20-07-2025
Procurement and facilities management: Strategic tools for institutional efficiency
MUSCAT: Efficient procurement and facilities management are no longer auxiliary functions within institutions — they have become pivotal enablers of operational sustainability, cost optimisation, and service excellence. This message was at the heart of a recent conversation with Rashid al Masrouri, a prominent Omani expert in the field, whose professional insights shed light on the evolving role of institutional infrastructure management in Oman's public and private sectors.
Al Masrouri, who has led transformative initiatives in facilities and procurement operations, argues that a new mindset is urgently needed: 'Facilities management is the invisible hand that keeps institutions functioning. Procurement, meanwhile, is the economic artery that ensures continuity and value.' According to him, when both functions are aligned and managed strategically, institutions unlock real, measurable performance gains.
He pointed out that despite growing awareness, key challenges persist. Among them: outdated perceptions of the role of support services, fragmented processes between operations and procurement units, a lag in digital integration, and a shortage of professionally trained local talent. 'Too often, these departments are seen as administrative overheads,' he noted, 'when in fact they are central to long-term institutional sustainability.'
Al Masrouri emphasised that Oman is equipped with the infrastructure and ambition to modernise these domains — but success depends on shifting organisational cultures. 'Digital tools like CAFM (Computer-Aided Facility Management) and ERP systems are only effective when embedded within a forward-looking governance model that empowers decision-makers on the ground.'
On the procurement front, he outlined three essential priorities for modernisation:
• Full automation of workflows to ensure transparency and reduce delays,
• Clear policies for fair competition and value-for-money contracting,
• A national supplier database that tracks performance and supports strategic sourcing.
He also stressed the need for performance-based contracts and cost–benefit analyses to become standard practices in both public and private entities. 'The system should reward results, not just compliance,' he added.
As for Omani talent, Al Masrouri is confident in the capabilities of the next generation but called for more applied training, international certification pathways (such as CIPS and IFMA), and clear professional tracks for career progression. 'This is a sector where hands-on problem-solving is just as important as academic qualifications.'
He concluded with a call to action: 'Leaders in both government and private institutions must revisit how they perceive these functions. Investing in procurement and facilities management is not an expense — it is an investment in operational resilience, public value, and national development.'
As Oman advances its Vision 2040 priorities, institutional effectiveness and sustainability will remain high on the national agenda. And as experts like Al Masrouri remind us, strategic efficiency often begins with the functions we least see — but most depend on.
