Enterprise Channels MEA June 2019

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PA G E S 5 2 VOLUME O6 | ISSUE 11 JUNE 2019

WHEN AI POWERS BI AI and BI, the two significantly distinct technologies, are in many ways complementary for business. In order to enable competitive decision making..../24

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EDITORIAL

Channel Reboot, Business Reboot

ANUSHREE DIXIT EDITOR A N U S H R E E @ G E C M E D I A G R O U P. C O M

Wishing all readers, a blessed Eid in advance.

As the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end, businesses in the region are also gearing up for a reboot. Business reboot happened steadily as we saw more and more Artificial Intelligence use cases coming in for improved business decision making. Ai Summit brought together some amazing use cases and new names to the landscape. Smart Dubai and DHA’s new AI use case also comes as a novel initiative in rebooting the existing healthcare services.

Organizations are open to risk today and are fearless to experimenting. AI and BI, as we all know, are two varied concepts. But today, we can see various experiments on injecting AI into Business Applications that yield better results and wholistic view of the business operations. Our lead story this issue takes a deep dive into this trend. On the similar lines, we have also featured some great insights on AI and its trends from Roy Strik, Head of Business Development, Pearson Professional Middle East and Jessica Ekholm, VP Analyst, Gartner.

On the other side of reboot, regional organizations have been evaluating channel program readiness in various platforms and this has been the flavor of the month as well.

Most of the conversations that Enterprise Channels MEA had in the month of Ramadan boiled down to how the massive channel ecosystem of the region is set for some rebooting.

So, what is this reboot all about?

Primarily, it is to have a clear understanding of what value-add each of the partners will bring to the equation. As A10’s new regional channel head Ehab Halablab points out, it is all about turning your distributors to ‘Value added distributors’ wherein the company shall be inspiring and empowering the distributors to make their portfolio more service-oriented.

In our special story, Ehab also says that company will be actively onboarding new potential partners in the region that will be focused on A10’s business. The internal sales team will also be seeding new business opportunities that will be fulfilled through resellers in the region.

This and many more stories to read in this issue of Enterprise Channels.

Wishing everybody a good Eid break. ë

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JUNE 2019 | VOLUME 06 | ISSUE 11

CONTENTS 22

INTERVIEW

DELIVERING COGNITIVE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE ROHIT RAOLE, VICE PRESIDENT AND HEAD OF SALES, COGNICX

30

GUEST ARTICLE

AI: ON ITS WAY TO CHANGING BUSINESSES AND EVERYDAY LIFE ROY STRIK, HEAD OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, PEARSON PROFESSIONAL MIDDLE EAST

30

INTERVIEW

WHEN AI POWERS BI

AI and BI, the two significantly distinct technologies, are in many ways complementary for business. In order to enable competitive decision making..../24

HELPING BUSINESSES GROW JAHANGIR AHMAD, MANAGING DIRECTOR, NETS INTERNATIONAL.

04 EDITORIAL

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CHANNEL STREET

32

44 LET’S TALK

PROFIT 05

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ADVERTISER INDEX:

TECHX 02, SECURITY SYMPOSIUM 03, SAGE 07, RITTAL 09, SEAGATE 11, EID MUBARAK 13, MITSUMI 15, VALTO 17, EMERGENT 19 GEC OPEN 21, APTEC 23, FINESSE 31, ABSIS 45, DELL EMC 51, CIO 200 52

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VERTICAL ANALYSIS TRANSFORMING THE DIGITAL UTILITY

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INNOVATIONS

AMD EYPC

CHANNEL

STREET Dell Technologies Cloud Accelerates Customers’ Multi-Cloud Journey

Dell Technologies unveiled Dell Technologies Cloud, a new set of cloud infrastructure solutions to make hybrid cloud environments simpler to deploy and manage. Combining the power of VMware and Dell EMC infrastructure, Dell Technologies Cloud removes cloud complexity by

offering consistent infrastructure and operations for IT resources, across public and private clouds and the edge, regardless of location.

According to IDC, more than 70% of companies are using multiple cloud environments, and the largest data center challenge most companies

face is developing a successful multi-cloud strategy. Operating in multiple clouds has caused organizations to onboard many management consoles and disparate processes, which stifles innovation and adds complexity. The hybrid cloud approach is an ideal solution by offering a familiar management interface that extends across clouds for a simplified overall experience.

With VMware research finding that 83 percent of cloud adopters are seeking consistent infrastructure and operations from the data center to the cloud, the Dell Technologies Cloud is designed specifically to address this challenge.

“For many organizations, the increasingly diverse cloud landscape is resulting in an enormous amount of IT complexity, and no one is more qualified or capable to help customers solve this challenge than Dell Technologies,” said Jeff Clarke, vice chairman of products and operations, Dell Technologies. “Cloud is not a destination; it’s an operating model. With Dell Technologies Cloud and joint engineering between Dell EMC and VMware, we are offering a unified hybrid cloud experience. This provides consistent infrastructure and operations at every location the cloud resides—from on-premises data centers to public clouds and the emerging edge—allowing our customers to have greater control of their multi-cloud journey.”

MICROSOFT DEMONSTRATES INTELLIGENT CLOUD SOLUTIONS AT SPE WORKSHOP Microsoft demonstrated the power and benefits of the intelligent cloud to the regional oil and gas industry, as bronze sponsor of a Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) workshop titled “Transforming Oil and Gas Towards Digital Intelligence”.

Held at the Hilton Kuwait Resort in Kuwait City, the event featured a series of keynote and case-study presentations, panel discussions and exchanges of

06

ideas among delegates, designed to advance the use of best practices in digital transformation programmes across the region’s oil and gas sector.

Omar Saleh, Regional Director, Manufacturing and Resources, Middle East & Africa at Microsoft, and Mohamed Malek, Digital Architect at Microsoft, both delivered guidance on integrating technology solutions in the Oil & Gas industry. Omar Saleh’s keynote

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highlighted how technology can play a role in Transforming the Oil and Gas sector towards Digital Intelligence. And Mohamed Malek discussed the emerging technologies such as Robotics, Augmented Reality, IIOT, Automation, Digital Twins and the intelligent cloud, that are evolving the industry.

“The intelligent cloud puts digital intelligence within the reach of energy-sector decision-makers, by combining with edge devices in

the field to deliver the capability of immediate actionability,” said Saleh. “Organisations become infinitely more agile when devices, software and communications technology form a contiguous ecosystem that allows seamless planning, reaction and optimisation. We are proud to demonstrate these capabilities at SPE’s oil and gas digital intelligence workshop and how these empower Oil & Gas organisations to achieve more.”

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CHANNEL STREET

Equinix Extends the Digital Edge with 12 New Data Centers Equinix will open 12 new International Business Exchange™ (IBX®) data centers and expand 23 existing IBX data centers in 2019 as part of an expected $1.730 to $1.920 billion of non-recurring capital expenditure expansion program for the year as announced on the company’s Q1 2019 earnings call.

Equinix plays a strategic role in advancing enterprise digital transformation, for which global businesses are demanding increasing levels of direct and private connectivity with customers and partners. This interconnection is optimally achieved through the robust ecosystems of clouds, networks and services available at Equinix globally. By providing new capacity in 2019, Equinix continues to extend Platform Equinix®, further enabling companies to deploy their IT infrastructure and services at the digital edge in more than 50 metros across the globe. In addition to the 12 new IBX openings in 2019, Equinix expansions of existing IBX

data centers include 23 projects that will open in 2019 in the Amsterdam, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Frankfurt (three expansion projects), Hong Kong (three expansion projects), London (four expansion projects), Madrid, New York, Osaka, Paris, Perth, Seattle, Stockholm and Zurich (two expansion projects) metros.

Kelly Morgan, Vice President – Datacenter Infrastructure & Services, 451 Research stated: “Connectivity is critical for the development of modern distributed, hybrid, multi-cloud environments. Datacenter facilities that offer the ability to interconnect with an extensive ecosystem of network and cloud providers can provide enterprises with distinctive strategic advantages in their markets. Equinix’s datacenters and its expanding interconnection platform provide the type of environment that enables companies to accelerate their cloud strategies and execute on digital transformation.”

AXS RECOGNISED AS PIONEER IN DIGITAL SERVICES axs, TECOM Group’s smart gateway for integrated services, was named the winner of ‘The CX Pioneer in Services’ category at the 2019 Genesys Customer Innovation Awards. Organised by Genesys, the global leader in omnichannel customer experience and contact centre solutions, the awards recognise outstanding customer experiences across multiple categories. axs earned the accolade for its high-tech operational approach that seamlessly combines digital solutions with personalised service and helpful guidance. Mohamed Afifi, Regional Director of Genesys Middle East, presented the award to Abdulla Al-Mohaisin, Executive Director of Corporate Services at axs, at a special ceremony held during the G-Summit Middle East 2019, the region’s premier customer experience event, on 24 April at Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai. axs won the award from a pool of more than 500 submissions from across the region. The judges used pre-determined criteria to evaluate axs for its superior customer service as well as its net promoter score (NPS) in serving over 5,000 customers.

HUAWEI LAUNCHES AINATIVE DATABASE Huawei has launched the AI-Native database GaussDB and the highest-performance distributed storage FusionStorage 8.0 in Beijing. The aim of this launch is to redefine data infrastructure through a Data + Intelligence strategy.

“Humanity is entering the age of an intelligent world,” said David Wang, Huawei Executive Director of the Board and President of ICT Strategy & Marketing. “Data is the new factor of production, and intelligence the new productivity. Heterogeneous, intelligent, and converged databases will become the key data infrastructure of the financial, government, and telecoms industries.”

Mr. Wang added, “AI-Native database GaussDB will help enhance HUAWEI CLOUD’s capabilities and fully unleash the power of diversified computing, which includes x86, ARM, GPU, and NPU computing. We aim to continuously push our AI strategy forward and foster a complete computing ecosystem.

Together with our partners, we will move further towards the intelligent world.”

At the launch event, Mr. Wang also reiterated Huawei’s commitment to advancing intelligent industries by innovating together with customers and partners and building a data industry ecosystem on the principles of openness, collaboration, and shared success.

NEC AWARDED INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM PROJECT IN OMAN NEC Corporation has been awarded an intelligent transportation system (ITS) project for the public transport network in the Sultanate of Oman from Oman National Transport Company S.A.O.C (MWASALAT), the government owned public transportation company in Oman. The system is scheduled to launch by the

08

last quarter of the 2019 calendar year.

NEC will offer the latest ICT-based systems from its transportation solutions suite, including its Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) and Automated Vehicle Location System (AVLS), in order to contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of the existing public

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transport network system.

These systems will be installed on approximately 200 buses to enhance the public transport services that provide advantages for over 20,000 passengers each day.

The AFCS features contactless electronic payments through the use of a mobile application which will enable cashless,

accurate and reliable fare collection. Moreover, AVLS software uses GPS to share real-time service updates with the bus control center, which helps maintain bus assets, operations, safety and customer satisfaction.

The information is also relayed to a smart passenger information mobile application.

“MWASALAT believes

that NEC’s sophisticated technologies will make our public transport operations more efficient and raise passenger satisfaction,” said Ahmed Ali Al Bulushi, CEO, MWASALAT. “Our ITS project will lead efforts for developing a smarter and more efficient bus transportation system in countries throughout the Middle East,” he added.

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CHANNEL STREET

Food Waste Tackled with AI in UAE Kitchens

Winnow, a London-based start-up, in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and in partnership with Emaar Hospitality Group, has officially launched its new AI-enabled product, Winnow Vision, to revolutionise food waste management in the UAE for the benefit of both businesses and consumers.

The launch follows a proof of concept phase

that was launched in March 2019. Since then, the start-up has tested its product across 12 Emaar properties. One of them, the Armani Hotel Dubai, is said to have saved a total of Dhs148,000 in 2018, while the entire Group was reported to have saved Dhs1.3 million for the same time period, owing to the new technology.

Using a camera, a set of smart scales and the same type of machine learning technology found in autonomous vehicles, Winnow Vision ‘learns’ to recognise different foods being thrown in the bin and calculates the financial and environment cost of this discarded food to commercial kitchens. Businesses and chefs can then adjust their food purchasing decisions accordingly, reducing their spending and tackling a fundamental problem of food waste: over-production.

Marc Zornes, CEO of Winnow, said, “With kitchens around the world struggling, food waste is not just an issue in the UAE. Without visibility into what is being wasted, we know that up to 20 per cent of all food purchased ends up in the bin. By understanding and reporting food waste’s very real costs – both to the bottom line and the environment – Winnow Vision empowers chefs to take action. Using technology that learns and improves with each use, Winnow Vision has the ability to tackle food waste on a global scale.”

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SECONDS

VISA ACQUIRES CONTROL OF EARTHPORT Visa has acquired control of Earthport, a company that provides cross-border payment services to banks, money transfer service providers and businesses via the world’s largest independent ACH network. Currently, Visa enables payments to be sent to or from Visa cards. The acquisition will make it possible for Visa clients to enable individuals, businesses and governments to utilize Visa to send and/ or receive money through bank accounts around the world.

DELOITTE AND SERVICENOW SIGN A STRATEGIC AGREEMENT Deloitte and ServiceNow signed a new strategic agreement to accelerate organizations’ enterprise digital transformation. Deloitte and ServiceNow plan to jointly develop, coordinate and bring to market new products, assets and solutions built on the Now Platform® to help clients deliver seamless digital experiences across the enterprise, improve workflows and enhance productivity.

HP CONTINUES TO PARTNER WITH AMAZON HP has revealed long-term partnership with Amazon, an e-commerce company that launched a new marketplace in the UAE this month, Amazon.ae, following its high-profile acquisition of Souq.com two years ago. Under the partnership, HP will make its entire port-

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FOCUS SOFTNET MAKES A STRONG PUSH ON CLOUD

folio of laptop computers, desktops, printers

At its recently concluded Annual General Meeting, Focus Softnet revealed a major push on its cloud strategy with an attractive initial offer to its new and existing customers. This announcement comes as a part of the company’s future plans to migrate all of its products and services and users on the cloud. As part of this initiative, the company has planned a major recruitment drive to induct skilled functional and technical resources experienced in cloud and mobile technologies. Focus Softnet also initiated a major restructuring drive that involved adding a 200-seater support center, which resulted in substantial increase in revenues and profits. The company foresees a 25% year on year increase in revenues in 2019. “At this stage it is imperative for all regional organizations to sit back and take stock of their business fundamentals, external macroeconomic conditions, and seriously consider the benefits of migration to a cloud platform. For those organizations that have already adopted on-site or public cloud platforms, they need to assess the longer terms benefits of multi-cloud deployment. Cloud adoption remains the single most important enabler for digital transformation in any type of organization, operating in any type of market segments. Once adopted, enabling a responsive mobile interface is the next logical step,” says Ali Hyder, Group CEO, Focus Softnet.

its app, which provices a new local shopping

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and accesoiries available to customers via the newly launched website, Amazon.ae, and via experience for customers in the UAE. ADOBE, SOFTWARE AG PARTNER At Adobe Summit EMEA, Adobe and Software AG today revealed partnership to help companies transform their customer experience management (CXM) by bringing together customer data from across multiple enterprise systems into a centralized and actionable real-time customer profile. Adobe and Software AG will create integrations between Adobe Experience Platform and Software AG’s webMethods Integration and API management services.

Phone: +971 4 8863850 E-mail: info@asbisme.ae www.asbisme.ae

Phone: +971 4 8863850 E-mail: info@asbisme.ae www.asbisme.ae

CHANNEL STREET

MOHAP Launches “Child Friendly” Robotic Service at Dibba Hospital

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has launched a child-friendly robotic service at Dibba Hospital to ensure the happiness of sick children, reduce and overcome the fear of visiting hospitals.

The new initiative comes as part of the ministry’s efforts to enhance smart healthcare and cement the quality of innovative health services.

The kid-friendly robot, which can be remotely or self-directed, will be used to transport children from the hospital’s entrances to the pediatric clinic in bid to reduce psychological burden and grant them a sense of reassurance when visiting the hospital to receive treatment and healthcare services.

Dr. Kalthoum Al Baloushi, Director of Hospitals Administration, stressed the ministry’s

keenness to harness all resources and potential to develop innovative solutions. The ministry spares no efforts to improve the quality of medical services provided to patients, especially to children, and overcome all difficulties that eventually satisfy and please all patients.

“We are developing the capabilities of the childfriendly robot to deliver interactive and attractive services according to the latest technological developments. The ministry does always adopt the latest technologies and innovative solutions to serve the community and ensure its happiness.

The newly introduced robotic service comes in line with the ministry’s strategy to provide health services and medical care in accordance with the highest international standards,” Al Baloushi added.

3RD WIC 2019 STRESSES AI’S ROLE IN GROWTH The 3rd World Intelligence Congress (WIC 2019), a forum for exchange and cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, emphasized the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the economic and social growth of nations at this year’s event, held May 16-19 in Tianjin, China. WIC 2019 welcomed more than 1,450 delegates from 40 countries and regions, as well as 245 organizations, including 38 of the world’s top 500 companies.

President Xi Jinping, in his letter to the WIC, noted that artificial intelligence (AI) had a significant impact on economic development, social progress and global governance.

“China attaches high importance to innovative development, taking AI as a driving force for scientific and technological development, industrial optimization and increased productivity, while striving to achieve high-quality development.”

Presenting Xi’s letter at the WIC 2019 opening ceremony, Li Hongzhong, Party Secretary of the Tianjin Municipal Committee, said that Tianjin would embrace a new era of intelligence, create a new intelligencebased economy, step up AI cooperation with other countries and speed up the building of an “intelligent Tianjin”.

SUPERNOVA CHALLENGE HANDS OUT A TOTAL OF US$100,000 TO AI DISRUPTORS Taking home cash prizes worth a whopping US$100,000, four startups have celebrated their success at the Supernova Challenge, the world’s third largest start-up pitch fund, as Ai Everything draws to a close.

Receiving over 60 submissions from more than 20 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France,

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Singapore, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, a total of 20 shortlisted start-ups have taken to the stage to pitch their disruptive ideas to a jury of AI-leaders during Ai Everything, which ran from April 30 – May 1 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Taking home first place, and a total prize money of US$50,000, was Lebanese start-up Augmental.

“We are an education technology

targeting middle to high school students where course materials are adapted to each student learning capabilities.” Said Paul Barakat Diab, Co-founder of Augmental Education. “We are super excited that we won the first place. The prize money will definitely have a significant impact on growing our business and making education more personalized and accessible.”

Participating start-ups entering the challenge came from across 15 different sectors as diverse as Technology, Healthcare, Finance, Energy, Utilities, Arts, Media, Agriculture and Forestry, as well as Logistics and Supply Chain, showcasing anything from AI-powered risk analysis tools for SMEs, cancer diagnosis tools and innovations to improve the lives of people of determination.

META I SEA I U S A

EID MUBARAK

w w w. g e c m e d i a g roup.com

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Nutanix Expands Multi-cloud Solution Portfolio Nutanix is extending its Xi Frame desktop-asa-service solution from the public cloud to the private cloud, enabling the delivery of apps and desktops in a true hybrid cloud environment.

In addition, the company is announcing new functionality and additional planned availability zones for its cloud-based disaster recovery (DR) service, Xi Leap.

With Nutanix Xi Frame, customers can already access applications and virtual desktops from popular public clouds like AWS and Azure simply and easily, using any browser and any device. With the latest Xi Frame update running on the Nutanix AHV hypervisor, customers can now extend desktop delivery to their Nutanix private cloud, integrating virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) services with the Nutanix Enterprise Cloud platform. Xi Frame desktops can be simultaneously delivered via multiple clouds and managed via a single console for seamless control and administration, providing a true hybrid experience.

In addition to being available to users on

AWS and Azure, Xi Frame is now also available to customers worldwide for Nutanix private cloud deployments using AHV. Customers can provision 1000s of virtual desktops in minutes, as opposed to weeks, enabling them to improve the economics, speed and scale of desktop delivery.

IT teams can now select the right cloud — public or private — for their VDI initiatives.

As enterprises continue to embrace cloud services, and enterprise infrastructures become more virtual, data and IT operations are rapidly migrating to the cloud. When done right, cloud-based disaster recovery is an attractive strategy for any size organization to protect their business critical applications. Nutanix Xi Leap extends the enterprise datacenter to the cloud, allowing IT teams to harmonize public and private clouds and deliver enhanced availability for critical data and applications. Customers get a natively-integrated DR cloud service, and single pane management, to protect critical workloads running in the datacenter and in a cloud, delivering improved business continuity.

WEB CLIPS MICROSOFT PARTNERS WITH CUBICAL SERVICES Microsoft has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Cubical Services, a business incubator that offers planning, implementation, and operation services to aspiring entrepreneurs and to start-ups in line with the Kuwait Vision 2035. Under the terms of the MoU, Microsoft will provide access for selected businesses to its Microsoft for Start-ups programme, which is designed to accelerate growth and innovation using the intelligent cloud.

VEEAM UNVEILS NEW “WITH VEEAM” PROGRAM Veeam unveiled a new initiative to deliver unified solutions providing expanded options for customers: the “with Veeam” program. Veeam is partnering with premier enterprise storage vendors to provide customers with comprehensive secondary storage solutions that combine Veeam software with industry-leading storage and HCI infrastructure hardware and management stacks. Solutions have already been announced with ExaGrid and Nutanix.

ETIHAD ESCO SIGNS CONTRACTS WITH SHARAF ELECTRONICS Etihad Energy Services Company (Etihad ESCO) signed an agreement with Sharaf Electronics for the implementation of the

MOVEMENTS

NUMBER GAME

Centrify appoints MARK OLDEMEYER as Chief Financial Officer

Wahed Invest appoints

lighting retrofit project at three terminals of Dubai Airport. The project will replace over 15,000 outdoor and indoor lights with latest energy saving LED lights, resulting in about

$10Bn

AED 5 million annual savings every year, for next seven years for the airport. In addition, the project supports Dubai Airport’s vision of environmental sustainability.

RIVERBED UNVEILS NEW BRAND

RASHED AL MUHTADI as

IDENTITY

Head of UAE

At its inaugural Middle East Partner Connect in Dubai, Riverbed unveiled its new brand

Commvault appoints RICCARDO DI BLASIO as Chief Revenue Officer

IoT spending is expected to surpass $10 billion by 2020: IDC

identity centred around ‘Advancing Human Experiences in the Digital World’. The company also outlined its channel strategy for 2019 which aims to accelerate business outcomes for partners by recognizing and incentivizing performance across all partner types, business models and end customer consumption preferences.

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WHAT YOU NEED. FOR ALL YOU DO.

Intel® Core™ i3-7020U processor, 4GB RAM, 1TB Hard Drive, 2GB AMD Radeon 520 Graphics, 15.6” HD Anti-Glare LED Backlit Display, Ubuntu Linux.

ARD AL GHADEER TRADING LLC Tel: +971 4 3937899 Email: info@ardalghadeer.com Intel, the Intel Logo, Intel Inside, Intel Core, and Core Inside are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries.

CHANNEL STREET

Hoshan Holding Partners with Seidor Seidor said that Hoshan Holding has become the first Saudi company to implement SAP S4 HANA for Public Cloud. The group will also integrate SAP SuccessFactors and SAP Cloud for Real Estate, to digitally transform the company’s capabilities and offerings in Saudi and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The latest ERP solution from SAP, SAP S4 HANA is a next-generation business suite with built-in artificial intelligence (AI), that will empower Hoshan Holding employees to capture every opportunity, while optimizing business functions across the entire enterprise.

SuccessFactors will allow coverage of the entire talent-acquisition lifecycle from onboarding to offboarding, and SAP Cloud for Real Estate will turbo-charge the company’s asset management and insights.

Among the many benefits Hoshan Holding

will reap from Seidor’s integration of next-gen SAP solutions into its technology stack is the “significant lowering of cost of ownership”, which was cited by Khalid AlBabtain, Board Member, Hoshan Holding, as a major impetus in selecting a cloud solution.

“For many years, we ran our core ERP on SAP ECC,” he said. “While the solution met all our business needs, we felt there was a need to move to a more simplified, standardized and agile environment with an enhanced UX and, at the same time, migrate to the cloud, which reduces our cost of ownership. SAP S4 HANA Public Cloud solution also requires less implementation time, delivers global standard processes, provides a more coherent roadmap for future solutions, demands less maintenance, and reduces other costs, such as hardware expenditure.”

NEW SURVEY: WEALTHY LOOK TO INCREASE CRYPTOCURRENCY EXPOSURE More than two-thirds of high-net-worth individuals will be invested in cryptocurrencies in the next three years, reveals a new global poll. Carried out by deVere Group, the survey shows that 68 percent of poll participants are now already invested in or will make investments in cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP, before the end of 2022. The 700-plus respondents are clients who currently reside in the U.S., the UK, Australia, the UAE, Japan, Qatar, Switzerland, Mexico, Hong Kong, Spain, France, Germany and South Africa. High net worth is classified in this context as having more than £1m (or equivalent) in investable assets. Nigel Green, founder and CEO of deVere Group comments: “The research shows that wealthy individuals are increasingly seeking exposure to cryptocurrencies. There is growing, universal acceptance that cryptocurrencies are the future of money – and the future is now. High net worth individuals are not prepared to miss out on this and are rebalancing their investment portfolios towards these digital assets.”

CLOUDJUMPER NAMES FRANK ANDERSON AS FIELD CTO CloudJumper has appointed Frank Anderson as Field CTO. Mr. Anderson’s arrival aligns with the company’s strategic Microsoft relationship in streamlining the deployment and management of Windows Virtual Desktop for CloudJumper’s global network of solution provider partners.

As Field CTO, he will be public facing for the company with responsibilities that include extending the organization’s thought leadership in addition to supporting sales enablement for key accounts.

Before joining CloudJumper, Anderson held the position of Americas CTO for ControlUp, a leading IT management and monitoring solution provider. Prior to ControlUp, he was the senior EUC architect and technical marketer for VMware where he focused on technical content creation for VMware products and how they should be designed, deployed and managed. Before his role at VMware, he was senior solutions architect for Cisco’s UCS Desktop Virtualization Solutions Team where he developed joint virtual desktop/applications with Cisco partners, including Microsoft, Citrix and VMware. He also held the positions of technical director, global strategic alliances and principal TME, Virtual Desktop & App Product Group for Citrix from 2006 to 2014.

SAS AND HCT CO-HOST HACKATHON TO DEVELOP TALENT IN DATA SCIENCE The Information Technology Division at the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) organized the ‘SAS Data Science Hackathon 2019’ in cooperation with SAS, the leader in business analytics, and several leading public and private entities. The competition targeted 25 IT students from HCT branches

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in Dubai, Sharjah and Al Ain, who competed for three days at the SAS Hackathon, presenting solutions to a range of real-life problems and challenges using SAS advanced solutions capable of analyzing and handling big data.

HCT-Dubai Men’s College (DMC) Director Dr. Hashim Al

Zaabi, said: “We are delighted to organize this event in cooperation with SAS, which provided students with training on how to analyze and use big data in creating solutions for challenges faced by different industries. This collaboration with SAS in not the first and we are planning to advance it in the future as

part of HCT’s enthusiasm to enable our students with the much needed advanced technological skills, particularly in artificial intelligence and big data. This cooperation aims at inventing ideas and creative solutions to serve the needs of different sectors and their development plans.”

should be a fundamental right for every organisation!

ERICOM SOFTWARE IS A LEADER IN SECURING & CONNECTING THE DIGITAL WORKSPACE Ericom's offerings include innovative remote browser isolation, secure remote access & zero trust browsing solutions

CHANNEL STREET

Epicor Releases Latest Version of iScala ERP Epicor Software Corporation has released its latest version of Epicor® iScala® enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. Featuring enhancements that will enable organizations to boost operational agility and accelerate competitive advantages, this new release contains improvements that elevate the functionality and usability of the ERP solution. These include a powerful new reporting architecture, integration with Epicor Data Analytics, and additional country and region-specific localizations which today’s global organizations need to drive better business outcomes.

“Epicor is committed to helping customers stay at the forefront of their industry by ensuring that every new release of iScala features value-add enhancements requested by our customers ,” said Andy Coussins, senior vice president, international at Epicor Software.

“In this release, we’ve put the focus on augmenting the usability, reporting, and business analysis functionality of iScala, so that customers can leverage more business intelligence, value, and growth from the platform.” iScala is priced to accelerate time to value, yet comprehensive, ERP solution designed specifically to support small to midmarket companies and subsidiaries of larger multi-national organizations.

ENOC PARTNERS WITH MORO ENOC Group signed an agreement with Moro, the Dubai government owned digital data hub, focused on providing digital transformation and operational innovation, to lead the digitalization journey of ENOC’s operations.

The digital transformation will be driven through an organisation-wide SAP system implementation and infrastructure hosting services by Moro and powered by Virtustream Cloud Technology over the next five years. The programme will be delivered by a dedicated team of professionals from ENOC, Moro and specialised partners.

The partnership agreement was signed between H.E Saif Al Falasi, Group CEO of ENOC, and Engineer Marwan Bin Haidar, Vice Chairman of Moro, at ENOC’s headquarters in Dubai, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations.

The agreement builds on ENOC’s vision to generate new value, unlock new opportunities, drive growth and deliver enhanced efficiencies across the Group’s portfolio. This in turn will strengthen corporate governance standards and build autonomous systems that are completely integrated with the business ecosystem.

CHRISTIE NAMED AS OFFICIAL DISPLAYS AND PROJECTION PARTNER True-to-life visuals and a rich sea of colour will illuminate Expo 2020 Dubai and create spectacular scenes on Al Wasl Plaza’s iconic dome, thanks to audiovisual technologies firm Christie.

As Expo 2020’s newly appointed Official Displays and Projection Partner, Christie will showcase its breakthrough laser projection technology, including using more than 250 of its D4K40-RGB projectors to create life-like evolving scenes on Al Wasl Plaza’s giant 130-metre-wide projection surface, which can also be seen from above.

Christie’s innovations have featured in

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Hollywood blockbusters and at major sporting events. Regarded as setting the gold standard for display and projection technology, Christie will supply and manage all display screens across the Expo site, contributing to an exceptional Expo experience for the millions of visitors expected to attend.

Ahmed Al Khatib, Chief Development and Delivery Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “We aim to create an unrivalled experience at Expo 2020 and spectacular visuals on the giant Al Wasl Plaza dome will be an iconic part of this. Christie is a trailblazer in this field and we anticipate an array

of memorable displays across the Expo site thanks to Christie’s innovative technologies.”

Bryan Boehme, Executive Director, Global Sales and Business Development, Christie, said: “We are proud and excited to be an Expo 2020 Dubai Official Partner and look forward to creating memories with our unparalleled visual displays. The Christie D4K40-RGB pure laser projector is a powerhouse of technology and will wow the world with its unrivalled, rich and crisp visuals that raise the bar in image quality, making sure Expo 2020 welcomes the future in the most unforgettable and magical way.”

CHANNEL STREET

Eltizam predicts strong growth for the Middle East’s FM Industry in 2019

The Middle East facilities management (FM) market remains healthy with analysts from Eltizam Asset Management Group projecting continued robust growth throughout 2019 led

by KSA, Egypt and the UAE. The key drivers behind FM industry growth all relate to the growing pipeline of development projects across the region: government-backed infrastructure projects (metro & rail projects, airports) in UAE, strategic projects such as Expo 2020; mega projects such as Neom and Red Sea Tourism Projects in KSA, and new urban centre developments across Egypt. These projects all form integral parts of the strategic visions of countries in the region, aimed at developing national infrastructure capacities and diversifying economies.

According to a recent research report by Technavio on FM services in the Middle East, the market will deliver a CAGR of more than 11 percent during the period 2019-2023. In addition, the Middle East’s FM services market

size will grow by approximately USD 29.9 billion during the same period.

With the continued growth of the FM industry in the region comes the trend of improving service levels and more demanding client requirements. FM service providers take on these challenges ensuring service standards are met, while carefully managing delivery costs to ensure assets are maintained in their optimum condition. In the midst of these trends of improved service specifications and rigorous cost management, technology is emerging as a key differentiator for leading FM service providers.

Chris Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, Eltizam Asset Management Group, said: “Facilities Management has evolved from simply managing buildings to delivering a delightful experience.

Now empowered with technology, facility teams have shifted their focus from cost centric services towards creating value-driven services. There is a lot more room for sector improvement and growth within the GCC, and we anticipate more business from a diverse but discerning client base as the industry continues to mature and catch up with best practices seen globally. Eltizam will be taking full advantage of opportunities such as Expo 2020 to provide expertise, build clientele and reach out to a broader audience. Whilst doing so, we will be fully utilizing the latest innovative technology to provide and receive the very highest standard of service and customer satisfaction.”

CITRIX TO LAUNCH WORKSPACE FOR GOOGLE CLOUD Citrix plans to extend its Workspace to Google Cloud, expanding the flexibility and choice companies have in transitioning to the cloud by enabling them to quickly and efficiently deliver apps to Google devices and operating systems and create a superior digital work experience that unleashes productivity and innovation. The news came during Citrix Synergy, the premier digital work conference taking place in Atlanta this week.

“As companies move more apps to the cloud, they need an easy, secure way for employees to access them anywhere, anytime from any device,” said David Henshall, President, and CEO, Citrix. “In delivering Citrix Workspace for Google Cloud, we are enabling our customers to accelerate their digital transformations and deliver a simple, intuitive experience for their users.”

“Many of our customers have existing software and infrastructure investments, yet still want the freedom to invest in their cloud future,” said Rob Enslin, President Global Customer Operations, Google Cloud. “In expanding our partnership with Citrix, we can better help these customers with their transformations by enabling them to access and run the apps their businesses depend on anywhere— simply, flexibly and securely.”

NOKIA PRESIDENT AND CEO COMMENTS ON THE 5G MARKET The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Nokia Corporation was held on Tuesday 21 May 2019 in Helsinki, Finland.

In addition to addressing the company’s 2018 financial performance and Group Annual Accounts, at the AGM, Rajeev Suri, President and CEO of Nokia Corporation, speaks on environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters and provides an update on

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one of the most radical technology transitions ever as 4G begins to give way to 5G. Nokia also emphasizes today efforts undertaken to eliminate,

by July 2019, any statistically significant pay gap in the company that cannot be explained by factors such as performance, experience, job grade, or location. Nokia will become one of a small handful of companies that have taken

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such action. During the past year, Nokia has also continued to work hard to contribute to making a healthier, connected, sustainable planet. Nokia recently launched the industry’s first-ever liquid-cooled base station, emitting 80 percent less CO2 emissions than previous generations of products, and sought innovative ways to use its connectivity technology where it is most needed. For example, in

the Philippines, the Red Cross was provided with Nokia drones and portable networks to improve first response in areas struck by disaster.

Nokia’s strategy is to lead in high-performance end-to-end networks for operators, expand to select vertical markets that need high-performing secure networks, build a strong standalone software business and create new licensing opportunities.

Swing

Local

-

Connect

Global

2019-20 AUSTRALIA AZERBAIJAN BAHRAIN BOTSWANA CANADA CHINA EGYPT FRANCE GERMANY GHANA

INDIA INDONESIA IRELAND ITALY KAZAKHSTAN KENYA MADAGASCAR MALAYSIA MAURITIUS NEW ZEALAND

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PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES

NEPAL NIGERIA OMAN PAKISTAN PORTUGAL RWANDA RUSSIA SAUDI ARABIA SCOTLAND SINGAPORE

SRI LANKA SPAIN SOUTH AFRICA SWITZERLAND THAILAND TURKEY UAE UNITED KINGDOM US ZIMBABWE

60 QUALIFYING ROUNDS

4500 C-LEVEL EXECUTIVES

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INTERVIEW

DELIVERING COGNITIVE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

WITH A NICHE COMBINATION OF PARTNERS AND TECHNOLOGY, COGNICX ENABLES ITS CUSTOMERS TO OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY AND SUCCESSFULLY IN THE MARKETS THEY SERVE. IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ROHIT RAOLE, VICE PRESIDENT AND HEAD OF SALES FOR THE COMPANY.

and On-Prem deployments.

CogniCX being at the forefront of nextgen digital technologies, provides customer engagement solutions by leveraging the cognitive interfaces that take the company’s capabilities. We are confident that we have the necessary domain expertise and skills to fulfill the business needs and provide cost-effective and best of the breed solutions.

ROHIT RAOLE,

VICE PRESIDENT AND HEAD OF SALES, COGNICX

Tell us about Cognicx. When was the company established?

CogniCX is a rapidly growing organization focusing on Cognitive Customer experience through Secure and integrated Digital transformation across various industries. Cognicx at its core is unique blend of Technology and IT Security providers. We can can help businesses fully realize the potential of technology by helping them maximize the value of their deliverables.

With its niche combination of best-in-class Partners and technology, CogniCX enables its customers to operate more efficiently and successfully in the markets they serve.

CogniCX came into existence as an overarching brand that got metamorphized from LucidPlus IT solutions. The key focus is towards automating the day to day operations and tasks in a secure manner along with flexible and proven models of commercial engagement both SaaS

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How was the year 2018 from a business perspective?

Our focus for 2018 were around the market study & strategy, engaging with key customers & industry verticals, developing partner & channel ecosystems. We are in conversation with the leading banks, telecom and retailers in terms of transforming their customer journeys. We see huge demand from customers in terms of redefining their business and driving automation.

Our priority has always been to be in front of the customers and build a healthy pipeline of opportunities. We are excited to see positive response from the customer and the achievement we have got so far. We have initiated few transformation projects in 2018 which are on track towards successful completion now.

Please tell us about your solutions and services in brief.

We deliver SMART Customer Journey (CJ) with Omni-Channel Customer Experience (CX)

by Optimal usage of Cognitive tools to deliver Maximum Business Benefits. With our strong cyber security practice we make the solutions safe & secure.

In services we provide Advisory, Professional & Managed services with the focus towards continuous improvement.

How are you helping enterprises embark on Digital Transformation / Customer Engagement??

With CogniCX Digital Offerings and services, we help enterprises to successfully transform their process and enrich their customer journeys across all digital channels.

CogniCX’s Digital Platform is built on powerful technology tools of AI, Big Data, Machine Learning, OCR, RPA and Workflow engines. Our approach to transformation is customer centric and driven for future scalability.

CogniCX Digital Framework is designed to offer a very simple and structured approach. We design and implement digital solutions which are not only aligned with the organizations existing digital strategy - but will also provide you the flexibility to scale up or redesign in future.

We provide Process Automation with RPA, Digital Accounts and Product Onboarding Opening, Automated KYC, WhatsApp for business and Digital engagement, Chat-Bots and Virtual Assistants, Omni-Channel Management, Customer Journey Designing, Customer Engagement Hub. How do you stand out in this increasingly competitive market?

Amongst many players in the market who provide AI and NLP solutions, we differentiate by understanding the Business Value and IT Strategy of our prospect customers and design digital solutions with optimal usage of AI tools (NLP, NLU, Big Data, ML). We also have the ability to integrate the digital channels with Customer journey platforms and enable seamless automation to enhance CX. Our Cybersecurity practice is very unique.

We assess customers maturity in cyber security space and offer tailormade solutions. We bring in additional value by providing Consulting, Training and Managed service solutions customized to Customer’s needs.

What is your roadmap for the year 2019?

Our roadmap for 2019 is to broaden our customer base, strengthen our IP and deliver the best in class digital offerings.

As the VP and Head of Sales, what are your top 3 priorities for the company? l New Customer acquisition l Partner channel ecosystem development l Expanding to other regions in GCC ë

COVER STORY

WHEN AI POWERS BI AI and BI, the two significantly distinct technologies, are in many ways complementary for business. In order to enable competitive decision making, experts recommend a confluence of AI and BI for business to synthesize gigantic amounts of data into intelligible plans of action.

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COVER STORY

n B Y: D I V S H A B H AT < D I V S H A @ G E C M E D I A G R O U P. C O M > n P H O T O : S H U T T E R S T O C K

W

hile we sat down to research and write this story, it was quite evident that Business Intelligence does not depend on Artificial Intelligence presently, and less likely in the future as well. But during various interactions and discussions, we certainly found out that when

artificial intelligence is embedded in business applications, there has been incremental improvements in the sophistication.

Some of the evident results are; AI can enable BI tools to produce clear, useful insights from the data they analyse; It is quite convenient to break down data to granular levels when the system or application is powered by AI; AI also helps the

human operators analysing the results generated

by BI to comprehend and translate it into more powerful business decisions. In a nutshell, In order to enable competitive decision making, experts recommend a confluence of AI and BI for business to synthesize gigantic amounts of data into intelligible plans of action.

According to an IBMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research division orga-

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COVER STORY

“OUR AIM AND VISION IS TO USE THE POWER OF AI TO LEVEL THE FIELD BETWEEN OFFLINE AND ONLINE STORES, AND HELP BUSINESSES GET AHEAD OF THE DIGITAL EVOLUTION AND STAY ‘ALWAYS CONSUMER READY’,” SUNIL SURESH, CHIEF MARKETING AND STRATEGY OFFICER AT CAPILLARY TECHNOLOGIES

“CLOUDSPEND’S BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE (BI) INSIGHTS ENABLE BUSINESSES TO VISUALIZE RUNAWAY EXPENDITURES AND IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE BUDGET CONTROLS, WHILE REDUCING OPEX ACROSS MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS,” SRINIVASA RAGHAVAN, PRODUCT MANAGER, SITE24X7

“USING AI WILL HAVE HUGE VALUE TO FACILITIES MANAGEMENT (FM) SECTOR IN TERMS OF ANALYTICS, WHICH WILL THEN ENHANCE EXISTING PROCESSES IN FM SUCH AS ENERGY MANAGEMENT AND PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE,” JAMAL LOOTAH, PRESIDENT, MEFMA

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nizations should “rethink enterprise architecture and transform business processes by combining AI algorithms, distributed systems, human computer interaction, and software engineering.”

MIDDLE EAST KEEPS PACE WITH AI In the wake of the fourth industrial revolution, governments and organizations across the Middle East are beginning to realise the shift globally towards AI and advanced technologies. According to pwc, Middle East is expected to accure 2% of the total global benefits of AI in 2030 which is equivalent to US$ 320 billion.

The UAE has been a pioneer in preparing itself for the future with the launch of the ‘UAE AI Strategy 2031’by UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The strategy will take the country to new levels of smart government by streamlining and optimizing performance and efficiencies as it aims to save 50 percent of annual costs by strengthening interface convenience and tackling excessive transactions and wasted operational hours, amongst others.

“The speed at which consumers have evolved is astounding, especially in the Middle East. The widespread use of smartphones and the ability to access the internet from anywhere has empowered consumers to browse and shop instantly.

This trend has encouraged many brands and retailers to take their products online in addition to their offline stores. Our aim and vision is to use the power of AI to level the field between offline and online stores, and help businesses get ahead of the digital evolution and stay ‘Always Consumer Ready’,” added Sunil Suresh, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer at Capillary

Technologies.

“Using AI will have huge value to Facilities Management (FM) sector in terms of analytics, which will then enhance existing processes in FM such as energy management and predictive maintenance. The trend on intelligent buildings is set to be hastened by this technology and transform our processes. The possibilities are enormously going to change the way we perform FM roles as service failure can be predicted, automated delivery of services can be done and most importantly decision making is greatly enhanced.

Energy efficiency is also one area where AI can bring significant value, as more companies raise their efforts towards conserving resources and reducing carbon footprint,” said Jamal Lootah, President, MEFMA.

THE RISE OF BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE The Middle East region has seen significant growth in the business intelligence industry.

Enterprises have been taking advantage of the BI software. The growth of BI has made working with data easier than before. BI platforms are straightforward so that any employee can use them to gather and apply insights independently.

Enterprises do recognise that BI tools are vital when it comes to informing high-level decision making, by providing the means to gain an accurate insight into complex data.

The Seattle based coffee chain Starbucks is also a prominent user of BI technology according to reports. Through its popular Loyalty Card program, Starbucks is able to gather individualized purchase data of millions of customers. Using this information and BI software, the firm can then predict what purchases and offers an individual

COVER STORY

WHICH REGIONS WILL GAIN THE MOST FROM AI? EGYPT

AI CONTRIBUTION OF US$ 42.7 BN IN 2030

UAE

AI CONTRIBUTION OF US$ 96.0 BN IN 2030

SAUDI ARABIA

AI CONTRIBUTION OF US$ 135.2 BN IN 2030

GCC4 (BAHRAIN, KUWAIT, OMAN, QATAR) AI CONTRIBUTION OF US$ 45.9 BN IN 2030

customer is likely to be interested in.

With public cloud being cost effective and easy to set up, businesses tend to leverage them to digitize their services and achieve their business goals faster believes Srinivasa Raghavan, Product Manager, Site24x7. This often leads to complexities that arise due to unmonitored, underused or idle cloud resources on various platforms in multiple accounts, resulting in overspend. To eliminate these undesired expenses, organizations need a solution that can help monitor and optimize their cloud costs without impacting their services.

“Site24x7’s CloudSpend addresses these cost optimization issues with a holistic view of cloud expenditures across multiple accounts from a single console. CloudSpend also provides IT

teams (IT financial planners & cloud service providers) BI insights for addressing cloud cost adjustments that achieve priority-based resource allocation, and thus helps in reducing overall OpEx,” said Raghavan.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE Ninety percent of the global data has been generated over the last few years. Data has exploded way faster than the evolution of the human ability to understand and comprehend this data. And yet it is this very volume of data that overwhelms current generation BI tools, degrading the quality of their insights. Organizations have thus far addressed this challenge by hiring data scientists and business analysts, but exponentially growing

data volumes will soon inundate these professional too.

But fortunately for companies, AI is stepping in to address these challenges. AI solutions can rapidly analyze large quantities of diversified data, and automate the steps involved in BI and analytics to drive faster delivery of accurate insights. It is very clear that Artificial Intelligence powered BI systems can transform the business data into simple, accurate, real-time reports. Although the future remains uncertain, enterprises should embrace AI based BI tools that will keep them competitive in the tech market.

THE FUTURE AHEAD Undoubtedly, the Middle East region is on the edge of being a robust hub of innovation as it demonstrates strong commitment towards adopting the new technologies and staying inline with its vision. ë

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GUEST ARTICLE

AI: ON ITS WAY TO CHANGING BUSINESSES AND EVERYDAY LIFE Insights on how artificial intelligence can transform businesses and user experiences

What do self-driving cars, face recognition, web search, industrial robots, missile guidance, and tumor detection have in common? The answer is Artificial Intelligence.

At one time, machines emulating human interactions were just an idea once confined to Sci-Fi movies. However, since the dawn of the ‘intelligent machines’ in 1950s, science has come quite far in making AI a ubiquitous reality today.

From voice-powered personal assistants such as Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa to fundamental and underlying technologies like behavioral algorithms and suggestive searches, AI has quietly made its way into our lives in forms which once seemed implausible. While we are still in the nascent phase of AI technology, billions of dollars are being spent on research and development, helping to accelerate AI advancements.

AI represents a major step forward in how computer systems adapt, evolve and learn. Not only that, AI has widespread applications in almost every industry and is widely considered to be the next big technological shift, similar in scale to past shifts such as the industrial revolution, the computer age, and the smartphone revolution.

Let’s take a look at some of the everyday practical applications of AI: l Transportation – We are already witnessing the advent of automated transportation with Google’s self-driving cars, Tesla’s autopilot feature and Uber’s autonomous trucks. AI is also used in various parts of the world for traffic management operations like predicting and detecting accidents and conditions. l Finance – Finance giants like American Express are using AI bots to serve its customers online. Another advantage of employing robotic process automation for high-frequency repetitive tasks is the elimination of human error as well as

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reduction in costs. PayPal uses machine learning algorithms to detect and combat fraud in near real-time. Banks also employ artificial intelligence to reveal and prevent another infamous type of financial crime: money laundering. Machines recognize suspicious activity and help cut the costs of investigating alleged money-laundering schemes. l Customer Service – Rapid advances in Natural Language Processing (NLP) have made it possible for websites to enhance their customer service support through chatbots.

Studies indicate that by 2023-2025, 85% of all customer interactions will be handled without a human agent. Currently, in a 6 minute customer service call, 75% of that time is devoted to agents doing manual research, with valued customer interaction at a dismal 25%. Therefore, using AI to efficiently resolve customer service issues before they arise could significantly lower customer abandonment rates. l Healthcare – IBM’s AI application Watson is creating major breakthroughs with its potential to reduce diagnostic errors and identify potential treatment plans for cancer patients. Virtual nurses and drug discovery are other major AI benefits that the healthcare industry will see in the near future. From hospital care to clinical research, drug development and insurance, AI applications are revolutionizing how the health sector works to reduce spending and improve patient outcomes. l Retail and e-commerce – Walmart uses AI, machine learning, Internet of Things and big data to ensure a seamless experience between online and in-store customer experience. Amazon has also been working on it drone-based delivery to ship products faster and serve customers better.

The applications of AI in retail and e-commerce are endless. Gartner predicts that by 2020, over

n R O Y S T R I K , H E A D O F B U S I N E S S D E V E L O P M E N T, PEARSON PROFESSIONAL MIDDLE EAST

80% of all customer interactions will be handled

by AI. Not only that, 1 out of 5 consumers is willing to purchase goods from a chatbot and 40% of consumers use chatbots to look for offers and deals. What we are seeing is only the tip of the iceberg, and AI will change the way we buy and sell online. l Social Media –The use of AI is becoming increasingly more common in business. Social media is no different. Deep learning is used by all social media platforms today to process user data through neural networks and learn user preferences over time.

With AI progressing at such an incredible pace, it is equally clear that the way we work will also be redefined in the next five years. According to a new Gartner report, one in every five workers engaged in non-routine tasks will rely on AI to help with their work by the year 2022. The same report also estimates that by 2020, AI will eliminate 1.8 million jobs, but on the brighter side, it will also create 2.3 million new jobs that do not exist at present.

However, most professionals are not adequately prepared for this future. There is a very significant gap in their working knowledge.

The need of the hour is for professionals to be agile and change their skills over time in order to move AI projects from ideation to implementation. They can do this by investing in self learning with international certifications, online courses and blended executive education programs such as Pearson Professional programs, which span a variety of functions and industries. ë

GUEST ARTICLE

IMPROVE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Jessica Ekholm, VP Analyst, Gartner shares a five-step methodology for how application leaders can use AI to get faster, real-time understanding of customers.

Use these 5 steps to select the best AI solution for getting a faster, real-time understanding of your customers.

Better customer experience (CX), which leads to improved customer satisfaction, loyalty and advocacy, is a goal across many organizations.

A good understanding of customers is the first step toward an excellent customer experience, and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) can help accelerate this understanding.

“Machine learning, natural-language understanding and natural-language processing can help analyze customer sentiment and customer feedback at scale” The areas where AI can help include sales and marketing. AI tools offer white-space analysis for sales and can recommend immediate action on opportunities. In marketing, AI-powered solutions enable organizations to generate highly personalized messages at a scale that could not have been achieved using humans alone.

Additionally, virtual customer assistants powered

by AI can be used to improve the customer experience by reducing time to response.

“Among the many technology trends shaping 2019 and beyond, the adoption of AI when it comes to CX is one of the most exciting,” says Jessica Ekholm, VP Analyst, Gartner. “The use of AI technologies such as machine learning, naturallanguage understanding and natural-language processing can help analyze customer sentiment and customer feedback at scale, precision and speed not achievable through humans.”

Ekholm shares a five-step methodology for how application leaders can use AI to get faster,

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real-time understanding of customers.

STEP 1. FORMULATE THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE STRATEGY Before looking into what AI can do, you must have a CX vision and strategy in place. If there isn’t one already, take an active part in crafting one. Application leaders should lead the CX initiative together with a dedicated CX leader, or a customer service or customer relations lead, or the chief marketing officer.

STEP 2. MAP AND ANALYZE CUSTOMER JOURNEYS Map and analyze current customer journeys to understand the touchpoints and experiences that customers have with your brand — from discovery, presales, sales, customer service and beyond. A better understanding of how customers experience a brand provides the foundation on which AI can be used to improve customer journeys and benefit the business.

STEP 3. GET FAMILIAR WITH AI SOLUTION(S) SUITABLE FOR UNDERSTANDING CUSTOMERS FASTER AND MORE EFFICIENTLY Your organization may already have a wealth of valuable data from current CX tools, customer service and sales reps, social media, Net Promoter Scores and Customer Effort Scores; however, most of this data fails to reveal rich real-time customer insight. By using AI technologies it

n J E S S I C A E K H O L M , V P A N A LY S T, G A R T N E R

is possible to categorize, organize and analyze customer data in real time, whether to analyze the written or spoken word, and ultimately understand customer sentiment.

STEP 4. DECIDE WHETHER TO BUILD OR BUY Application leaders must decide whether to build or buy an AI solution. Decide if there’s enough skills and budget to create it in-house or if your organization is better off buying a CX/AI solution. When buying a solution, focus on how well the vendor prioritizes and how well they handle critical customer-understanding issues. Ensure the vendor will focus on this area through proofs of concepts or pilots.

STEP 5. TRACK AND MEASURE SUCCESS Measurement is the only way to answer the question “Is it working?” Find the metrics and key performance indicators to track the success of an AI/CX initiative. Aim for “early quick wins,” initiatives that can be tracked easily and have the ability to show success (or failure) fast, to build momentum for future initiatives. ë

INTERVIEW

HELPING BUSINESSES GROW AS AN IT AND TELECOM SOLUTIONS PROVIDER FOR TELCOS, ENTERPRISES AND SMES WITH COVERAGE IN MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA, NETS INTERNATIONAL HELPS CUSTOMERS TO PLAN, BUILD, SUPPORT AND MANAGE THEIR IT AND DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES. IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH JAHANGIR AHMAD, MANAGING DIRECTOR, NETS INTERNATIONAL.

integration solutions.

JAHANGIR AHMAD,

MANAGING DIRECTOR, NETS INTERNATIONAL.

n B Y: D I V S H A B H AT < D I V S H A @ G E C M E D I A G R O U P. C O M >

Tell us more about Nets International.

Nets International was established in 2008 but full-fledged operations started only in June 2010. With over 180+ employees, the company has served more than 100+ clients by providing solutions and services in the field of Enterprise Networking, Unified communications & Collaboration, Cloud integration, SDN/NFV, Information & Network security, Routing and Switching, Data Centers and Virtualization, Service Provider Network Solutions (FTTH/GPON & LTE) and emerging Next-Gen technology

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How have you seen the company/ industry evolved in the past few years?

The area that we started to operate was traditional ICT infrastructure solutions which includes routing and switching, telephony, network security, call centres, etc. This was our strength while we were operating outside Middle East, in Pakistan primarily. These markets have grown but the major shifts that we have seen in the last decade is that the networks are moving towards SDN and open source technologies. These are seen emerging in the Middle East market as well.

Organizations have started taking information security challenges seriously because of the growth in e-commerce, 5G, IoT, etc. The ICT market is evolving and we are in line with it. We want to make sure that we are ahead of the curve.

How was the year 2018 from a business perspective?

Although the region is under an economic slowdown due to infrastructure growth and Expo 2020, Nets International has grown about 60% in 2018. Our mantra has always been – “When the situation gets tough, the tougher gets going”.

We are well supported by our team. Our regional expansion in Saudi Arabia and Qatar is also helping us maintain our growth. Our goal is to have a combined revenue that will touch 100 million Dirhams by 2020.

Tell us in brief about your solutions and services. What demand do you see for your solutions in the region?

I would like to focus on the two key areas – l Access Networks – We are building networks for teclos for their broadband offerings like Fibre to the Home, Fibre to the Building, etc. Nets is involved in planning designing and implementation of these networks. About 50% to 60% of our revenue comes from this domain. We are the prime partners and contractors for Etisalat and du all across UAE.

Data Centre, Networking & Cloud Services – In this area, we are working in the domains all the key domains including IP Telephony routing and switching, data centres, wi-fi, hybrid cloud , information security etc.

We strongly believe these solutions will enable the enterprises to use digital technologies which will give them flexibility, agility, cost savings so that they can focus on their core business.

l

What is your go to market strategy in this region?

Our primary market strategy is to go direct.

We are doing indirect businesses with Cisco Systems, Westcon, Huawei, Ericsson, NEC, etc. for services.

Tell us about your recent partnerships.

We have signed with Suse for OpenStack and SDN and also their digital transformation solution. We also signed with Nexign. On the information security domain, we have signed with Sophos and currently we are in process of becoming partners with both Microsoft and Amazon for their public cloud. Our partnership with Cisco and Dell has been upgraded to Gold.

How is Nets International different from its competition?

We differentiate ourselves in terms of service reliability. We ensure that our services are delivered to customers on time and they achieve the required KPI. We are enabling ourselves to serve all infrastructure services under one roof.

So, with this blend of knowledge – planning, designing, implementation and operation, we are able to provide in-depth services.

As a MD, what are your top 3 priorities for the company? l Creating the best work environment for our people l Growing cautiously in the market segments we operate l Making an impact in the society with responsibility ë

FEATURE STORY

LET’S TALK

PROFIT From Cost center to Profit center— a short insight into how the journey of the IT department looks like with technologies evolving and business expectations rising

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FEATURE STORY

n B Y: A N U S H R E E D I X I T < A N U S H R E E @ G E C M E D I A G R O U P. C O M > n P H O T O : S H U T T E R S T O C K

I

n the late 2014 and early 2015, when traditional IT took a back seat to actively thrive as the spine of business, organizations started thinking how IT can demonstrate revenue-generating behavior. It opened doors and avenues to critical thinking and expert opinions polarized on if IT should actually generate revenue or maximize the revenue opportunities for business to follow?

As technologies continued to evolve, IT increasingly became the driving force behind the organizations success.

A few days back, while sitting with a CIO he told me about how his entire outlook has changed in the last five to six years. From his department’s role to deploying, maintaining and securing the technology infrastructure, the team started focusing more on shifting to OPEX models and started creating solid strategies and roadmap for operating IT as a shared service that not only takes the burden off the operations but also creates new avenues for the CEO and CFO to recognize and realize new business potentials.

HOW TO ALIGN? Well, the answer is quite simple here. If IT needs to focus on delivering profit models, then the

primary objective has to be in automating the dull and repetitive process that sit consuming the majority of the operation costs. This would include streamlining workflow and outsourcing functions that directly or indirectly hamper the desired outcomes.

Chris Pope, VP Innovation at ServiceNow says, “For too long IT has been thought of as a cost drain or a burden, which in the grand scheme of things is wrong. If you were to eliminate any cost center from an organization, the company would start to grind to a halt very quickly. Think about it this way, if the criteria of a cost center is to generate profit, then for example, HR would be a similar case to IT, in that it doesn’t generate profit.”

IT has a unique advantage of possessing the most powerful tool for analyzing and monitoring business performances and making quick, better and clear decisions. According to expert statements, ‘Technology is a critical strategic resource for most businesses today and IT is uniquely positioned to drive the needed innovation and growth. IT’s true impact on the bottom line and the business should be measured by the results, efficiencies and outcomes it helps deliver, whether or not the CIO manages to a formal P&L

each month.’

While discussing this topic with some of our industry associates, one of the interesting points that we came across was how the IT team should be constantly challenged to come out with innovative concepts that would match the objectives of the company. According to an Entrepreneur article, ‘If you start seeing your IT staff as your “innovation team,” you’ll empower them to transform your company for the better. Proper utilization of your IT team will allow them to locate and eliminate internal inefficiencies, identify opportunities through the analysis of data, determine technology threats and opportunities in the industry and better manage your customers through CRM tools.’

Thinking of your IT department as a driver of business growth can only improve your company.

Instead of focusing on its cost, look at the areas where it pays for itself, and then some. Increasing internal efficiency lowers costs and helps keep you competitive, and IT is a means for connecting you to potential clients in an increasingly technological world.

WHAT TO ALIGN? In the race to generate profit, departments

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FEATURE STORY

“MIDDLE EAST BOARDROOMS ARE CHANGING THEIR MINDSET TO VIEW THE IT DEPARTMENT AS VITAL WAY TO REDUCE TOTAL COST OF OPERATIONS AND TO HELP BOOST REVENUE.” SAVITHA BHASKAR, COO, CONDO PROTEGO

“IT NOW, MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, HAS A SEAT AT THE TABLE, SO ALIGNMENT WITH AND SUPPORT OF THE COMPANY STRATEGY IS KEY. QUALITY, PRICE, SERVICE, SPEED? ALIGNMENT TO CUSTOMER JOURNEYS AND DEMAND ALL HELP TO ALIGN WITH THE STRATEGY.” CHRIS POPE, VP INNOVATION AT SERVICENOW

seldom forget the core objective for which it all started. One of the key priorities that IT has on its shoulder when it embarks on the cost-to-profit journey is to shorten the long sales and follow-up cycle by creating tools and techniques that not only monitor the prospects and customers but also measure the success and metrics that needs to be evaluated. Some of the other core objectives have to be; l Automate your business processes l Encourage more data-driven decision making l Ideate and prioritize operations l Bring a cultural change Savita Bhaskar, COO of Condo Protego says, “Middle East boardrooms are changing their mindset to view the IT department as vital way to reduce total cost of operations and to help boost revenue. In the Middle East, IT departments are leading organization-wide digital transformation agendas on top of modernized IT infrastructure.

Digital transformation is making the IT department a profit center, thanks to lower spending,

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more efficiency, and increased automation of systems to free up staff to focus on supporting business innovation.”

“Middle East boardrooms that are openminded and view the IT department as profit centers can further expand their business and implement digital solutions. In our discussions with customers, organizations that are early adopters of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, hybrid cloud, and the Internet of Things are the organizations that will be the most competitive,” she adds.

A REAL USE CASE Ashith Piriyattiath, CIO, Al Masah Capital We were centralizing the IT department with full capability off shore Backoffice and our own Private CLOUD Datacentre. We are building our own offshore IT back office in India with centre of Excellence team responsible for Business Applications & Digital and online reputation management team, NOC, SOC, Digital Innovations team and 24 hours Helpdesk with Call Centre . In this way, we are restricting our onsite resources in Dubai and building a skilled employee’s team in India which will significantly give us a better control, security and stability in addition to all the benefits of PRIVATE CLOUD Datacentre.

Talking about the benefits reaped, Ashith adds, “Firstly, I identified where the money is going.

63% of my IT operations goes into payroll and more than 25% is going towards cloud charges and 12% is going towards annual maintenance contracts. The major benefit as I mentioned earlier, we were spending 2 million USD and now we are generating the same revenue. This entity itself is a profit generating entity, which means we don’t have to bother other group entities/ parent companies to meet our expenses. On top of this, we have better centralized control,

security and stability. This project itself is two components – private cloud data centre and our back office. By having our own private cloud, it has its own benefits. The other benefit of having centralized IT is having better centralized control on infrastructure, data sovereignty belongs to us, better SLA to support. My new team is equipped with a business application or ERP development support. We have in-house team available for digital marketing, call centre to support business entities. We are benefitting in terms of purchases of licences. We are getting special prices from vendors. Also, being into the financial segment and into other segments, the fintech product integration with multiple security levels, we could build in house. Now my team is exploring capable of building blockchain in capital market, healthcare, education, etc. We have separate NOC and SOC team which is capable of building the architecture. I am also in discussion with HP, Samsung to have their own experimental labs in our education institutions.” ë

GUEST ARTICLE

IT LEADERS’ CHALLENGES: A SHORTAGE OF TALENT AND A NEED TO REINVENT CULTURES CIOs today must master the difficult balance between managing the risks of deploying immature technologies and those of being left behind by emerging, disruptive trends if they are to help their businesses drive profitable growth in the years to come. n MANSOOR SARWAR, DIRECTOR - TECHNICAL SERVICES AND PRE-SALES, SAGE MIDDLE EAST

Disruptive technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning will transform the way we do business over the decade, yet they are not quite ready for prime-time deployment.

In the Middle East, countries like the UAE have launched a national strategy for AI to make it an integral part of business and government services.

Organisations in the UAE have started to experiment with the tech in non-critical applications so that they are ready when the technologies go mainstream. For instance, Bee’ah, the leading environmental management company in the UAE, recently announced that its new headquarters will be the first fully AI integrated building in the region.

IoT plus blockchain will enable a wide variety of new business opportunities in the future.

Though they are evolving, they have a decade or more before they are truly mature. A lack of standardisation, the business process changes it will demand, and the impact of large ledger sizes on network and computing resources are among the challenges for blockchain.

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IT’S TIME TO EXPERIMENT (AND LEARN) Constant experimentation and innovation are essential if companies are to keep up with the rate of change.

We recommend doing 6-8-week experiments to start the digital transformation journey. Fail fast, fix, and move on. But organisations that start this journey will find themselves challenged by a shortage of digital talent, difficulties in scaling up small-scale experiments and a need to reinvent organisational cultures for constant innovation.

WHERE IS THE TALENT? Organisations need strong in-house technical knowledge and skills in IoT and blockchain to manage vendor risk in these emerging areas.

Companies need people able to evaluate the specialist offerings from niche vendors so that they can make good choices in a complex and constantly changing landscape.

One thing’s for sure: top quality IT talent has never been in more demand, so make sure your business is set up to attract and retain it.

INNOVATION AS PART OF THE CULTURE Many large organisations are treating innovation and disruption as separate disciplines because of the challenges of driving change in an established business and securing the right skills. Companies are pursuing a slew of strategies to drive innovation in their businesses, ranging from setting up venture capital funds and incubators and investing in tech and digital companies to running innovation challenges and forming strategic alliances with tech companies.

Blockchain and IoT will one day affect everyone from risk and compliance to production to sales to finance. Every team needs to start to understand what these technologies mean for the company’s future, and adopt innovation as part of its mandate.

It can’t be stressed enough that innovation cannot happen in isolation - it must be part of the organisation’s culture. The IT team needs to develop new skills and change its culture to support the organisation as it integrates new technologies into the business. They will need vision and storytelling skills to help the organisation prepare for this change. ë

INTERVIEW

CHAMPIONING THE CHANNEL

AS A10 NETWORK’S REGIONAL CHANNEL HEAD OF MENA, EHAB HALABLAB HAS ON-BOARDED A VERY DISRUPTIVE TRAIN THAT IS CHUGGING ITS WAY THROUGH SEVERAL CRITICAL GROWTH AND SUCCESS STRATEGIES.

In the process of following the pursuit of creating a winning business strategy, seldom the idea of growing together takes a backseat. Ehab Halablab, A10 Network’s newly appointed Regional Channel Head of MENA, believes that he is here to demystify concepts. In a region where channel-driven business rules the roost, Ehab says that he is all hands full to inspire the company’s channel ecosystem like never before with key products like The Affinity Partner Program and ATC (Authorized Training Centre) that was launched in Dubai recently.

While Ehab has many priorities lined up for the year 2019, the one which attracted us more was his vision to ‘turn distributors into value-added distributors’. So, what does Ehab wants to achieve?

“All of A10 Network’s programs, campaigns and incentives will be driven through our value added distributors and we shall propel the partners’ go-to-market strategy in line with this. By doing this, we are also making sure that the distributor has more professional services in his portfolio to be delivered to our customers.” The company will be actively onboarding new potential partners in the region that will be focused on our business. The internal sales team will also be seeding new business opportunities that will be fulfilled through resellers in the region. In addition, Ehab will be focused on strengthening local ties with the company’s alliance partners like HP, Nokia Systems, Ericsson and NEC. Ehab further states that the company is also building stronger incentive programs and adding it to their portfolio to ensure the partners grow with them and speak in a single voice to the customers. “We have been strategically devising and building relevant campaigns which we can push to our channel and motivate them to double or triple the existing profit margin.

We are also making certain changes to our distribution landscape as well. Certain strategies are being evaluated and planned. The launch of the Authorized Training Center here is also a vital step towards that. The ATC would be a first-of-

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its-kind in the region to educate partners and customers.

A10 Network’s ATCs will be regularly launching monthly sessions at the beginning of each quarter. There is also going to be the launch of a partner training program called ‘RiDerS’ which will give an opportunity to channel system engineers to gain the requisite high level of security knowledge.”

“I am planning to push the channel relationships to more mature levels and create a stronger and profitable business model for everyone to ensure that all our channel partners are a part of this success,” he adds.

Second priority on the desk is to champion the company’s Affinity Partner Program which leverages incentive programs, co-partner end-user events, and vertical focused events to drive partner engagement and opportunities.

Ehab says that partners can expect some big announcements coming their way in 2019 that promises richer offerings and benefits to the partners on board. He also adds that they would be investing heavily into direct enablement of partners. This would include quarterly or bi-monthly enablement session for partners in major regions and also include online sessions that would keep the partners updated, regardless of the geography they are in. The session not only taps regional but global cases as well. “We believe in having a healthy partner relationship where we sit together to drive and discuss business growth.

We are accountable to our customers as it is not a one-time contract that they sign-up for. With A10 Networks, a customer’s journey is continuous wherein we keep on adding layers and layers of processes customized as per their need.

We are the consultants to our partners, as they are for their customers and it is a long term relationship. We help the customers move from a pure on-prem to a hybrid cloud environment. Hence it is very important that our partners are up-to-date with our offerings and strategy.” ë

INTERVIEW

EHAB HALABLAB, REGIONAL CHANNEL MANAGER â&#x20AC;&#x201C; MENA AT A10 NETWORKS

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INTERVIEW

KEEPING PACE WITH TECHNOLOGIES KUWAIT BASED – ZENITH BUSINESS SOLUTIONS BELIEVES THAT TECHNOLOGY IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF EMPOWERING PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS GLOBALLY. IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ENTERPRISE CHANNELS MEA, SYED ABBAS ALI, DIRECTOR FOR THE COMPANY SHARES THEIR PLANS AND BUSINESS MODELS.

to deliver the best in class technologies both on-premise and cloud platform that is aligned with customers’ business objectives.

SYED ABBAS ALI,

DIRECTOR, ZENITH BUSINESS SOLUTIONS

Tell us about Zenith Business Solutions and your operations in the Middle East.

Zenith Business Solutions is a Systems Integration company headquartered in Kuwait.

Partnered with WinMethods in UAE and India, the companies jointly operate to serve Middle East and Asian markets. We are one of the trusted integrators to various industries of education, oil & gas, finance and leasing, and retail.

We take up end-to-end projects, from design to go-live stage; and beyond to achieve customer satisfaction and partner with them to obtain the maximum ROI. We deliver solutions that bring real business value and accelerate enterprise business strategy. The solutions offered are optimized

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What are the cutting-edge solutions that you bring to the market? What demand do you see for your solutions?

Zenith Business Solutions believes that technology is at the very forefront of empowering people and organizations worldwide. We aim at ensuring that we have a complete understanding of the latest technology and its requirements in the client-specific environment for them to have a cutting edge in their business operations.

Our expertise in the area of cloud technologies and business intelligence has given us an edge in the market wherein cross vertical and scalable solutions are required.

As part of our solutions with immersive learning, we offer Augmented and Virtual Reality Solutions. We hold strong experience in the field of AR/VR solutions which enables us to deliver superior solutions and content. By understanding the various business opportunities technically, we are also implementing the Internet of Things solutions thereby overcoming various challenges and reducing TCO for our customers. Our customers transform with the Internet of Things, get future-ready, and boost profits with scalable solutions.

Describe your core strengths and how do you differ from your competition?

With years of individual and combined experience, our team takes pride in serving as trusted advisors for our customers. Our depth of knowledge and subject matter expertise across the full IT spectrum enables us to serve as enterprise architecture consultants with a complete 360degree view. Our solutions are backed by a host of professional services comprising of consultancy, deliveries, deployment, implementations, services, as well as post deployment support.

Using a consultative approach, our experts identify the areas customers’ business can benefit

from our solutions and services. Our methodology is aimed at ensuring that we have a complete understanding of customers’ existing infrastructure and a clear focus on business and budgetary requirements.

What is your go to market strategy and who are the partners you work with?

We identify the customer needs, understand the current requirements and purchasing capabilities and connect through the right channels. We also create interest among the potential customers through portfolio management, telesales and product/service campaigns. We believe in the power of satisfied customer references and digital marketing. We develop a win-win value proposition with both customers and vendors/partners.

We have selected our partners with whom we have strategically aligned and have invested in certifications for our personnel to deliver the best practise of the technologies. Some of our partners are – Microsoft, HPE, Aruba, AWS, Dell, Google Cloud, Cisco, Symantec, Salesforce, Sonicwall, Fortinet, VMware, Epicor, Sage, etc What plans do you have for the year 2019 and beyond?

Zenith Business Solutions aims at accelerating success by expanding the footprint and customer base within GCC and US region, in the area of cloud and BI, AR, VR, AI and ML. The underlying platform being cloud, cloud selling has dramatically impacted the way businesses buy software. And as the cloud layers have matured from IaaS to PaaS to SaaS sales over the years, it has transformed the playing field for providers along the way. The most critical implications of maturation to cloud service sales teams are two-fold; the increased proliferation of services being provided at each layer within the cloud and the commoditization of infrastructure services as buyers now expect to consume SaaS. This we see as our future path and are investing our efforts and resources in this area. The future for us isn’t up in the air — it’s in the clouds, with roots firmly on the ground. ë

INTERVIEW

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A CHANNEL CHIEF

IN THE INDUSTRY, THERE ARE A FEW UNIQUE ROLES AND ONE OF THEM IS - A CHANNEL CHIEF. MAHMOUD AL-YAHYA, MIDDLE EAST OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR XEROX SHARE WITH US HIS ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND PLANS FOR THE COMPANY.

MAHMOUD AL-YAHYA, MIDDLE EAST OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR XEROX

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: I am the regional general manager for Xerox in the Middle East. I have been working with Xerox since 2013. My role is to lead channel distribution in the Middle East for Xerox. I handle 15 distributors from 11 countries including the GCC, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Pakistan. My responsibility is to ensure that the Xerox business is prospering constantly and to guarantee our partners are able to cater to different markets and provide their clients with the best technology available from Xerox.

We handle our partners through these four key pillars: 1. Alignment – this is to ensure our vision, strategy and focus of both the channel and Xerox’ vision needs to clearly transpire to the market through the channel. We also need to be aware of the objectives and strategic ambitions of our channels to ensure we help our partners achieve their objectives. It’s a mutual process between us where we layout what we both want to achieve.

Accordingly, we ensure the right resources are in place and aligned to maximize business opportunities. This includes having a trained sales force, trained service force and a trained market-

they have the right alliances to be able to cater to the needs of their clients in the market.

4. Marketing – the final pillar, marketing, this includes supporting all marketing related activities. Such as market intelligence by providing market data, insights and actions which need to be derived. Also, a competitive face off by establishing what do we have that our competitors don’t.

Which will allow us to face any difficulties in the market. We support marketing events, workshops, sponsorships and above the line advertising.

Here you have a brief synopsis of what we do to support our channel partners here in the Middle East. ing team to provide the full Xerox experience to our partners.

2. Training and Development – we believe our employees must be constantly trained and up to date with the latest technology. As this guarantees our clients in the Middle East are getting the best Xerox experience possible.

We offer our training through three different platforms: l Online l Face-to-face sessions – these training sessions are held in specific countries or by grouping countries together in one region to conduct the training sessions. l Job coaching – we have a team of regional business development managers who report to me, each of these managers are responsible for a number of countries. The managers travel to these countries to provide support and training to the partners.

3. Sales Management- this pillar allows the partners to maximize the conclusion of deals and ensure that the pipeline is constantly healthy and always replenished with new opportunities.

This includes helping them have the right market coverage strategy and helping them work with different vendors in the region and make sure

DAY TO DAY LIFE: As I am regional general manager this means I travel a lot. When I am not travelling, I try to stick to a simple routine. I wake up at 6:15am every morning and I work out at 7am. It is important for me to have a healthy body and start the day with a clear and fresh mind.

I am online 24/7, so my first task of the day includes catching up on emails and drawing an agenda of all the important activities I need to complete throughout that day.

The best way to measure performance is to have clear key performance indicators. In addition to that, it is important to ensure we are doing the right activities to achieve our goals. To do this, I make it my priority to be constantly engaged with team members and partners to ensure all communication channels are open. Therefore, if the partners need any support, insights or new perspectives at any time, I am there to provide it.

To unwind, I like to spend time with my wife and my family. We enjoy going for walks on Kite beach when the weather is pleasant. We also enjoy activities whether it’s going to a resort, a trip to the desert or visiting the mall for a nice meal with friends and family. ë

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VERTICAL ANALYSIS

TRANSFORMING THE

DIGITAL UTILITY

Power & Utilities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; what was once thought as a conservative and slow-moving industry, has witnessed a wide array of innovation from within and outside the traditional organization. Understanding the business trends is a vital requirement for energy and utility sectors to create a successful IT strategy in this region.

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VERTICAL ANALYSIS

n W O R D S : D I V S H A B H AT < D I V S H A @ G E C M E D I A G R O U P. C O M > n P H O T O : S H U T T E R S T O C K

D

igitization has helped organizations in all verticals generate greater efficiencies across their operational business units and stay ahead of the competition in the rapidly changing markets. The power and utilities industry is also trying to reinvent themselves as digital enterprise by adopting digital ways of working and modernizing IT. For utility companies, transforming operations and systems with digital technologies can create substantial value: a reduction in operating expenses of up to 25 percent, which can translate into lower revenue requirements or higher profits reports McKinsey. The report also states performance gains of 20 to 40 percent in such areas as safety, reliability, customer satisfaction, and regulatory compliance are also achievable. These prospects have led utilities to launch all sorts of efforts to use digital technologies: reimagining

customer journeys, adding digital leak detectors to gas grids, using predictive models to schedule maintenance and other asset-management activities, and equipping field workers with mobile devices that let them access technical instructions while in the field, to name a few.

TRANSFORMATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST The Middle East’s energy sector is experiencing a notable transformation. But while rising power demand is nothing new for the region, the approach to developing electricity infrastructure is changing significantly.

According to reports, in October 2018, Oman based oil firm PDO (Petroleum Development Oman) granted a contract to a consortium led

by Japan’s Marubeni to develop an MW PV solar plant. This was followed by the submission of bids from three global consortiums for the

country’s first grid-connected 500MW Ibri PV solar project. State Utility Oman Power and Water Procurement Company have begun the procurement process for choosing specialists for the next major solar project which will have a capacity of up to 1000MW. Bahrain and Kuwait are not way behind.

Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) is preparing to develop a 1GW solar project at the Shagaya Renewable Energy Park.

Moving towards the African continent, North Africa, Algeria, Tunisia are seeking to follow the direction of Egypt and Morocco both of which are implementing significant renewable energy programs.

There are a few external factors that are transforming energy and utility company’s business models, including climate and environmental legislation, technology innovations, distributed generation, storage and management, and

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“THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURES COMBINED WITH A NEED TO STREAMLINE OPERATIONS, REDUCE COSTS, AND ENSURE RELIABILITY HAVE PLACED NEW CHALLENGES ON UTILITY NETWORKS,” AZZ-EDDINE MANSOURI, GENERAL MANAGER AT CIENA MIDDLE EAST.

“WE ALWAYS SEEK TO OFFER BEST-IN-CLASS SOLUTIONS TO OUR CUSTOMERS AIMING TO EMBRACE THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION THROUGH DIGITALIZATION.,” NADER EL HAMMAD, MARKETING MANAGER. AITS MENA.

consumer behaviour believes Ciena Middle East.

The aging infrastructures combined with a need to streamline operations, reduce costs, and ensure reliability have placed new challenges on utility networks.

“It is undeniable that the industry is undergoing a comprehensive transformation as it modernizes to a more efficient and smarter grid. Due to these factors, utility companies are facing challenges when it comes to managing multi-vendor, multi-domain networks that can cope with millions of customers. Motivated by these challenges, the open movement approach has been at the forefront of discussions as open networks provide new business opportunities through a transformational change in how utility networks are designed and operated. The adoption of open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) allows the entire utility network to be abstracted to where smart meters and IoT are already rapidly headed. This will allow utilities to abstract and virtualize their entire network from end-to-end,” said Azz-Eddine Mansouri, General Manager at Ciena Middle East.

UAE ENERGY STRATEGY 2050 The United Arab Emirates has always been at the forefront of everything. The country plans well

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ahead in advance with its visions. Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has unveiled the UAE energy strategy for the next three decades.

The new energy strategy, announced in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, aims to increase the contribution of clean energy in the total energy mix to 50 percent, thus saving AED700 billion by 2050. It also seeks to increase consumption efficiency of individuals and corporates by 40 percent.

According to the Ministry of Energy and Industry, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said the UAE Energy Plan for 2050 is targeting an energy mix that combines renewable, nuclear and clean energy sources to meet the UAE’s economic requirements and environmental goals. He also said that the UAE aims to invest AED600 billion by 2050 to meet the growing energy demand and ensure sustainable growth of the country’s economy.

The new energy plan balances between supply and demand, and takes into consideration the international commitments in term of environment. It also ensures a comfortable economic environment for growth across the sectors, stated MOEI – UAE. The plan is a joint effort of all energy-related authorities and executive councils in the UAE, and comes under the supervision of the federal government, represented by the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and The Future.

and exchange are rising exponentially, creating digital threats but also relevant opportunities.

Organizations from the digital economy are disrupting the industrial landscape, while governments and regulatory bodies seek to promote smarter measuring systems and greener standards for generation and consumption.

To succeed amid these hurdles, the utility of the future will be a wholly digital system. This means that today’s utilities face a digital transformation of their organization and business. This can begin with quick progress to improve efficiency and expand the customer base.

Driven by regulatory and consumer pressures, power and utilities are seeking higher efficiency, reliability and safety says Nader El Hammad, Marketing Manager, AITS MENA. “Utilities, both public and private, are investing in technology to reduce costs, drive efficiency, increase competitive advantage and support emerging business models. They are looking for better ways to collect, analyze and act on increasingly larger data stores.”

“We always seek to offer best-in-class solutions to our customers aiming to embrace the fourth industrial revolution through digitalization.

For the monitor and control applications, our customers trust Wonderware System Platform and the Citect SCADA offerings to implement the most comprehensive operations and information management systems, available anywhere, anytime and in all contexts. Our solutions portfolio is continuously and proactively evolving cater for the changing market dynamics,” he adds.

THE DIGITAL UTILITY – CHALLENGES

The power and utilities market are all set to reap huge rewards by improving processes through digitalization. Organizations should identify the needs and opportunities and thoughtfully design processes and strategies. ë

McKinsey states - Renewables, smart grids, etc need new skills and are triggering new business models regulatory frameworks. Data collection

THE WAY AHEAD

GUEST ARTICLE

IOT CAN HELP SHIFT HIGH STREET RETAIL INTO THE DIGITAL FUTURE

Retail sales in the Middle East is booming. Customers are getting smarter about their shopping choices and their expectations of the retail experience are accelerating quickly. Non-store retailing, which includes online shopping, direct selling, mobile internet, social media and home shopping, is expected to increase at a rapid pace.

Technology can certainly help in enticing customers into stores and plugging the growth gaps retailers are suffering. One technology that is touted to disrupt retail is the Internet of Things (IoT), which, if it is used in the right way, can build a competitive differentiation. According to Aruba research, early adopters of IoT are already reaping benefits that include improved customer experience (81%); improved visibility across organizations (78%); and increased profitability (74%).

This is particularly true for those businesses that are aiming to digitise the bricks and mortar stores with innovations like IoT. Amazon has taken the first step into the unknown with its Amazon Go stores that are totally checkout-less and function with a network of cameras and sensors that detect what has been bagged by shoppers to purchase.

Here’s a few practical steps that high street retailers in the Middle East could be taking to increase in-store footfall and subsequent profits: INCREASING FOOTFALL WITH LOCATION-BASED SERVICES An in-store digital experience is crucial for retailers to compete with online retailers, but the first obstacle to overcome is to get customers to step inside. It’s clear that most customers often have their smartphone in hand that typically has data and location information switched on, so why not use that to the store’s advantage by sending them personalised, live offers to tempt them? This is achieved through enticing customers to sign

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on to the shop’s Wi-Fi network, downloading the app and sending subsequent push notification whenever they are within range of the beacons that recognise their location.

IoT technology keeps the in-store experience interesting, immersive and allows retailers to consistently innovate their in-store offering. Innovation brings various outcomes and is replicable across big and small brick and mortar stores.

The Home Depot, notorious for its large stores, are deploying location-based services to help customers navigate vast estates. By proposing that customers access the app, it is possible for them to use their phones to inquire about the location of certain products, leaving sales associates to focus on selling goods. Specially built applications and beacon technology can then use the in-store connectivity to direct customers to the exact location of the products they are after.

DEEPENING IN STORE ENGAGEMENT BY GOING DIGITAL Brick and mortar stores can also compete with their online and high street rivals by proposing exclusive partnerships, offers and experiences to customers.

Once consumers are in-store, the advantage is with the retailers in grabbing their attention with new, exciting offers. Another method is arming employees with tablets to help them assist customers with finding out whether the right sizes are in stock, or the goods they are after are available. For larger stores, this could also help

n J A M I L A H M A D , C O U N T R Y M A N A G E R – K S A AT A R U B A , A H E W L E T T PA C K A R D E N T E R P R I S E C O M PA N Y

employees restock more efficiently.

Using these devices as point-of-sales could also free up employees from the tether of wired registers, allowing them to be with customers through their purchasing journey.

GATHERING CUSTOMER INSIGHT TO INNOVATE Learning the behaviour of customers in-store is key to improving the effectiveness of offers and store layouts. One way to get to know the customer is to capture the data they create if they are accessing the retailer’s application in-store, or use touch screens for information.

Once this data is analysed, a picture of the customer and their interests can be built, enabling sales assistants to better cater to individual needs.

Gathered data can also be used to improve the physical layouts of stores by using the contextual information customers provide through their app usage. High-traffic areas can be used to issue information and communications of sales offers and new goods available.

Real-time Information about how busy the stores get – especially during the festive season – can also enable stores to better plan the staffing rotas to ensure it’s at optimal staffing capacity, saving stores money in the long run.

The retail industry has the opportunity of being disruptive and offering consumers a unique in-store experience. This has been touted for years but the technology available now can make this a reality. ë

INTERVIEW

ENDLESS SOLUTIONS

ESTABLISHED IN 1996, KTC INTERNATIONAL HAS A VAST EXPERIENCE THAT HAS ENABLED THE COMPANY TO BE ONE OF THE LEADERS IN THE INDUSTRY TODAY BELIEVES JAMSHID VADIEE, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY. READ ON TO KNOW MORE…

JAMSHID VADIEE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, KTC INTERNATIONAL

Variable Message Signs, Speed and Red Light Enforcement, Security and Access Control Solutions, CCTV Solutions and a wide variety of other solutions related to Parking, Traffic, Security and Information Technology systems.

“We provide endless solutions with high standard products. From providing solutions to implementations, we are proud to say that we have the best expertise in this field,” he adds.

ALIGNED WITH THE UAE VISION

n B Y: D I V S H A B H AT < D I V S H A @ G E C M E D I A G R O U P. C O M >

A

civil engineer by profession, Jamshid Vadiee, currently the Managing Director for KTC International established the company in 1996 along with his partner. Today, the company has more than 1000+ resources all over the GCC region. KTC international provides solutions in two division – construction and automation.

“After 22 years of experience, we can proudly say that we are one of the leaders in this domain in the GCC region. Some of our major customer success stories are with Dubai RTA, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai Airport, Dubai Police, dnata, etc. Our strength includes sales and support” said Jamshid.

KTC international is building a strong relationship with prominent clients for the last 15 – 17 years. Taking an example, Jamshid says – “We installed the first parking system in Majid Al Fut-

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taim in 2001 and till date working with them. Our prime goal is the satisfaction of our clients.”

The company’s mission is to stay committed to executing the work to the highest quality standard and the satisfaction of its customers.

ENDLESS SOLUTIONS In a busy country like the United Arab Emirates, traffic control and management was complex.

Jamshid recalls how two decades earlier, there were no problems to find a parking space and lately with the increasing number of constructions and populations, parking and traffic control play a vital role. The solutions provided by KTC includes Extra Low Voltage, on-street and off-street parking management and guidance systems Intelligent Traffic Management Systems, Automatic Fare Collection, Fleet Management Solutions, Trolley Management Solutions,

KTC International is also aligned strongly with the Smart City vision of the Government. “We are working towards the Smart City vision. We are in line with the future plans for Dubai Police, RTA, etc. Educating our clients and spreading awareness about the market direction and new solutions available in the industry is one of our major responsibilities. We ensure that the new release of our products and technologies are matching the client’s requirement” he added. With a direct market approach strategy, KTC International is trying to reduce the communication gap to better serve the customers.

STANDING APART FROM THE REST With the growing number of competitions in the market, KTC’s objectives are to furnish cost effective and state of the art products, services to provide customer support on time. The company is also planning to enter the fields of Smart and Green Energy. “With our diversified solutions and services, we have a better relationship with the clients which makes us stand apart from the rest,” concludes Jamshid. ë

RHEINKONTAKT

G

ermany based enterprise business systems and IT solutions and services company, RheinBrücke IT Consulting in association with Epicor Software Corporation successfully launched the Epicor on the Cloud solution for enterprises in the Middle East region on the 30th of April 2019 at Taj Dubai, Business Bay during their RheinKontakt 2019 event.

The event managed by GEC Media Group and attended by His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Bin Faisal Bin Khalid Al Qassimi, members of the royal family and 150+ CXO and CEO level executives was a staggering success.

The event also formally launched the local LLC subsidiary of RheinBrücke IT consulting GmbH in Dubai to strengthen its long-term commitment in the region and deliver world class solutions through this venture.

His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Al Noman, Chairman, RheinBrücke Middle East Infrastructure LLC addressed the guests with a keynote speech. “As chairman of RheinBrücke Middle East Infrastructure LLC, I would like to take this opportunity to formally launch our company to be identified as a Cloud ERP HUB for the Middle East region by collaborating closely with Epicor, its partners and other associated ecosystems across the GCC. Our objective with this venture is to nurture a collaborative ecosystem of partnerships across Middle East that will enable digital transformation of enterprises across the GCC and strengthen our long-term commitment in the region by delivering world class solutions through this venture,” Mr. Andy Coussins, SVP & Head International, Epicor shared his insights on how the Cloud solution will be a game-changer in disrupting businesses across the Middle East region. He said, “Epicor minimizes the complexities of traditional ERP to deliver a solution that emphasizes ease of use, collaboration and responsiveness. With the flexibility to run your business in the Cloud, Epicor delivers a comprehensive set of global functionalities—enabling you to drive profitability, inspire innovation and respond quickly to an evolving business environment.

To strengthen our commitment to the region, we have partnered with our largest partner in the region, RheinBrücke IT consulting to bring

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Registration desk at RheinKontakt 2019.

Supporting social causes through participation of Al Noor Training Centre at RheinKontakt 2019.

Left to right Suresh Chandrasekharan, Chief Solutions Architect at RheinBrücke; Rich Murr, Chief Information Officer at Epicor; Anders Sulbæk, General Manager at FLSmidth; Andy Coussins, SVP and Head of International Sales, Epicor; Miguel Angel Villalonga, VP Cloud and Data Centre at Etisalat Digital.

Epicor ERP on the Cloud to the Middle East region,” The evening was followed by a captivating panel discussion focusing on the power of the most useful resource of the 21st century — DATA. The topic of discussion, ‘DATA is the new OIL’ gave the audience great insights on how enterprises across the GCC countries can leverage Epicor ERP on the cloud and SMART solutions to further their digital transformation journeys.

Mr. Anders Sulbaek, General Manager and Head of Business Solutions at FLSmidth A/S. who was the esteemed moderator for the evening provided the audience with key insights on the digital transformation journey of one of RheinBrücke’s key customers, global engineering

company, FLSmidth and Co A/S The esteemed panellists for the evening were Mr. Andy Coussins (SVP and Head International, Epicor Software), Mr. Rich Mürr (Chief Information Officer, Epicor Software), Mr. Miguel Angel Villalonga (Vice President Cloud & Data Centre at Etisalat Digital) and Mr. Suresh Chandrasekharan (CTO, RheinBrücke IT Consulting). One of the thoughts that emerged from the discussion is that, for digital revolution to add value to business, it must simultaneously address emerging cyber security and sustainability challenges.

The panel discussion created a huge impact on the minds of the audience and widened their perspective on how Digital transformation has

RHEINKONTAKT

Data is the new oil, MC opens RheinKontakt 2019.

Andy Coussins, SVP and Head International, Epicor talks about regional cloud hosting and adoption initiatives.

Welcome speech by HE Mohamed Hassan Al Noman, Chairman, RheinBrücke Middle East Infrastructure.

HE Marwan Hareb, Director of Investments and Promotions, Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Vetri Selvan, Managing Partner of RheinBrücke IT Consulting, sign a Memorandum of Understanding.

introduced new capabilities for organisations to take advantage of the opportunities of new technologies. Key takeaways from the session were: l How to identify the digital technologies that best support your digital transformation roadmap l How to leverage technology and digital to access new markets l How to build a security conscious culture when growing your business l Understanding the process required for business growth and continuous improvement The powerful new collaboration between RheinBrücke IT Consulting and the Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry was sealed by the signing of the MoU by representatives of both organisations present at the event. The Ajman chamber of commerce and Industry is regarded as one of the most important agencies serving the private sector as it acts on representing the economic interests of the establishments and the

individuals in an aim to develop and enhance their economical roles through providing various services and by representing the sector’s interests before governmental authorities, in addition to providing support.

This new strategic partnership shall facilitate the digital transformation of the Chamber of Commerce and the entities that fall under its purview and thus further the vision for digital innovation across the region. His Excellency Marwan Hareb, Director of Investments and Promotions, Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Mr. Vetri Selvan, Managing Partner of RheinBrücke IT Consulting signed the Memorandum of Understanding.

The evening also witnessed the prestigious RheinBrücke Pinnacle Award of Excellence recognizing outstanding individuals and organizations across corporate, government, community and not-for-profit domains who showcased outstanding leadership and achievements across

various sectors and industries.

The awards recipients were selected by a panel of leading industry experts including Jürgen Bauer, Dr Ing Harry Hezel, Dr Ing Michael Mezger, Dr Ing Jörg Pirron, Ing Vetri Selvan and Dipl Ing Peter Bertagnolli. Six winners were chosen for the 2019 RheinBrücke Pinnacle Award of Excellence from an outstanding list of 118 nominations.

The esteemed winners are as follows. In the category of Outstanding Contribution to Society, the winners were His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Saqr Al Nuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary of Support Services at the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Dr Ahmed Emara, Psychologist, Motivational Speaker and Happiness Expert. In the category of Contribution to the Economic ecosystem, the winners were His Excellency Jamal Saif Al Jarwan, Secretary General of UAE International Investors Council and His Excellency Mohamed Amiri, CEO of Ajman Bank.

In the category of Excellence in Technology, the winners were His Excellency Abdulqader Obaid Ali, CEO of Smartworld and His Excellency Muammar Al Rukhaimi, CEO of Etisalat Technology.

All the winners were presented with the RheinBrücke Pinnacle Award of Excellence by His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Bin Faisal Bin Khalid Al Qassimi and His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Al Noman.

The event was concluded with a vote of thanks from His Excellency Ali Almuwaijei – Board Member, RheinBrücke Middle East Infrastructure LLC. “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all distinguished speakers who have gathered here from different parts of the world. I am sure that the discussions today will generate fresh ideas, insights and solutions to our common challenges and enable the kind of digital transformation we have envisioned for the region.”

“As a member of the board of RheinBrücke IT Consulting, I am extremely excited to have witnessed the launch of RheinBrücke Middle East and the Epicor on the Cloud solution which is unique to this market. We hope that this venture will help further our objective in nurturing a collaborative ecosystem of partnerships across Middle East that enable digital transformation of enterprises across the GCC as well as strengthen our long-term commitment in the region by delivering world class solutions. Thank you to the entire team at RheinBrücke IT consulting for their extraordinary effort in putting together this great event. This is only the beginning of many more great events to come,” ë

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GUEST ARTICLE

SEAGATE FIRECUDA 2TB SSHD PLAY FAST. WORK SMARTER

KEY FEATURES n Superior storage and tireless durability n Efficient power saving capabilities Instant Secure Erase to safely and easily delete content from the hard drive n Self-Encrypting technology n Faster load times for non-stop performance and play n Performs up to 5X faster than 7200 rpm desktop hard drives n Up to 2TB of capacity to store 80x 25GB games n Improves overall system responsiveness by 30% or more n Backed by a 5-Year limited Warranty

Well, that’s the readiness and speed that the Seagate FireCuda 2TB SSHD promises.

With the videos getting sharper and games getting better, the demand for high capacity storage has increased like never before. For creative professionals and avid gamers who went through the turmoil of deleting games and large files, Seagate’s FireCuda 2TB SSHD comes as a relief.

Seagate came up with the FireCuda hard disk

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series to specifically cater for the gamers, and hence all of its features are meant to improve your gaming experience.

FireCuda melds the latest NAND flash technology with a traditional hard drive for a compact blend of capacity and speed upto five times faster than typical hard drives. It is the perfect fusion between an SSD and an HDD. It combines the speed of an SSD and the storage capabilities of the

HDD. By using adaptive learning, the FireCuda can memorize the frequently accessed games and save them in the flash memory. This significantly reduces the access time to these games.

It also potentially lowers the overall costs and increases capabilities. Reduced power consumption increases the system’s performance and durability, also resulting in better frame rates and computer performance. ë

INNOVATIONS

KEY CAPABILITIES ONTAP 9.6 n Includes VMware ESXi, Microsoft Windows and Oracle Linux hosts n FabricPool supports Google Cloud Platform and Alibaba Cloud n NetApp FlexCache® software supports NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP n Over-the-wire encryption for NetApp SnapMirror technology and FlexCache increases security for data replication and remote caching

NVME AFF A320 STORAGE SYSTEM NetApp revealed its ONTAP 9.6, the new midrange, end-to-end NVMe AFF A320 storage system and an expanded portfolio of services to help businesses maximise the value of their data. By accelerating applications painlessly and by delivering simplicity and security for a future-proof infrastructure, ONTAP 9.6 data management software allows organisations of all sizes to maximise the value of data and take on new data-driven initiatives. Last year NetApp introduced the AFF A800, the industry’s first end-to-end NVMe system with industry-leading performance and unmatched data services that are backed by the industry’s most effective Efficiency Guarantee. With this announcement, NetApp has extended these benefits to the midrange market.

AFF A320 system enables customers to: n Accelerate traditional and emerging enterprise applications n Reduce data centre costs by consolidating applications with a powerful system n Future-proof their environment with NVMe technology, 100GbE Ethernet and cloud integration

PLEASE SEND YOUR FEEDBACK AT INFO@ GECMEDIAGROUP.COM

SAAS ACCELERATOR

Riverbed SaaS Accelerator, a new solution by the company significantly accelerates the performance of leading SaaS apps, such as O365, Salesforce, ServiceNow and Box, by up to 10 times. When SaaS Accelerator is combined with End User Experience Monitoring (part of Riverbed’s Digital Experience Management offering), organizations can for the first time directly measure and monitor in real time the performance of SaaS-based enterprise applications, and then effortlessly accelerate performance with SaaS Accelerator.

KEY CAPABILITIES n Improve user experience and business outcomes by eliminating performance gaps and disruptions n Enables organizations to turn up the service within minutes n Existing SteelHead appliance and SteelHead Mobile customers can leverage their current investment when they deploy SaaS Accelerator n Eliminates latency challenges that can often hinder productivity for mobile and remote employees

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INNOVATIONS

AMD EYPC

AMD joined the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Cray Inc. in announcing what is expected to be the world’s fastest exascale-class supercomputer, scheduled to be delivered to ORNL in 2021.

To deliver what is expected to be more than 1.5 exaflops of expected processing performance, the Frontier system is designed to use future generation High Performance Computing (HPC) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) optimized, custom AMD EPYC CPU, and AMD Radeon Instinct GPU processors.

Researchers at ORNL will use the Frontier system’s unprecedented computing power and next generation AI techniques to simulate, model and advance understanding of the interactions underlying the science of weather, sub-atomic structures, genomics, physics, and other important scientific fields.

KEY CAPABILITIES AMD innovations to be used in the Frontier system include: n High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and extensive mixed precision ops for optimum deep learning performance n Custom high-bandwidth, low-latency coherent Infinity Fabric n Enhanced version of the open source ROCm programming environment, developed with Cray to tap into the combined performance of AMD CPUs and GPUs.

Synology RackStation RS819 Synology launched its RackStation RS819, the first RackStation in the Value Series with snapshot technology in the Middle East.

The RS819, is a compact and scalable 4-bay rackmount NAS with snapshot technology support. It has been designed ground up for business workgroups to effectively manage, share, synchronize, and back up data. RS819 runs on DiskStation Manager, an advanced and intuitive operating system for Synology NAS devices, with various applications offered to enhance work productivity. Synology has received numerous media accolades, topping the mid-range NAS category in TechTarget’s storage solution survey and winning PCMag Readers’ Choice eight years in a row.

KEY CAPABILITIES n 64-bit quad-core CPU and 2GB DDR4 memory n Over 224 MB/s encrypted reading performance n Advanced Btrfs file system offering 4,096 system-wide snapshots and 256 snapshots per shared folder n Expandable storage capacity up to 112TB with one Synology expansion unit RX418 n Powered by Synology DiskStation Manager

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SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER, 2019

3

CONTINENTS

14

COUNTRIES

3000+

C-LEVEL EXECUTIVES

B R O U G H T BY

W W W. G LO BA LC I O FO R U M . C O M