious and repetitive tasks while ensuring better quality control.

Asset management: One of the challenges of managing a medium or large-scale residential complex lies in ensuring optimal asset performance. It can include manifold issues, from ensuring flawless performance to tracking their depreciation over time. These assets include lifts, electrical fittings, fire equipment, and borewells. With ApnaComplex, one can track asset performance, maintain service history and AMC details, automate a maintenance schedule, and receive timely notifications whenever service is due. The software also allows inventory tracking so that the management can keep a tab of inventory purchase and consumption.

Facility management: The usage of facilities like gym, swimming pool, or playing areas can get complicated in a large society where multiple people may want access at the same time. ApnaComplex Facility Management feature offer app-based reservation along with timely communication on usage rules, charges, and booking limitations.

Enhance security: The Visitor Management System in ApnaComplex enhances security by ensuring that only authorised guests can gain entry. Residents can also pre-authorise guests and deliveries. For in-premises security, the platform leverages Guard Patrol Tracking, a feature that is designed to trace the movement of guards through a self-check-in mechanism.

Speedy complaint redressal: Residents can raise complaints regarding their flats or for common areas through the app or the website. To ensure timely resolution, the platform offers multi-level escalation matrices to ensure that unresolved issues are bumped to the next level.

Resident satisfaction: Ultimately, the platform is designed to enhance resident satisfaction by automating various functions, such as billing and collections, thus ensuring efficient administration. Real-time notifications inform them of guest entry, school bus arrivals, and other such key notices. The ApnaComplex communication platform allows residents to connect with others, find like-minded people, and seek help or information when needed.

With its holistic digital and automation support, ApnaComplex has emerged as India’s leading ERP solution. It enables residential societies to gain invaluable insight into the performance of their assets, facilities, and other crucial resources. As a digital platform ApnaComplex also offers a comprehensive database that is free of any bias or error.

If you want to learn more about our ERP solutions, get in touch with us at support@apnacomeplex. Our team will help you understand the various features you can use to optimise your resource allocation!

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Text saying, "Rainwater Harvesting: Common mistakes' on the background of an overflowing drain

apnacomplexnitin
June 10, 2022

Is your Rainwater Harvesting Falling Short? Here’s Why

The impending water crisis in our urban areas has led to the urgent demand for holistic solutions like rainwater harvesting (RWH). As RWH becomes legally mandatory for large and mid-sized residential complexes in an increasing number of cities, many Resident Welfare Associations and apartment Management Committees have taken wholeheartedly to the challenge, setting up RWH structures to maximise their groundwater recharging capabilities.

Unfortunately, good intentions do not always guarantee exemplary solutions. Many societies today find themselves let down by outdated RWH designs. Their water dependence on external sources shows no signs of diminishing even as their borewells run dry. Given this crisis, we must take a look at our goals for RWH and evaluate current practices to understand where we may be falling short.

Why do we need Rainwater Harvesting?

Rainwater harvesting is one of the most traditional means of water storage. It was a means to store excess rainwater to prepare for leaner times. Even in the arid regions of Rajasthan, traditional RWH methods were instrumental in providing local communities with sufficient water during long dry spells. But the main purpose of RWH is to replenish groundwater. In fact, the reason for mandating RWH in urban areas is to recharge the declining levels of groundwater in India.

It becomes even more critical when we consider the alarming depletion in groundwater levels across the country. As per CWMI (Composite Water Management Index), groundwater has been declining by 10-25 mm a year between 2002 and 2016. 54% of the groundwater wells are at severely reduced levels. By 2030, 40% of the population is expected to lose access to drinking water.

Housing complexes in cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, and the NCR region are well acquainted with this reality as their borewells have dried up. Most societies rely on tankers to meet their water requirements. RWH offers a holistic solution that aims to replenish the groundwater. In time, it should resolve issues of drying borewells, helping a housing society to gain water independence.

What’s wrong with your RWH?

Unfortunately, most of the RWH structures used by large or mid-sized societies do not meet the mark as evidenced by their continued dependence on outside sources of water. Many housing societies have reported increasing reliance on tankers even after installing RWH systems. While this may lead us to fault the concept of RWH, the truth probably lies in a faulty design. Most RWH structures are based on outdated designs that may not meet the requirements of a society, are cumbersome to manage, or are difficult to maintain. An inadequate design leads to underperformance with the structure failing to meet its goal.

Common mistakes in RWH

Some of the most common mistakes in RWH design include:

Design according to size

Very often societies tend to go with a standard one-size-fits-all without taking into account their parameters. They fail to consider the catchment area, a key criterion in designing RWH. A catchment area refers to the territory that is used to collect rainwater or drain run-off. It can be the rooftop or an open surface area. The size of the catchment and the rainfall pattern will determine its total harvesting potential and all other design parameters of the system. Accurate measurements are critical in ensuring that the system is neither underdesigned leading to loss of potential water harvest, or overdesigned which can mean unnecessarily increasing costs.

Provide for overflow or bypass

What happens when there is an overflow? It is quite common and can be caused due to excess flow or a blockage. Yet, many societies fail to factor in this contingency, leading to the wastage of the excess water which is simply allowed to drain away. It can cause flooding or the formation of a cesspool situation which may create a health hazard.

Whether it is rooftop or surface rainwater harvesting, we have to ensure provisions for an overflow. It could be for reuse from the storage tank or for bypass from the recharge pit or borewell. The overflow should be directed into the nearest stormwater drain.

Air & Water quality

The location of the society also has a role to play since it impacts the air quality. Rainwater acts as a natural filter in purifying the air, but ends up absorbing the contaminants. Hence, the water in and around highly industrialized areas can have contaminants, which will impact its quality. It is best to check the quality of the rainwater before starting.

It is equally important to test the quality of the filtered water during monsoon when the society already has an RWH setup. Most traditional designs do not have a testing or performance monitoring system and hence, it is difficult to assess their effectiveness without testing. Failing to test the quality of water can lead to complications or poor usage.

If the property size and the lay of the land complicate the RWH project, one should consider working with a company that provides custom solutions. Preference should be given to design-led companies that understand the nuances of contemporary RWH structural designs. This is critical in making a housing society or community water independent, especially where it is dependent on sub-ground water as its primary source.

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Graphic with text "Cut operational costs with ApnaComplex smart solutions'

apnacomplexnitin
June 8, 2022

How can ApnaComplex Help Reduce Society Management Costs

Managing a residential complex can be an expensive business. From staff salaries to ensuring timely repairs and maintenance, the operative costs can stack up to a fair amount. There can be hidden costs as well, such as utility bills and trash disposal charges. Prudent financial management dictates that we minimise these expenses while trying to increase our sources of income. However, this is easier said than done. The larger the society, the more the expenses. The complexity of managing a society further makes it difficult to slash costs.

Today, no management committee can tackle the financial management of a residential complex without comprehensive digitalisation. ApnaComplex offers end-to-end digital support for apartment management with an integrated ERP system to manage multiple tasks. It offers many features to improve administration, cut costs, and ensure budget optimisation.

What are the typical expenses in apartment management?

The costs incurred in managing an apartment can broadly be divided in the following categories:

Staff salaries
Inventory
Repair and maintenance
Utilities
Administrative
Taxes & insurance
New construction/furnishing

The expenses can increase with the size of the property and the extent of services. For instance, the management of large complexes will involve higher expenses on security, cleaning, and maintenance. The extent of services can also increase maintenance costs. Additional services, such as basic home maintenance can involve putting additional carpenters, electricians, and plumbers on the payroll. Similarly, facilities like swimming pools or gyms can increase the cost of maintenance.

How can ApnaComplex help in reducing costs?

As an integrated digital platform for apartment management, ApnaComplex offers multiple features that can help society treasurers to make data-driven decisions on reducing expenses. The platform offers end-to-end support that can help in cutting down staffing costs while providing valuable data on expenses and inventory. The aim here is to empower treasurers with relevant information on surplus expenses.

Inventory tracking: One of the reasons for unplanned expenses, especially in large societies, is untracked inventory. From diesel to light bulbs and even pens, inventory management requires meticulous recording and tracking of the inventory to identify any instances of overspending. ApnaComplex offers an Inventory Tracker that helps in keeping track of every inventory in the complex. It can track purchases, consumption patterns, and stock levels of each item. This can serve multiple purposes. We can study how and where different items are used, their lifespan, and when stocks dip low. This data can help us identify high consumption patterns, unaccounted inventory, and if there is an unexplained spike in expenditure.

Facility management: Part of reducing costs is to extend the lifespan of existing facilities like lifts, fire equipment, electric fittings, and borewells. The Asset Tracker feature in ApnaComplex maintains service history and AMC details to ensure that the management can carry out timely services and repairs. This helps in ensuring smooth and extended lifespan for various facilities, thus cutting down on repurchasing costs.

Overhead cost: The digital solutions by ApnaComplex ensure that while productivity and outcome remains the same, the effort and cost to sustain these are significantly reduced. By automating some of the regular functions, the platform can help in reducing overhead costs, including staffing expenses. For instance, ApnaComplex Guard Patrol Tracking is a foolproof system that digitally traces a guard’s movement, removing the necessity of in-person supervision. Similarly, as an app also frees apartment communication from legacy systems like intercoms.

Budget optimisation: ApnaComplex has extensive budgeting tools that can be instrumental in optimising expenses. One of the most powerful features in this regard is the Budget Variance Report. It analyses the difference between the budget and the actual performance. Other areas with heavy expenditure can be pinned down through Expense Tracking. Similarly, utility expenses can be tracked with Metered Utility Billing. These features can help in identifying areas that consistently exceed budgetary outlays. The management can use the data to put a cap on expenditure.

As a digital platform, ApnaComplex offers a comprehensive database that collates all information in one place. The financial data collated over time gives us an insight into the financial behaviour of the society. It can be leveraged to improve forecasts, identify areas of improvement, and plan appropriate policies.

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apnacomplexnitin
June 6, 2022

Swatchh Bharat: How Housing Committees are Working Towards cleaner Societies

The old adage of “cleanliness is next to Godliness” is one of the most important tenets in a residential complex or a gated community. Keeping a clean environment requires sustained effort and strict implementation by the management. But what makes it so important and how can a management committee ensure a clean environment within the premises? Read on to find out.

Why is cleanliness important in a gated community?

The cleanliness of a city falls under the purview of municipal corporations. However, gated communities typically manage many of their civic amenities internally, including the maintenance of clean premises. Hence, the regular cleaning and garbage handling is the management committees’ responsibility. In most societies, these tasks are handled by housekeeping staff that can include cleaners and waste handlers. In some places, gardeners or landscaping staff may also fall into this category as they are responsible for keeping lawns and garden areas clean. These tasks are critical for the following reasons:

Maintaining hygiene in the society
Keeping the premises clean and free of clutter
Ensuring an aesthetic appeal
Prolonging the lifespan of assets like railings or water/drain pipes.
Removing any chances of infestations
Keeping a clear path for movement of residents
Removing chances of fire hazard
Maintaining resale value
Uplifting the spirit of residents

Responsibilities of housekeeping staff

The housekeeping staff is essentially responsible for maintaining clean and hygienic premises. This can include:

Cleaning common areas, including walls, rugs, and furniture
Sweeping of roads and other paved areas
Cleaning pipes and drains
Dusting, wiping, or polishing of assets like lifts, furniture and other soft furnishings.
Garbage collection
Ensuring that water or other waste is not collected at any site for a prolonged period.
Sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming common areas
Undertaking minor repair and maintenance work.

How do MCs ensure a clean environment?

Ensuring clean premises requires a continuous multi-level approach by the management. It’s important here to understand that the responsibility for cleanliness does not lie with the management and cleaners alone. It is also the responsibility of each resident to follow all guidelines on littering, garbage disposal, and coordinating with the cleaning staff. The management ensures cleanliness in the complex premises through the following measures:

Regular supervision of cleaning staff to check attendance and performance
Formulating garbage collection policies to ensure proper segregation and timely collection.
Maintaining smooth coordination with municipal bodies or private vendors for timely disposal of garbage.
Carrying out timely maintenance of hardware such as pipes and floors.
Ensuring hygienic conditions by removing any garbage pile up or water accumulation.
Regularly supervise and analyse STP capability and functioning.
Plan and enforce policies on waste and recycling management.
Formulate and enforce cleanliness policies, including waste segregation and littering.

How does ApnaComplex help in maintaining cleanliness?

A key aspect of maintaining a clean society is timely communication. The implementation of cleanliness policies depends on effective and timely communication. ApnaComplex assists the residential communities in ensuring immaculate surroundings by offering residents, management committee, and the staff a common platform of communication. This can assist in the following ways.

MC can inform all residents of various policies through the ApnaComplex app.
ApnaComplex Community Wiki acts as a repository of information on various initiatives, articles, tips and newsletters
Residents can lodge complaints and suggestions.
ApnaComplex Admin Console helps in professional processing of complaints, suggestions and requests through SLA-based matrices.

ApnaComplex is India’s leading mobile and web-based platform for apartment management and accounting. It leverages a comprehensive ERP that integrates various dimensions of managing a residential complex, from managing finances, to managing data and operations. ApnaComplex is offered as a hosted solution with zero infrastructure setup by the society

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apnacomplexnitin
June 3, 2022

How Residents can Help their Elderly Neighbours

The elderly have always been valued members of every community in India. Grandparents, older neighbours, and even unknown seniors are treated with respect and deference. However, urbanisation and the growth of nuclear families have had an adverse impact on this tradition with more and more elderly now often living on their own.

The increasing isolation of the elderly becomes even more concerning when we consider their expanding population which is expected to rise by 41% in the coming decade to reach 194 mn in 2031. It means that we are likely to have more and more elderly people in our neighbourhood.

Why the elderly may need help?

In the absence of the traditional joint family, many senior citizens today are often living alone or may not have sufficient help at home. This can be both emotionally and physically challenging for older people. They are highly likely to suffer from anxiety regarding their health. Advancing age also increases the likelihood of severe cognitive impairment and mental and neurological disorders like dementia or alzheimer’s.

Physically, the aged population is the most vulnerable as the incidence of chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes increases with age. It also takes them longer to bounce back from an illness. As their overall energy and strength levels decrease with age, the ability to take up strenuous work also becomes limited.

But one of the biggest reasons why we must go out of our way to help elderly neighbours are the intangible benefits that we can gain, including wise counsel and companionship.

How can resident associations help the elderly?

Resident associations can take some simple but very effective steps to help their elderly members, such as:

Checking regularly: A small team should be assigned to regularly check on the aged population that lives alone. This should preferably be done through in-person calls since many older people may be reluctant to share their concerns to avoid burdening others. It can also go a long way in lessening their feeling of isolation.

Assign an emergency team: One of the major concerns among older people is falling severely sick where they may need urgent medical assistance. Hence, it is advisable to assign a team that can be available in an emergency. The team should have contact details of aged residents and their next of kin. They should also make themselves aware of the procedure to follow in case of a medical emergency in terms of notifying family members, calling an ambulance and keeping a tab of nearby health centres.

Ensuring safe neighbourhood: An accidental fall can have a far-reaching impact on the elderly. As bones get more brittle with time, a fracture often takes a very long time to heal, further curbing their mobility. Yet, senior citizens must stay physically active. Hence, care must be taken that walkways are properly maintained and there are no obstacles, bumps, and uneven surfaces. Avoid putting any stairs on walking routes and ensure every place can be accessed by a wheelchair. Similarly, terraces and stairs should always have handrails.

Space for rest and community: The walkways should have benches at certain intervals to allow people to take some rest on their walk. A place for elders to gather and meet their contemporaries is also extremely important as this sense of community can be vital for their mental wellbeing.

Helping with chores: Reach out frequently to the senior citizens in the society to find out if they need help with chores. This can include carrying out their grocery shopping, driving them to a meeting or religious place, or for smaller tasks around the house.

Involving in community activities: Make the effort to involve senior citizens in community activities, such as appointing them in an advisory role for community-wide events or religious functions. We can identify people with unique skills and qualifications, such as those interested in arts or gardening, and involve them in related activities.

These are just some of the small steps we can take to create a safe and friendly atmosphere for the elderly neighbour in our community. Remember, frequent visits, phone calls, and just staying constantly in touch with them will go a long way in fostering their wellbeing and happiness.

How does ApnaComplex help in creating elder-friendly societies?

As an apartment management app, ApnaComplex can help in driving elder-friendly environment in a residential complex through the following features:

Gatekeeper: With security being one of the key concerns for most senior residents, entry regulations through ApnaComplex Gatekeeper feature ensures a comprehensive security system. Residents receive real-time notifications on visitors, pre-approve entry of chosen guests or delivery personnel, and can track staff attendance.

Communication: This feature provides senior citizens an opportunity to connect with others in the community. The app contains discussion forums and groups where they can find like-minded people, seek companionship, or find useful information. It also acts as a crucial information platform through Community Wiki, Notice Board, and Document Repository.

Online Society Helpdesk: One of the main challenges for many senior residents is ensuring regular maintenance of repair of their home. Today, many housing complexes offer these services for residents. With the Online Society Helpdesk, residents can raise complaints and drop suggestions. It allows the society management to track redressal of complaints, ensuring timely resolution.

With end-to-end apartment management solutions, ApnaComplex allows resident associations to create a safe, friendly, and convenient place for elderly neighbours.

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Graphic with text "How to Improve Kids’ Play Area' with a background of a playground

apnacomplexnitin
June 2, 2022

What to Keep in Mind When Remodeling Kids’ Play Area

There are numerous reasons why children need outdoor playtime. Other than ensuring good physical health, play is also important for their mental health and in learning crucial social skills. Children find friends, learn to interact with others, and develop confidence in their physical and social skills through outdoor activities. Games also play an important role in stimulating their curiosity and their drive to work towards a goal. They get to work with others, form friendships, and learn about group dynamics. Hence, a playground is seen as an essential component in any residential area. Other than attracting families, playgrounds often double up as socialising spots for parents, grandparents, or other caretakers.

If your society has just a swing and slide for a playground, it may be time to reboot, refurbish, and improve the playing lot. Here are a few essential steps that you can follow:

Pick a good location

The play area can be situated in the middle of the complex or at any corner, but it’s critical to keep it away from any hazardous places like STP, water tanks, garbage area, cylinder storage, and mechanical or electrical closets. Similarly, it should not be located on a terrace even if you have high fences or railings. Children can be ingenious when trying to overcome such challenges.

Include these 3 essential elements

Every play area should have active, sensory, and creative elements. Active elements include slides, swings, monkey bars, and other similar equipment. Pick any playing apparatus that encourages children to climb, hop, jump, balance, swing, pull or push. The most common sensory play areas are in the form of sand pits where children can be messy. You can also add implements like toy spades or buckets.

Creative elements can include blackboards, musical instruments like metal pipes, tree houses, or a play house. These are places that let their imagination take hold. Other than these play areas, see if you can extend the playground into green areas, like a garden with trees where children can spend some time with nature.

Get suitable flooring

Children can very easily fall prey to a sudden accident. It is advisable to go for rubber flooring in active play areas. The rubber surface protects children from falls and reduces the chances of injuries. Today, you can also get rubber mats with interesting patterns. At the same time, make sure that any hazardous elements like sharp objects are removed from the play area.

Add benches

While children are rarely interested in benches, their caretakers do find them handy. Add a couple of benches or similar seating areas for parents and other caretakers. They are more likely to linger and let the children play if they also have a place to sit and wait.

Ensure regular maintenance

Regular maintenance of the play area is critical to ensure safety. Apart from regular cleaning and sweeping of the area, we must also carry out regular inspections of the equipment to check for loose bolts or attachments, broken or jagged edges, or any other apparatus that is coming apart. Sand pits must be raked regularly to check for bits of glass, feces, rocks, and other foreign objects. Any issues like stagnating water or pits in the flooring must be immediately addressed. The same goes for play equipment that has been damaged. Keep in mind that this can directly impact the safety of children. For more details on maintaining a play area, read our article here.

Play areas are an essential investment for any residential area, necessary for the health and wellbeing of their most precious occupants – small children. The regular improvement and maintenance of the play area are necessary not only for their enjoyment, but also to ensure their overall wellbeing and safety.

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Graphic of building roof with nursery and text saying, 'Building Sustainability with Rooftop Farming'

apnacomplexnitin
May 31, 2022

Why & How to Start Rooftop Farming

Rooftop farming can trace its roots back to ancient Mesopotamia. What had possibly started as an attempt at self-sufficiency, slowly picked up the pace for myriad reasons, from beautification to the setting up of a tranquil, quiet corner atop one’s home. Today, apartment complexes and gated communities have once again taken the lead in rooftop farming, utilising limited urban spaces in an innovative manner while creating a pleasing environment for residents.

What is rooftop farming?

Rooftop farms or gardens are manmade green spaces atop industrial, commercial, or residential buildings. While a rooftop farm is meant for farming produce, it can also include rooftop gardens which are mostly conceived for decorative or leisure purposes.

Benefits of rooftop farming

Besides their decorative effect, rooftop farms or gardens have many other benefits, including:

Food for residents: Depending on the availability of space, rooftop farms can be used to grow almost any kind of food, particularly vegetables, fruits, and herbs. With complete control over farming practices, residents can use the rooftop to drive campaigns like organic farming or permaculture.

Temperature control: Temperature control is a major concern in many of our urban areas. Bare rooftops absorb and radiate heat, becoming part of urban heat islands. These are areas where high human activity raises the temperature. In contrast, rooftop gardens absorb the heat, reducing ambient temperature while improving the air quality. On a large scale, rooftop gardens can have a significant impact in reducing heat islands and improving the air quality in urban areas.

Recreational: Studies have shown that green spaces can improve mental health, boosting attention, creativity, and memory. Rooftop gardens make ideal recreational spaces for all residents. In the case of a rooftop farm, it can also be a strong binding factor for community building.

Reducing rain run-off: Thanks to insufficient urban waste infrastructure, rainwater run-off often becomes a worrisome issue during heavy rains. Rooftop gardens can reduce peak runoff by forming a retention basin where plants hold the excess rainfall.

How to start your rooftop garden?

To start a rooftop garden, the key steps are to prepare the roof, select the right plants, create a watering and drainage system, and install wind breaks if needed.

Preparing the roof

Start by checking the building codes to gauge how much weight the roof can safely handle. Pick a durable area that can withstand the weight of planters or soil beds. You can use large and small planters, create raised beds, or cover the roof with planting soil like any garden. In case you decide to go with creating beds, start with waterproofing and insulating the roof.

While most modern buildings have waterproofing, it is still advisable to apply a waterproof layer like plastic sheets, bitumen roofing, concrete admixture, or a polymer coating. Make sure it is root and rot-resistant. You can also opt for an insulation or protection layer made of polyurethane foam, XPS extruded polystyrene boards, PIR panels, polystyrene cement, foamed concrete, or autoclaved aerated concrete. The protection layer is also important for drainage.

Select the right plants

The plants should be selected as per the air and wind exposure on the roof. Different areas of the roof will have different sun exposure. So, it’s best to gauge the sun’s movement over the roof throughout the day. Take note of areas that are always under a shade, such as the area next to a wall. Whether growing ornamental plants or food crops, pick your plants as per their need for sunlight. Given the limitation of maintaining a specific soil depth, it’s also important to pick plants with shallow roots. You can choose large planters for plants with deep roots, but keep the overall weight in mind. If the roof has high wind exposure, you may have to build some kind of wind barrier.

Preparing the soil

It’s best to opt for well-draining, lightweight, and aerated soil that is rich in organic matter.

Drainage and irrigation

Water management, both in terms of irrigation and drainage is critical when it comes to roof gardens. Roof farming usually has a very high water requirement because of high sun exposure. At the same time, efficient drainage is critical to ensure that water does not pool anywhere. Manually watering the roof can work, provided it is carried out regularly but not in excess. Drip irrigation and sprinklers are good options. For drainage, you can use plastic drainage models, porous mats, granular material, or a water storage reservoir.

Now that you have the basics of rooftop farming, you can start creating green spaces in residential complexes. Apart from working towards food security, these spaces can be critical places for members of the community to meet, relax, and connect with nature and each other.

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apnacomplexnitin
May 27, 2022

Is Your Society Still Dependent on Tankers? Blame it on Outdated Rainwater Harvesting

India is in the midst of a severe water crisis. Despite a 4% share of the world’s water resources, large swaths of the country are water-stressed with a 2019 NITI Aayog report terming it as the worst water crisis in its history. 21 cities, including Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai, have exhausted their groundwater supply, impacting more than 600 million people.

One of the measures taken to address this problem is rainwater harvesting (RWH). As a sustainable approach, RWH can be instrumental in optimising water conservation. Instead of piecemeal solutions that are often expensive and unreliable, this system seeks to use freely available rain water, thus helping people to gain water self-sufficiency. But are we leveraging the full potential of rainwater harvesting? As many gated communities and residential complexes face drying borewells and become increasingly dependent on water tankers to meet their daily needs, it is time to ask ourselves – are we doing enough to fully realise rainwater harvesting? Should we invest in new designs?

Making rainwater harvesting mandatory

The realisation of an impending disaster has been building up for some time now, thanks to environmentalists, water activists, and citizen movements. India’s water problems are complex, compounded by high water dependence in agriculture, a growing population, and urbanisation. While these problems require a well-planned, coordinated and long-term approach, we also need an intensive short-term solution that can help in staving off the water crisis.

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is seen as one of the essential mechanisms towards resolving some of the immediate concerns on water conservation. As a result, rainwater harvesting has been made legally mandatory in at least 14 states and 3 Union Territories. The imposition of the policy has been highly sought and with good reason.

However, this implementation has not been without its own challenges. As our borewells run dry and water scarcity deepens in our big cities, it becomes imperative that we re-evaluate existing RWH policies and equipment in residential complexes to evaluate their effectiveness. With the emergence of new designs and approaches, residential societies have the opportunity to upgrade and improve their existing systems to ensure a sustainable approach towards water conservation.

Why must residential complexes invest in rainwater harvesting?

Many residential management committees view RWH as just another box they have to tick for legal compliance or to gain green certification. Few realise the long-term environmental and financial benefits of this approach. Today, the groundwater levels are so depleted in many of our cities that even borewells have dried up. Consequently, many residential communities depend completely on tankers for their water supply. However, this can only be a stopgap solution since it focuses on meeting escalating consumption without replenishing the source.

RWH addresses water depletion in a sustainable manner that replenishes the groundwater, improving the water table in an area. It focuses on harvesting rainwater, available freely, through a proper filtration system. It is used to capture rooftop rainwater and surface runoff for storage or to recharge the groundwater.

In short, rainwater harvesting allows residential societies to:

Reduces dependency on tankers and saves 20-30% on water bills
Prepare for the possibility of water cuts
Free access to fresh and high-quality rainwater during monsoons
Conserve rainwater for various purposes like gardening and cleaning
Significantly improving TDS quality of consumable water.
Addressing the hard water crisis since rainwater has a high TDS.
Recharge borewells, improving the water table over a period.

But is your RWH design doing its job?

India has a long tradition of rainwater harvesting. Even in arid regions of the Thaar desert, traditional structures like kundis, baoris, jhalaras, tankas, khadins, and baolis were used to store rainwater directly and were often adequate for meeting local requirements. In high rainfall areas like the Brahmaputra valley and the Indo-Gangetic Plains, storage structures like dighis and dongs were built to ensure proper conservation and utilisation of rainwater.

Over time a more conventional design emerged where rainwater would be stored in a large pit and filtered by using a combination of sand, pebbles/gravels/metals, carbon, and charcoal. The problem here is that this structure contracts all sediments in one place, increasing the likelihood of choking. Maintenance is cumbersome as filtration media has to be removed by a mechanical device and needs high effort. In addition, there are no measuring parameters to check the performance of the structure.

Unfortunately, these conventional systems often fall short, unable to completely meet heavy requirements. This can be evidenced from the inability of residential complexes to replenish their borewells despite installing RWH systems. In fact, many RWAs find themselves even more dependent on tankers. These structures are also almost impossible to quantify in terms of performance. We have almost no means of gauging their efficiency.

So, while rainwater harvesting is a sustainable solution, we need a design revolution to improve the existing systems. We need to rethink and invest in designs that use a different filtration structure and media. It must be accessible for repairs and easy maintenance with a measurable performance. Residential societies must take the initiative and partner with RWH specialists who are design-based and can think out of the box. It’s time to gain water independence!

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Graphic of buildings on a blue background with the text 'Apartment Management Software: What You Should Expect'

apnacomplexnitin
May 25, 2022

9 Things to Expect from an Apartment Management Software

As society management becomes increasingly complicated, technology has taken the lead in simplifying the processes. Providing a single platform for all management functions, digitalisation allows for better transparency, improved functioning, and more cost efficiency. Consequently, many management committees are now adopting these with alacrity and have seen a marked improvement in their functioning.

The popularity of these platforms has also spurred their development. Today, many of these applications offer a bouquet of services. If you are planning to onboard an apartment management software, here are a few things you should look for:

Simple User Interface (UI)

An easy-to-use UI is every app’s biggest USP. In the case of apartment management software, it becomes even more necessary because it is utilised by people from different backgrounds, ages, and education levels, from the guards, to apartment managers and residents. It should not require any technical knowledge to utilise the app.

Single platform

Apartment management software enables management of all functions from a single platform. Legacy systems relied on different softwares to manage functions like accounting and facility management which often led to mismanagement and lack of coordination. Leading solutions like ApnaComplex combine all different functions, from complaint booking to filing maintenance, on one platform. It enables ease of supervision and scrutiny, while facilitating coordination.

Real-time visibility

The platform must enable real-time visibility of financial reports, notifications, complaints and other miscellaneous records to ensure transparency, supervision, and effective communication. The complete visibility of data can benefit different key functions.

Real-time complaint tracking

To ensure quick redressal of complaints, the platform must enable complaint booking and resolution. ApnaComplex has an escalation matrix where every unaddressed complaint is automatically routed to the next person in the chain of command. This enables the supervisor to stay abreast of the maintenance team’s performance while ensuring that complaints are resolved on time.

Visitor management system

Today, every MC is looking for a comprehensive visitor management system (VMS) that can keep track of all guests, vendors, delivery people, or other entries into a society. The end-to-end system should be easy to implement, starting from the guards at the entrance to the resident who will receive the guest. Leading VMS today offer multiple innovative features to help regulate visitor entry and movement in a housing complex. Gatekeeper, ApnaComplex’s highly comprehensive VMS, allows pre-authorisation of visitors, tracks staff attendance, and tanker movement within the society.

Accounting & Billing

With a high number of units, multiple revenue sources, and numerous expenses, accounting & billing has emerged as one of the most challenging tasks for any MC. An apartment management software like ApnaComplex offers a highly viable solution through its easy format that allows ease of use and automates tasks like billing, collections, and payments. Other than basic bookkeeping functions, the software should also enable the members to track expenses, generate invoices, and keep track of defaulting members.

Effective communication

One of the challenges in managing a large housing complex is effective communication. Information must be dispensed quickly and must reach every resident in time. Critical information can include a wide range of spectrum, from default in payments to delay in picking up garbage. Apartment management software like ApnaComplex offers multiple avenues of communication from community forums to notifications with the aim of reaching residents quickly and effectively.

Facility management

For many MCs, facility management can be tricky, especially as assets start to depreciate. Digital apartment management solutions enable us to view the entire performance of an asset, from its purchase date to service history. Another valuable feature is facility reservation, whereby residents can book any facility through the app without any human intervention. In this category, ApnaComplex also offers an inventory tracker, a key concern for every society. It allows the management to keep a tab on inventory, flagging any shortages.

Feedback, support, & training

Training is an important step when onboarding the platform. It’s important that all functionaries, from the treasurer to the staff, are trained to understand and use every feature in the app. The app must also remain dynamic and responsive to the MCs requirements through constant feedback. ApnaComplex has been continually developing on the basis of its own evaluation and feedback from users. To ensure full functionality, the platform is also completely customisable. It is the only app that allows front-end customisation by users.

There is little doubt that apartment management software can enable the smooth functioning of the management committee by improving performance, ensuring transparency, and cutting down on costs. But before you make a decision to onboard a software, make sure it offers the above benefits.

To know why ApnaComplex is a leading choice for apartment management software, read our article here.

If you need more details, read our article, Here’re the top 10 reasons to pick ApnaComplex over any other society management app!

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Picture of a parking lot with the text 'Keep Parking Lots free of Strays'

apnacomplexnitin
May 24, 2022

How societies can keep strays away from parking areas

When it comes to stray animals, whether cats or dogs, people broadly fall under three camps in a housing society. The first are people who are vehemently opposed to any eviction, the second are those who see strays as a menace and want them removed, and the third category of people simply don’t care either way.

Whichever category one falls in, it is always safer to ensure that strays have their own ‘territory’ within the complex. Places like parking areas should be kept free of strays for their own security. Allowing strays to roam free in such areas can result in an unfortunate accident where a car or a heavier vehicle may run over the animal. What are the options available in dealing with strays in the complex? Can we remove them altogether or should we look for more humane solutions?

Can we remove the stray from the society?

Strays like dogs are territorial animals and it is illegal to remove them from their territory. It is also illegal to cause them any injury or to feed them poisonous food. Since the society premises can be seen as their territory, removing strays from the area is illegal. As per the law, it is the duty of every citizen to take care of their natural environment, which includes living creatures like strays. But where the movement of strays can cause problems, such as in parking areas, it is best to look for harmonious solutions that can meet the requirements of both the strays and the residents.

Humane ways of restricting stray movement in parking areas

To ensure a harmonious resolution or avoidance of any human-stray conflict, residents must approach the problem of stray movement in parking areas in a systematic manner. While we should restrict their movement in such areas, it is not practical to put any kind of barrier or traps to discourage their movement. Restrictive traps can maim or injure the animal and other barriers like gates may prove ineffectual.

This issue should be resolved systematically:

Vaccinating and sterilising strays: Vaccination is important for the safety and security of both the strays and the residents. It protects the animals from any infection and stops them from being carriers of diseases. Sterilisation is necessary to ensure that the population of strays does not exceed manageable levels. Residents or assigned volunteers can carry out both exercises though a vet or through municipal authorities and NGOs in their cities.

Designate feeding areas: One of the most effective ways of curbing movement of strays in a particular area is by creating designated feeding areas. This can be the garden or another area that is sufficiently away from the parking lot. Make sure that the strays are fed at this spot at a fixed time everyday. Over time, they will move to the new area. Feeding also helps you keep track and identify the strays on the premises.

Making the parking lot less appealing: This can be achieved by removing any food that can attract the strays. Make sure that there are no open garbage bags or bins. These must be tightly closed or tied up.

It must be emphasised here that this exercise to remove strays from the parking areas must be handled carefully and with sensitivity. It is illegal to hurt or remove strays from their territory and hence, a suitable solution lies in gently nudging them away from parking areas by offering them a new territory.

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