CXODX September 2025

BUILDING INTELLIGENCE EVERYWHERE

A quiet but profound shift is underway in the way organizations build, deploy, and consume technology. AI continues to grab headlines but beneath the excitement lies a deeper transformation. The tools of digital creation are moving closer to the people who use them. From low-code/no-code (LC/NC) platforms that allow business users to design applications without deep programming knowledge, to AI-ready computing ecosystems, the barriers to innovation are rapidly falling.

A few years ago, creating enterprise-grade applications meant hiring specialist developers, enduring lengthy release cycles, and absorbing high costs. Today, LC/NC platforms are empowering a new class of “citizen developers” to solve problems on their own. Marketing teams are creating data dashboards, HR departments are automating workflows, and operations managers are integrating back-end systems often with minimal IT intervention.

This democratization is not simply about convenience; it is a strategic shift. As businesses face faster market cycles and relentless competitive pressure, the ability to build prototypes and iterate quickly becomes a source of real advantage. LC/NC tools also complement AI by providing a canvas for embedding intelligent features into everyday processes, making data-driven decision-making accessible to the broader workforce.

While LC/NC lowers the entry barrier for building applications, AI is redefining what those applications can do. The next wave of adoption is happening not only in the cloud but at the device level, where data is generated and decisions are made.

Running AI locally reduces latency, protects sensitive data, and allows mission-critical applications to function even when network connectivity falters. For professionals in sectors like healthcare, education, and finance, where privacy and uptime are paramount, this capability is no longer optional; it’s essential.

Enterprises are now assembling a new technology stack. LC/NC development for speed, AI platforms for intelligence, and AI-ready hardware for distributed computing power. Together, these elements create an environment where innovation can occur at the edge, in the cloud, and everywhere in between.

RAMAN NARAYAN

Co-Founder & Editor in Chief narayan@leapmediallc.com Mob: +971-55-7802403

Ali Raza Designer

R. Narayan Editor in Chief, CXO DX

SAUMYADEEP HALDER

Co-Founder & MD

saumyadeep@leapmediallc.com Mob: +971-54-4458401

Nihal Shetty Webmaster

MALLIKA REGO

Co-Founder & Director Client Solutions mallika@leapmediallc.com Mob: +971-50-2489676

LCNC platforms are becoming a primary way to deliver business-critical capabilities with speed

Levent Ergin, Chief Strategist for Climate, Sustainability and AI, Global Head of ESG Strategic Alliance Partnerships at Informatica discusses Informatica’s data management approach

Osama Obeidat, Director, Energy Sector, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain discusses how AI-Driven cooling innovations help data centers meet sustainability targets without compromising computing performance

ness-Ready

Rejeesh Kumar, CTO, Mindfire Technologies outlines the company’s key focus areas, Saudi growth strategy, and the evolving threat landscape shaping enterprise security today.

Shailesh Mani, Group IT Head at a leading Metal Trading company in Dubai, discusses how technology applied with a purpose can be a force multiplier

F5 Distinguished Engineer Lori MacVittie warns that without aligning security, automation, and deployment strategies, AI becomes little more than a high-tech bandage.

Omar Tabch, Regional Director - Strategic Business, Middle East at Backbase writes about what Banks can learn from IKEA about designing journeys that build loyalty

David Boast, General Manager – UAE & KSA, Endava discusses his view on a smarter path to transformation

NTT DATA EXPANDS MICROSOFT CLOUD PARTNERSHIP TO ACCELERATE AI TRANSFORMATION

Global business unit fast-tracks cloud and AI innovation leveraging Microsoft Cloud

NTT DATA, a global leader in digital business and technology services, today announced its NTT Data business unit for Microsoft Cloud to meet rising demand for secure, AI-driven enterprise cloud transformation. The global unit brings together NTT DATA’s deep industry and technical expertise in Microsoft Cloud, security and AI solutions to accelerate cloud modernization, scale Agentic AI and navigate complex sovereignty and compliance requirements.

“Our global expanded collaboration with Microsoft reflects a shared commitment to helping clients tackle today’s complex business challenges with speed, scale and trust,” said Charlie Li, Head of Cloud and Security Services, NTT DATA, Inc.

“Through our global business unit for Microsoft Cloud, we’re bringing together the strengths of both organizations to solve modern problems using advanced cloud and AI technologies, whether it’s modernizing operations, improving how people

work and connect, or delivering more intelligent, secure and resilient digital experiences.”

“Across the Middle East and Africa, organizations are increasingly looking to AI and cloud technologies to improve efficiency, enhance customer experiences, and stay competitive. With Microsoft Cloud and Agentic AI, we’re helping clients take practical steps toward modernization— whether that’s through better collaboration, more secure infrastructure, or intelligent automation. It’s about enabling transformation that’s both scalable and sustainable.” says Murray Campbell, Vice President Cloud and Security for NTT DATA, Inc. in Middle East and Africa.

With a presence across more than 50 countries and a deep bench of Microsoft certified specialists holding 24,000 certifications, the NTT Data business unit for Microsoft Cloud helps clients accelerate digital transformation globally. This unit brings

NETAPP APPOINTS SAEED AL-ZAHRANI AS GM TO DRIVE SAUDI GROWTH

Strengthens local leadership as part of long-term commitment to national digital priorities and Vision 2030

NetApp , the intelligent data infrastructure company, has appointed Saeed Al-Zahrani as General Manager for Saudi Arabia, to further reinforce its commitment to the Kingdom’s digital transformation agenda.

In this role, Al-Zahrani will be responsible for driving NetApp’s local strategy, deepening public and private sector partnerships, and enabling customers to unlock greater value from their data.

With nearly two decades of experience within Saudi Arabia’s evolving technology landscape, Al-Zahrani has held senior leadership roles at organizations such as Nutanix, Solutions by stc, Oracle, LinkedIn and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

Over the course of his career, Al-Zahrani has consistently championed customer-centric innovation, digital transformation, and operational excellence, helping both public and private sector entities em-

brace technology more strategically.

“Saeed’s strategic vision, deep customer relationships and passion for execution make him the perfect leader to scale our business in Saudi Arabia,” said Suhail Hasanain, Senior Director & General Manager, Middle East & Africa at NetApp. “His appointment reinforces our longterm commitment to supporting the Kingdom’s economic diversification and digital transformation agendas,”

Reflecting on his new role, Saeed Al-Zahrani said, “Saudi Arabia is going through a truly transformative journey and I am looking forward to working with our customers, partners, and the wider ecosystem to accelerate Saudi Arabia’s journey toward a data-driven, AI-enabled future.”

Al-Zahrani’s appointment comes as NetApp deepens its regional footprint following the opening of its new headquarters in

Charlie Li

Global Head of Cloud Security, NTT DATA Inc.

together technical expertise in cloud-native development, cybersecurity, observability and Agentic AI, while staying closely aligned with Microsoft’s technology roadmap and engineering teams.

To accelerate adoption, NTT DATA is aligning its sales, pre-sales and delivery teams with Microsoft to help clients design, build, secure, migrate and implement solutions on Microsoft Cloud that deliver measurable business impact across industries and regulated markets.

Saeed Al-Zahrani General Manager-KSA, NetApp

Riyadh earlier this year.

The company’s expanded leadership in the Kingdom will play a pivotal role in delivering tailored solutions to help customers build intelligent data infrastructure in key sectors such as energy, healthcare and smart cities. By enabling secure, hybrid cloud environments and real-time data insights, NetApp is supporting the Kingdom’s ambition to become a leading digital economy.

QUALYS UNVEILS INDUSTRY’S FIRST AGENTIC AI-POWERED RISK OPERATIONS CENTER

New approach introduces a marketplace of Cyber Risk AI Agents that autonomously drive every step of Cyber Risk Operations

Qualys, a leading provider of disruptive cloud-based IT, security and compliance solutions, has unveiled several new Agentic AI capabilities on the Qualys platform. The new AI fabric introduces a marketplace of Cyber Risk AI Agents delivering real-time risk insights across all attack surfaces, prioritized by business impact. Additionally, it reduces risk and operational costs by autonomously remediating with speed, scale, and accuracy, all while powering a smarter, more efficient Risk Operations Center (ROC).

Amid a surge in the volume and sophistication of cyber threats, amplified by the growing complexity of an ever-evolving attack surface, teams are grappling with millions of exposures while lacking the context to map them against business priorities. Without self-orchestrating AI agents to turn data into insights, and prioritize and remediate risks in real time, security teams face man-

ual bottlenecks and lingering exposures. Qualys addresses this with Agentic AI— eliminating repetitive tasks and enabling autonomous, risk-focused workflows that empower teams and accelerate protection.

By embedding Agentic AI into Enterprise TruRisk Management (ETM), Qualys enhances its risk-centric automation capabilities—delivering faster, more intelligent decision-making. ETM aggregates exposures to measure, communicate, and eliminate cyber risk aligned to business value. Now, with the new AI fabric, Qualys delivers pre-built AI agents that automate threat prioritization and drive remediation strategies tailored to each organization’s risk appetite and environment. It also introduces the Cyber Risk Assistant—a prompt-driven interface that helps teams navigate the risk journey, translate millions of exposures, and deliver context-aware risk insights with autonomous operations.

SOPHOS AND HALCYON

LAUNCH

"Qualys Agentic AI, embedded into Enterprise TruRisk Management is transforming how organizations manage cyber risk and powering a smarter, more agile Risk Operations Center," saidSumedh Thakar, president and CEO of Qualys. "It's ushering in a new era where CISOs can augment their security teams with intelligent AI agents that perform autonomous analysis and take decisive, high-impact actions to reduce risk faster, more strategically, and with greater efficiency."

INTELLIGENCE-SHARING, ANTI-TAMPER INITIATIVE

Joint Collaboration Enables Real-Time Intelligence Sharing and Mutual Anti-Tamper Protections to Accelerate Ransomware Detection and Response

Sophos, a global leader of innovative security solutions for defeating cyberattacks, today announced a strategic threat intelligence sharing partnership with Halcyon, the leading anti-ransomware solution provider. This collaboration brings together two of the most experienced teams in ransomware defense to accelerate detection, enhance protection, and improve response capabilities for more than 300,000 organizations worldwide.

The collaboration between Sophos and Halcyon will exchange threat intelligence in real time, including indicators of compromise (IOCs), adversary behaviors, and attack patterns, to enhance ransomware prevention and accelerate response time. Following Halcyon’s recent announcement of a community-focused Ransomware Research Center, this data-sharing initiative will inform defenses across both Sophos’ and Halcyon’s solutions. It will benefit customers using Sophos Endpoint powered by Intercept X, as well as Sophos Managed

Detection and Response (MDR), Sophos XDR, Halcyon’s Anti-Ransomware Platform, and other joint capabilities.

As part of the collaboration, Halcyon and Sophos will also implement mutual anti-tamper protections that allow each platform to monitor and safeguard the other’s agents in customer environments. This helps ensure that organizations using both solutions benefit from added resilience, reducing the risk of ransomware interfering with security defenses and preserving the integrity of their overall protection strategy.

Sophos X-Ops, the company’s cross-functional threat intelligence unit, will work closely with Halcyon’s research and engineering teams to share and operationalize ransomware-related insights across a wide array of attack surfaces.

“Ransomware tools and tactics are evolving constantly, and the best defense is timely, relevant intelligence that enables defenders

Simon Reed Chief Research and Scientific Officer, Sophos

to act quickly and with confidence,” said Simon Reed, chief research and scientific officer, Sophos. “By sharing insights with Halcyon, we’re improving signal fidelity and accelerating detection across our systems, which strengthens protection for all the organizations we serve.”

MANAGEENGINE INTRODUCES DEX CAPABILITIES IN ENDPOINT CENTRAL

New Capabilities Empower IT Teams to Proactively Resolve Issues, Reduce Tickets, and Ensure Seamless Employee Experiences

ManageEngine, a division of Zoho Corporation and a leading provider of enterprise IT management solutions, announced the addition of digital employee experience (DEX) capabilities to Endpoint Central, its unified endpoint management and security platform. This strategic enhancement, a step towards complete autonomous endpoint management, addresses the rising need for IT teams to deliver a better employee experience alongside managing and securing endpoints. Through this launch, ManageEngine aims to enable organizations to meet modern workplace requirements without adding complexity.

Employee productivity is now more reliant on the performance of devices and applications than ever before. According to the 2024 Gartner® Digital Worker Survey, nearly 90% of respondents agree that the digital technology supplied by their orga-

nizations has enabled them to accomplish their work tasks efficiently. However, issues such as slow boot times, application crashes, or delayed logins often remain undetected until they significantly disrupt operations. Without adequate visibility, IT teams are alerted to these issues only when employees submit support tickets, at which point the problems are more difficult and costlier to resolve.

“Hybrid work has made the digital experience a defining factor in employee productivity and retention,” said Chirag Mehta, vice president and principal analyst at Constellation Research. “Buyers are seeking integrated visibility and automation that enable IT teams to transition from reactive support to proactive engagement.”

The new DEX capabilities build upon Endpoint Central's device telemetry and

Mathivanan Venkatachalam VP,ManageEngine

remediation features by transforming raw performance data into actionable experience insights. By bringing monitoring, diagnostics, and automated remediation together on a single platform, Endpoint Central eliminates the need for multiple stand-alone tools, reducing complexity and enabling IT teams to move directly from visibility to resolution.

CONFLUENT UNLOCKS SCALABLE REAL-TIME AGENTIC AI WITH STREAMING AGENTS

Enterprises can quickly move from prototype to production-ready AI agents with Streaming Agents

Confluent, the data streaming pioneer, announced Streaming Agents, a new capability in Confluent Cloud for Apache Flink that makes it easy to build and scale AI agents that monitor, reason, and act on real-time data. Streaming Agents removes barriers to enterprise-grade agentic artificial intelligence (AI) by unifying data processing and AI workflows and providing easy, secure connections to every part of a business, including large language models (LLMs) and embedding models, tools, and other systems. It accelerates the adoption of agentic AI, enabling more efficient workflows, faster time to value, and the creation of entirely new business models and opportunities.

“Agentic AI is on every organization's roadmap. But most companies are stuck in prototype purgatory, falling behind as others race toward measurable outcomes,” said Shaun Clowes, Chief Product Officer at Confluent. “Even your smartest

AI agents are flying blind if they don’t have fresh business context. Streaming Agents simplifies the messy work of integrating the tools and data that create real intelligence, giving organizations a solid foundation to deploy AI agents that drive meaningful change across the business.”

IDC research shows that while organizations ran an average of 23 generative AI proofs of concept between 2023 and 2024, only three reached production. Of those, just 62% met expectations.

Streaming Agents brings agentic AI directly into stream processing pipelines to help teams build, deploy, and orchestrate event-driven agents with Apache Kafka and Apache Flink. By unifying data processing and AI reasoning, agents gain access to fresh contextual data from real-time sources to quickly adapt and communicate with other agents and systems as conditions change. Streaming Agents

Shaun

Clowes

Chief Product Officer, Confluent

are always on and works on a business’s behalf, operating dynamically, processing high-volume data streams, and instantly responding to real-time signals with context-aware reasoning like human operators would.

IFS ACQUIRES 7BRIDGES TO TRANSFORM INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CHAINS WITH AI

Acquisition expands IFS’s Industrial AI capabilities, unlocking deeper insights and scalable, data-driven logistics solutions

IFS, a leading provider of Industrial AI software, announced the acquisition of 7bridges, an AI-powered supply chain management solution provider. The move strengthens IFS’s position as the Industrial AI leader by expanding its capabilities in logistics and transportation optimization.

7bridges streamlines supply chains using advanced AI simulation and analytics to automate and optimize logistics networks. It has been purpose-built for industrial use cases, combining rapid, low-cost data capture, a high-quality semantic data layer, and powerful AI to solve complex supply chain optimization challenges.

IFS sees a significant opportunity to scale 7bridges capabilities into the asset and service-centric industries it serves, with strong demand coming from manufacturing and aerospace & defense sectors.

In addition, the expertise and innovation in-

herent in the 7bridges team and technology will enable IFS to accelerate the development of next generation AI enabled supply chain solutions within IFS Cloud, whilst also strengthening IFS’s simulation and optimization capabilities across multi-sector applications.

This acquisition builds on IFS’s leadership in Industrial AI, including the recent acquisition of agentic AI innovator TheLoops, and the launch of Nexus Black, IFS’s AI innovation accelerator.

Mark Moffat, CEO of IFS, said,“We’re proud to lead the market in Industrial AI and continue to invest in technologies that differentiate our offering. 7bridges’ unique capabilities in AI-powered supply chain optimization are a strong complement to our existing strengths and will strongly resonate with our asset intensive customers. We’re excited to welcome their talented team of experts to IFS.”

RIVERBED LAUNCHES NEW AI INNOVATORS AWARDS PROGRAM

Riverbed honors customers worldwide for transforming their organizations through large-scale AI initiatives

Riverbed, a leader in AIOps for observability, announced the launch of the Riverbed AI Innovators Awards Program designed to recognize customers at the forefront of AI technology and redefining how their business operates – leveraging AI for everything from predictive analytics to intelligent automation. These organizations are driving the future of AI innovation harnessing the Riverbed Platform and the company’s next-generation AIOps and observability solutions to prevent disruptions, reduce costs, and deliver a smoother, more reliable digital experience.

The quarterly Awards Program celebrates enterprise customers who have made a significant impact with their AI strategy. Over 40 customers worldwide across a wide range of industries have already surpassed 10,000 automated remediations a month and are receiving this award in recognition of their successful partnership with Riverbed. These AI Innovators

demonstrate exceptional creativity in applying AI tools; strategic vision and execution; and tangible business outcomes and ROI through innovation.

“Riverbed’s AI Innovators Awards Program honors many of our most visionary customers—those who are redefining IT Operations through the scalable power of Riverbed’s AI-embedded observability platform,” said Jim Gargan, Chief Marketing Officer at Riverbed Technology. “We’re proud to celebrate their achievements, as they leverage Riverbed AI to deliver measurable ROI, improve their digital experience, and create lasting value across their organizations.”

Riverbed’s pace of innovation is accelerating with the company rolling out three major product releases since the start of 2025, including new solutions that bring together Riverbed Generative, Predictive and Agentic AI embedded within its unified observability platform. Riverbed’s AI

Mark Moffat CEO, IFS

Market leading manufacturers, distributors and transport providers use 7bridges to capture and make sense of critical logistics data from any source and in any form, to optimize their supply chains continuously in response to planned and disruptive changes. This allows them to realize extra revenue, reduce transport costs by an average of 8% and automate 90% of the data entry and data management associated with logistics.

Jim Gargan Chief Marketing Officer, Riverbed Technology

Innovators Awards Program will continue to recognize Riverbed customers who achieve successful AI implementations at scale, deliver significant ROI, and improve business outcomes.

SAL AND ELM SIGN AGREEMENT TO ENHANCE DIGITAL SOLUTIONS IN LOGISTICS OPERATIONS

The collaboration will center on digitizing critical services, including shipment scheduling, payment processing, delivery updates, and appointment booking

SAL Logistics Services, the National Logistics Champion, has signed an agreement with Elm, a leading provider of digital solutions, to develop a fully integrated digital platform aimed at enhancing the efficiency of logistics operations and supporting SAL’s airport stations with innovative solutions that meet the highest global standards.

The agreement leverages Elm’s technical capabilities to build a comprehensive digital ecosystem that supports SAL’s strategy

to accelerate digital transformation. The collaboration will focus on digitizing key services such as shipment scheduling, payment management, delivery notifications, and appointment booking, contributing to faster operations, improved customer satisfaction, simplified procedures, and increased transparency and reliability across all stages of the supply chain.

Commenting on the occasion, Omar Hariri, CEO of SAL, said, "This agreement demonstrates our ongoing commitment to digital transformation. We aim to deliver

CLOUDFLARE STRENGTHENS GENERATIVE AI SECURITY FOR BUSINESSES

By integrating directly with the most popular generative AI tools, Cloudflare is helping businesses use AI with security

Matthew Prince CEO and co-founder, Cloudflare

Cloudflare, a leading connectivity cloud company, has become the first Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) to integrate with all three of the leading generative AI tools – ChatGPT Enterprise, Claude by Anthropic and Google Gemini – to deliver even more visibility and control over the use of generative AI in the workplace. With these integrations, Cloudflare customers also using these generative AI applications will be able to strengthen enterprise AI security – in-real time and without the need for complex set ups.

Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google’s Gemini are changing how businesses work. Today, three out of every four employees use generative AI tools –for tasks ranging from editing content and summarizing data to helping with design tasks and debugging code. At the same time, enterprises are working to keep sensi-

smart, integrated solutions that transform the customer experience and strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub, by integrating our logistics expertise with Elm’s advanced technical capabilities."

Mohammed Al-Omair, CEO of Elm, said, "We are proud of this partnership with SAL, a leader in the logistics sector. It presents a great opportunity to apply our digital solutions in a vital and essential industry. Together, we will drive a significant transformation in the delivery of logistics services, in line with market demands and enhanced operational efficiency."

This agreement proves SAL’s commitment to innovation and excellence, as it takes a major step toward developing an advanced digital infrastructure that supports the expansion of logistics services, accelerates execution, and improves service quality, ultimately creating added value for customers and strengthening the competitiveness of the local market.

tive corporate data safe, prevent accidental leaks, and maintain compliance with evolving regulations. This requires real-time visibility and proactive controls for security teams to safely enable generative AI use across their business.

“Employees are always looking for an edge – ways to save time, spark creativity, or boost efficiency. Using Generative AI tools gives them that edge,” said Matthew Prince, CEO and co-founder at Cloudflare. “But there is often a missing link between rapid innovation and safety. Cloudflare has already introduced a number of safeguards to help businesses embrace AI, and now, we’re the only company that has built integrations directly into all three of the most popular tools to raise the bar on enterprise AI security for the whole industry.”

With these new integrations, customers have a new way to manage enterprise AI security as more employees use generative AI tools. Cloudflare’s CASB continuously scans ChatGPT Enterprise, Claude, and Google’s Gemini platforms to better protect customers’ sensitive data through automated and real-time visibility and proactive alerts.

ACRONIS AND INTEL PARTNER TO DELIVER AI-POWERED ENDPOINT THREAT DETECTION

Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud leverages Intel Core Ultra processors and NPUs to boost security, performance, and efficiency for MSPs and enterprises

Acronis, a global leader in cybersecurity and data protection, and Intel, have announced Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud’s availability with AI PCs powered by Intel Core Ultra processors, a new collaboration that brings advanced and automated threat detection and remediation to endpoint devices without compromising performance. By integrating Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud with Intel technology, managed service providers (MSPs), managed security service providers (MSSPs), and enterprise customers experience faster, more efficient cybersecurity, ideal for today’s resource-constrained users.

Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud uses AI to detect and remediate threats in real-time at the endpoint, analyzing behavioral patterns to uncover advanced attacks, including ransomware, zero-day exploits, and fileless malware that traditional tools might miss. On Intel Core Ultra-powered devices, the solution becomes even more efficient by leveraging OpenVINO

to offload heavy AI tasks such as behavioral heuristics and anomaly scoring to the processor’s neural processing unit (NPU). Offloading AI-driven behavioral detection from the CPU to the NPU within Intel Core Ultra processors reduces CPU load by up to 92%, based on internal performance testing. This optimizes performance, extends battery life, and keeps systems running smoothly.

Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud, a SaaSbased, multi-tenant platform, delivers protection from cyberthreats, including next-generation antimalware, email security, data loss prevention (DLP), and endpoint and extended detection and response (EDR /XDR). Security professionals who use Acronis spend less time juggling tools thanks to its natively integrated solution that integrates cybersecurity, endpoint and posture management, data protection, automated backups, and disaster recovery.

“Cyber protection must be natively inte-

Gaidar Magdanurov

grated and AI-powered to address modern cyber threats,” said Gaidar Magdanurov, President at Acronis. “Our collaboration with Intel empowers MSPs and corporate IT to deliver real-time security at the endpoint with minimal impact to system performance, protecting the productivity of users. Our collaboration with Intel takes the headache out of IT security for users and IT administrators.”

LEXAR STRENGTHENS MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA PRESENCE

Company to showcase its innovations in memory and storage solutions at Gitex Global 2025

Lexar, a leading global brand of flash memory solutions, has announced a significant milestone in its expansion strategy: its products are now available in over 5,000 retail stores across the MEA region, representing a five-fold increase in the number of retail outlets carrying Lexar-branded

products. Lexar is also gearing up to showcase its industry-leading solutions at Gitex Global 2025, (Hall 1, Stand H1-25).

At the heart of Lexar’s retail expansion strategy is ‘The Lexar Way’ – a unique delivery method where the company actively works to foster a collaborative ecosystem, empowering partners throughout the region with the necessary resources, tools and support to accelerate product and channel market disruption. Lexar’s impressive growth over the past three years stems from its focus on innovation and empowering partners to stay ahead of trends and evolving customer needs.

“For nearly 30 years, Lexar has been empowering the world with memory innovations, helping transform the daily lives of photographers, videographers, gaming enthusiasts, and creators while shaping the future of digital storage. Our rapid growth in the Middle East and Africa region reflects both the rising demand for reliable memory solutions and the strength of our

partnerships with leading retailers. The steady expansion of our retail footprint is a demonstration of our long-term commitment to the region,” said Fissal Oubida, General Manager – Middle East, Africa & India, Lexar.

‘The Lexar Way’ redefines its partner collaboration through education, consumer engagement, and incentive campaigns to drive brand awareness, agility, and resilience. To support its channel network, Lexar conducts multiple partner training seminars and roadshows.

“Lexar will continue to aggressively consolidate its dominance in Middle East and Africa regions. We’re looking forward to bringing our award-winning line-up of innovative professional-grade memory solutions to Gitex Global – with plans to further extend our presence, explore new collaborations, enhance local partnerships, and introduce new product offerings tailored to meet the needs of MEA consumers,” added Oubida.

Fissal Oubida

General Manager - Middle East, Africa & India, Lexar

President, Acronis

BATTERJEE MEDICAL COLLEGE ACCELERATES GLOBAL GROWTH WITH VEEAM

Pioneering medical institution leverages Veeam to boost data resilience, drive digital transformation and power national and international expansion plans.

Batterjee Medical College (BMC), one of Saudi Arabia’s leading private medical colleges, has dramatically enhanced its data resilience and operational effectiveness by deploying Veeam Data Platform, Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365, and Veeam Data Cloud Vault. This strategic initiative with Veeam Software, the #1 global leader in data resilience, supports BMC’s ambitious growth plans, including the launch of a new campus in Dubai. The implementation empowers the institution to extend high-quality, hybrid education to students across the region, as it gears up to become the first Saudi education institution to operate internationally.

Driven by a pioneering spirit, BMC is reaching new heights in the quality of its teaching, clinical practice, and research. With data growing at an estimated 20% per year and expected to rise sharply once the new college is open, BMC recognized the critical need to safeguard growing volumes of data and ensure uninterrupted service delivery. “BMC is growing in size and advancing our offering,” remarked Nabil Alsanbi, IT Operations Director at Batterjee Medical College. “At the end of this year, we’ll open a new branch in Dubai. We’re also committed to embracing new technologies, driving digital transformation, protecting data as a strategic priority, and using technology to boost productivity.”

To enable unprecedented data resilience for a hybrid IT environment, BMC selected Veeam. “Veeam was the best option for us because it’s designed to work seamlessly for data in the cloud and on-premises,” said Alsanbi. “It outshone other data protection vendors because it is so easy to use and simple to deploy. Veeam doesn’t require any special training or advanced skills to set up and manage - any member of our IT team can quickly learn how to get the best out of the technology, making it a great investment for BMC.”

With Veeam, BMC has transformed its backup and recovery capabilities. “It used to take us as long as two hours to get a vital system back online,” Alsanbi noted. “With Veeam, we can recover the data we need in just 15 minutes, which is a reduction of over 87%. On average, we estimate that Veeam has slashed our data recovery times by 80%, which is a huge boost to our business continuity.”

The improvements extend beyond recovery times. Leveraging Veeam’s built-in automation tools, BMC has significantly enhanced operational efficiency. “Backup times have been halved and data protection workload cut by 80 percent,” said Alsanbi. “Overall, Veeam has reduced the time and effort we spent on managing data resilience by around 80%. And the storage compression feature has driven down our storage requirements by as much as 80% in some cases. We’re putting these extra resources

Nabil Alsanbi IT Operations Director, Batterjee Medical College

toward strategic goals such as IT optimization and cybersecurity initiatives, helping BMC take on new opportunities for advancement.”

Mena Migally, Regional Vice President for EMEA East at Veeam added, “BMC’s transformation is a powerful example of how data resilience can fuel innovation and expansion. By choosing Veeam, BMC has not only accelerated recovery times and reduced operational overhead, but also unlocked the agility needed to scale internationally and deliver world-class education. We’re proud to support their journey and excited to see how our technology continues to empower their strategic ambitions.”

Veeam has enabled BMC to build a scalable, data resilience architecture that is designed for easy integration with a range of other technologies. With the vendor, Batterjee Medical College is not only protecting its data but also unlocking the agility needed to expand internationally, accelerate digital transformation, and deliver uninterrupted, world-class medical education.

AI ADOPTION DRIVING SMARTER, MORE RESILIENT SUPPLY CHAINS

The Global Epicor Study of supply chain decision-makers shows organizations scaling AI workflows, hiring for AI-specific roles, and prioritizing data-centric investments to better navigate disruption

AI is no longer experimental but rather reshaping how supply chain businesses are prioritizing operational, staffing, and data-centric investments, according to the newly released 2025 Agility Index research study from Epicor and Nucleus Research.

“AI is becoming an essential tool in helping supply chain businesses anticipate and respond to inevitable change,” said Kerrie Jordan, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Product at Epicor. “We’re seeing organizations unlock the agility needed to lead through disruption by not just deploying AI but by building a digital foundation and workforce behind it.”

From the study, more than 56 percent of supply chain businesses surveyed reported high AI readiness, with many scaling AI across operations and modernizing their data systems to improve agility and reliability. Within this group, more than 90 percent are actively creating or investing in AI-specific roles, suggesting that organizations already leveraging AI tools are also the most likely to invest in building dedicated AI talent pipelines.

Further, AI is enabling more thoughtful decision-making but not displacing human judgment. The most common roles for which companies are hiring include AI Logistics & Route Optimization Specialists (38.0 percent), Supply Chain AI Data Scientists (37.2 percent), and AI Automation Engineers (35.4 percent). Organizations running geopolitical what-if scenarios report higher levels of AI-related hiring. Moreover, these roles aren’t confined to labs or pilot teams – they're embedded directly in planning, fulfillment, and logistics functions.

“What’s changing is how companies see AI, not as a replacement for people, but as a way to empower them,” Jordan added. “They’re hiring for expertise that brings context and adaptability to the data, which is where real agility lives.”

More companies are investing in platforms that connect and analyze operational data. These systems, adopted by just over half (50.6 percent) of all respondents, are now the most widely used data intelligence tools among digitally mature organizations. Companies using them were 1.4 times more likely to have adopted AI applications. The results suggest that companies are reevaluating their planning, response, and day-to-day operations. Agility, once a stopgap measure, has evolved into a strategic capability.

Across all regions, companies are strengthening scenario planning and supply chain resilience in response to rising uncertainty. In Southeast Asia, for example, 61 percent of respondents cited trade restrictions as their biggest risk, and 73 percent said they’re actively reworking sourcing strategies. Similar trends are unfold-

Kerrie Jordan Chief Marketing Officer and Senior VP of Product, Epicor

ing globally, as companies utilize forecasting tools and talent to anticipate and prepare for disruption.

Expectations around ROI are also maturing, reflecting lessons learned from past technological deployments. A majority of respondents now expect to see returns on their technology investments within six to 18 months. But, looking ahead, organizations cannot approach AI as a standalone technology project. Success will depend on organizational readiness, leadership engagement, and the ability to act on predictive insights.

“Investing in AI and data-centric platforms is changing how quickly companies can respond to disruption and optimize decisions,” Jordan continued. “As AI matures and time to value approaches zero, these companies will outpace competitors. They will be able to make decisions in minutes, not months, with systems that adapt as fast as the market shifts.”

Nucleus Research surveyed more than 1,000 supply chain professionals across regions including the U.S., Canada, the UK/Ireland, Southeast Asia, Australia/New Zealand, and the UAE.

EMPOWERING BUSINESS WITH AI COMPUTING

ASUS Powers the AI Era with Business-Ready Computing Solutions

Madeleine Hung

General Manager, East EMEA & META

Commercial System BG, ASUS

Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept; it is rapidly becoming the engine of everyday productivity and innovation. Across workplaces and classrooms, AI is reshaping how people create, collaborate, and compete. ASUS has secured itself a place at the forefront of this revolution and positioned itself as a key enabler for professionals, educators, and enterprises eager to harness the full potential of AI.

The company is not only delivering next-generation AI PCs but also weaving intelligent IoT solutions into a comprehensive, end-to-end ecosystem designed to meet the evolving demands of modern workplaces and learning environments. By combining powerful hardware, AI-enhanced software, and scalable infrastructure, ASUS is accelerating productivity, strengthening security safeguards, and driving sustainable growth, ensuring that organizations of every size can innovate, stay competitive, and thrive in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Unlocking AI Potential Across Sectors

The global appetite for AI computing has surged as organizations look for every possible edge in efficiency and customer engagement. ASUS’s latest global reporting reflects this enthusiasm.

Governments are already adopting AI-powered servers and workstations, while enterprises and schools are turning to AI PCs to boost productivity and innovation. AI is thus set to accelerate and become an essential driver of the industry in the years ahead.

“We see professionals, educators and businesses excited about the potential of AI computing to not only drastically increase productivity and security, but transform their competitiveness, connect with new markets, and attract the next generation of talent,” says Madeleine Hung, General Manager, East EMEA & META Commercial System BG, ASUS

The UAE exemplifies this momentum. According to ASUS, 45% of SMBs in the country are already seeing tangible benefits from AI-driven tools.

“That’s why we are making AI more accessible through a combination of powerful AI PCs in our Expert B & P series devices, AI-enhanced software tools from Microsoft Copilot and our own exclusive ASUS AI ExpertMeet, along with customizable solutions tailored to specific industries and education institutions,” adds Madeline.

ASUS AI ExpertMeet is an AI assistant for capturing, summarizing, and translating meeting minutes.

Setting new benchmarks for AI PCs

A core element of ASUS’s strategy for business users is the ExpertBook B3 series, an all-new lineup of AI-powered laptops built for the next generation of professionals. Equipped with up to the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 (Series 2) processor with Intel vPro, Intel AI Boost NPU, and Intel Arc graphics, the B3 delivers seamless performance across demanding workloads. With up to 64 GB of memory, it handles everything from AI-driven analytics to complex multitasking with ease.

The integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) brings AI acceleration directly onto the device, enabling local AI assistants, superior video-editing performance, and advanced collaboration—while maximizing energy efficiency for longer battery life. The ExpertBook B3 is available in 14-inch (B3405) and 16-inch (B3605) 16:10 display options, featuring TÜV Rheinland eye protection, anti-glare panels, and up to 85% screen-tobody ratios.

Design touches underscore its business focus: a lightweight chassis starting at 1.4 kg, a 180° lay-flat hinge, Wi-Fi 6E and 5G connectivity, and military-grade durability. ASUS has also prioritized serviceability, offering a six-screw base cover and a zero-screw quick battery disassembly design for effortless battery replacement.

On-Device AI Processing for Speed and Privacy

A defining feature of ASUS Business devices is their ability to

handle AI workloads locally.

“Our Business devices are equipped with powerful CPUs, GPUs and NPUs that have dedicated AI acceleration capabilities and necessary TOPS performance,” says Madeline. “This allows for AI processing to occur directly on the device which reduces significant latency, enhances data security, and enables offline functionality for enterprises. For individuals, it means improved privacy and faster performance.”

The ExpertBook P5, for example, delivers up to 120 TOPS of AI computing power and has already earned top accolades for its performance.

Transforming Education and Healthcare

ASUS is also customizing AI solutions for sectors with unique demands.

“Our education products are providing special features for

"With our Ubiquitous AI.

Incredible Possibilities strategy, we integrate intelligent solutions that elevate productivity, automate repetitive tasks, personalize experiences, and enhance collaboration. Our comprehensive ecosystem puts AI in reach of everyone, everywhere"

teachers and students. Our Education line-up include ruggedized laptops, easy-to-repair features but also AI tools such as Ai Noise cancellation and Ai-Enhanced Battery management to specifically answer the needs of users in the field of Education,” explains Madeline.

Healthcare and education customers benefit from spill- and tamper-resistant keyboards, low-blue-light displays, and ASUS Microbial Guard coating, which add durability and hygiene— critical features for classrooms and clinical environments.

Empowering the Hybrid Workforce

With hybrid and remote work now a permanent reality, device reliability and security have become mission-critical.

“As people work more outside the office, here in UAE, 82% of businesses agree their business devices need to outlast personal devices,” says Madeline.

To meet these expectations, the ExpertBook P and B series prioritize lightweight designs, long battery life, robust connectivity, and enhanced security features—ensuring employees remain productive and protected wherever they work.

AI as a Core Focus

For ASUS, AI is not an optional add-on but a central pillar of its long-term vision.

“We see significant opportunities in developing Al-powered analytics platforms, offering Al consulting services, and integrating Al into our existing product lines We're particularly excited about the potential of edge Al solutions to provide real-time insights and support faster decision-making,”

“AI is a cornerstone of ASUS’s vision for the future of work and learning,” Madeline affirms. “With our Ubiquitous AI. Incredible Possibilities strategy, we integrate intelligent solutions that elevate productivity, automate repetitive tasks, personalize experiences, and enhance collaboration. Our comprehensive ecosystem puts AI in reach of everyone, everywhere.”

Balancing Productivity, Security, and Sustainability

ASUS also recognizes that technology must serve business needs without compromising the planet.

“We balance productivity by optimizing performance, ensure security with advanced features, and promote sustainability by using eco-friendly materials and designing for energy efficiency,” Madeline explains.

ASUS has introduced the Digital Product Passport (DPP) to its commercial PC line, an integrated feature that goes beyond standard sustainability practices. This all-in-one information resource promotes transparency, supports eco-friendly practices, and provides product lifecycle data to foster a circular economy.

ASUS, as an organization is deeply committed to data-driven sustainability and digital transformation, leading to the development of the ASUS Carbon Data Management Platform, enhanced with generative AI-powered analytics. The platform leverages digital technologies and AI to augment the tracking and assessment of carbon emissions across the company’s subsidiaries and supply chain. Built on a strategic dual-cloud architecture, ASUS facilitates efficient data collection with third-party agreed-upon procedures (AUP) verification, ensuring data accuracy. The solution also supports an AI chatbot for carbon knowledge guidance, enabling users to manage carbon issues easily.

AI-Powered Decision-Making and Edge Opportunities

Looking to the future, ASUS plans to expand beyond devices into analytics and services.

“We see significant opportunities in developing AI-powered analytics platforms, offering AI consulting services, and integrating AI into our existing product lines. We're particularly excited about the potential of edge AI solutions to provide real-time insights and support faster decision-making,” says Madeline.

IoT and the Smart Environment

AI’s power multiplies when combined with IoT, and ASUS is investing heavily in this convergence.

“We’re integrating IoT with a comprehensive AI infrastruc-

ture portfolio, featuring scalable end-to-end AI capabilities for seamless edge-to-cloud deployments,” adds Madeline.

IoT-enabled devices collect and analyze data to optimize energy usage, enhance security, and automate tasks, while the ASUS Infrastructure Deployment Center (AIDC) simplifies deployment with one-click validation, OS configuration, and broad compatibility, including NVIDIA NIM.

The path ahead

From AI-ready hardware such as the ExpertBook B3 series to IoT-powered smart environments, ASUS is not just merely delivering devices; it is actively shaping the next chapter of AI-driven productivity, education, and enterprise growth. By balancing cutting-edge performance with advanced security and a deep commitment to sustainability, ASUS is ensuring that professionals, educators, and organizations of every size can step confidently into the AI era and stay ahead of the technology curve.

“We balance productivity by optimizing performance, ensure security with advanced features, and promote sustainability by using eco-friendly materials and designing for energy efficiency”

CONVERGING LCNC WITH AGENTIC AI

LCNC platforms are becoming a primary way to deliver business-critical capabilities with speed

Low-code/no-code (LCNC) platforms have moved well beyond the experimentation stage. Once viewed as handy tools for departmental apps and quick prototypes, they are now being embraced by large enterprises and government entities as a mainstream way to deliver software at scale. Analyst forecasts back the momentum, projecting the global LCNC market to grow from US$13 billion in 2023 to nearly US$50 billion by 2028.

But the real story isn’t just market size; it’s the convergence of LCNC with agentic AI, which promises to make these platforms not merely faster but fundamentally smarter.

Adoption Accelerates From Pilots to Enterprise Core

The next two to three years will see LCNC become a standard part of the enterprise toolkit.

“Over the next couple of years, it won’t just be used for small pilots but for enterprise-grade solutions,” says George Akhras CIO, AMSI. “It will become a standard way to accelerate transformation projects. Companies are under pressure to deliver faster, and LCNC helps them do that without depending entirely on large development teams.”

Kamal Farag Digital Services Director, HRDF, KSA sees similar trends in terms of adoption. “The adoption of LCNC platforms is poised to accelerate significantly over the next 2–3 years. As enterprises continue to pursue agility, digital transformation, and cost optimization, LCNC offers a compelling value proposition by bridging the IT–business gap. I foresee LCNC becoming a core enabler of enterprise composability—helping organizations assemble, reconfigure, and adapt digital capabilities with speed.”

According to Iftikhar Ali Alvi, Head of Special IT Projects, Tatweer Education Holding Company there is an inevitability about its adoption. “Low-code/no-code is becoming part of the mainstream enterprise toolkit,” he says. “Over the next couple of years, it won’t just be used for small pilots but for enterprise-grade solutions. It will become a standard way to accelerate transformation projects.”

For Syed Ashar Ahmed, Senior Director IT, Bloom Holding, the tipping point has already arrived. “The adoption has already happened,” he asserts. “Now it’s a question of some organizations adopting it and leaping into the future or continuing with traditional development practices. The organizations which adopt will enjoy shorter product-to-market cycles and will see a massive reduction in costs.”

Expanding Range of Use Cases

What began as a way to build small departmental apps is now powering mission-critical services.

“We are witnessing strong traction in areas like internal workflow automation, employee self-service portals, case management systems, and data-driven dashboards,” explains Kamal. “In particular, LCNC is transforming customer onboarding processes, HR and procurement workflows, and compliance tracking. In our own organization, LCNC has allowed us to digitize services at scale while rapidly iterating based on user feedback—something that would have taken months using traditional development models.” Ahmed highlights the breadth of opportunity in the private sector. “A wide range of use cases is being built on this, from internal employee-facing applications to B2B and B2C applications,” he says. “People are providing self-service to customers by building apps on LCNC and it offers greater agility for them.”

George Akhras CIO, AMSI

Syed Ashar Ahmed Senior Director IT, Bloom Holding

Across these examples, the pattern is clear that LCNC is no longer just for side projects. It is becoming a primary way to deliver business-critical capabilities with speed.

Business Benefits: Speed, Cost and Innovation

While faster delivery remains the headline attraction, the executives see a deeper business impact.

“The first thing people notice is speed, because LCNC drastically reduces delivery time,” says George. “That naturally brings cost savings too. But I think the bigger story is innovation—it allows teams to experiment, test ideas, and bring them to life quickly without huge upfront investments. That freedom to try new things is what really changes the game.”

Syed agrees, describing a three-part advantage. “Enterprises adopting low-code/no-code platforms gain significant advantages in speed and agility, enabling rapid application development and faster time-to-market,” he notes. “They also benefit from cost savings by reducing reliance on large developer teams while freeing skilled resources for more complex projects. Beyond efficiency, LCNC empowers business users to innovate and address their own needs, fostering experimentation and reducing IT backlogs. Ultimately, the most significant benefit is the combination of speed, cost efficiency, and innovation, which helps organizations stay competitive and adaptable.”

Farag adds that LCNC can play a crucial role in legacy modernization by integrating easily with existing infrastructure. This allows enterprises to enhance functionality without the disruption of full system replacements.

Agentic AI: From Smart Co-Pilot to Autonomous Builder

The next frontier is the integration of agentic AI, which infuses LCNC platforms with reasoning and decision-making capabilities.

“AI takes LCNC to another level by acting as a guide and partner in the process,” says George . “Instead of just dragging and dropping, users now get intelligent suggestions and even automation of entire steps. It makes the platforms smarter, not just faster. For enterprises, this means applications that are easier to build and also more capable.”

Iftikhar sees agentic AI fundamentally expanding the role of LCNC. “Agentic AI is giving low-code/no-code platforms a serious upgrade. Instead of just helping teams build apps faster, it’s now enabling those apps to think and act on their own. Imagine tools that don’t just follow instructions but actually understand

"The adoption of LCNC platforms is poised to accelerate significantly over the next 2–3 years. As enterprises continue to pursue agility, digital transformation, and cost optimization, LCNC offers a compelling value proposition by bridging the IT–business gap."

Ali Alvi Head of Special IT Projects, Tatweer Education Holding Company

goals, learn from data, and make decisions—without needing constant human input. That’s the shift agentic AI brings. It allows business users, not just developers, to create smart workflows and deploy autonomous agents that monitor performance, trigger actions, and even collaborate across departments.”

Kamal describes it as a path toward self-improving systems. He says, “By embedding AI agents that can reason, learn, and act based on contextual signals, LCNC platforms can now assist users not just in building applications but in evolving and optimizing them continuously. This reduces cognitive load on developers and business users alike and paves the way for adaptive, self-improving systems—especially in areas like dynamic workflows, intelligent form building, and real-time personalization.”

Syed captures the state of play when he says, “Today, agentic AI in LCNC platforms mainly acts as a co-pilot, guiding users by translating natural language into workflows, suggesting integrations, and streamlining design. This makes development faster and more accessible for non-technical users. At the same time, the technology is rapidly advancing toward greater autonomy, where AI can build, test, and manage applications with minimal human input. The shift is clear: from supportive co-pilot to autonomous application builder and manager.”

Accessibility and the Governance Challenge

While agentic AI lowers the barrier for non-technical users, it also introduces new governance and security challenges.

“It will definitely make LCNC more accessible to non-technical users, which is a huge plus,” George cautions. “But it also creates risks if people start building apps without considering data security or compliance. So, while the opportunity is exciting, enterprises will need governance frameworks in place to make sure accessibility doesn’t turn into exposure.”

Iftikhar echoes the concern. He says, “When business users or citizen developers start building applications using low-code/nocode platforms, CIOs and CISOs need to be mindful of several important risks. One of the biggest concerns is the rise of ‘shadow IT,’ where apps are created outside of IT’s visibility, leading to fragmented systems and potential compliance issues. There’s also the risk of exposing sensitive data or violating privacy regulations, especially when users aren’t fully aware of security best practices.”

Kamal lists additional vulnerabilities and the danger of shadow IT. “The main risks include data leakage, lack of standardized controls, and integration sprawl. When business users create apps outside the visibility of central IT, there’s a danger of shadow IT leading to fragmented systems, inconsistent data flows, and compliance issues.”

Syed highights the pros and cons of LCNC. “LCNC and agentic AI can both increase shadow IT risk and help formalize it. They make it easier for business users to build apps outside IT oversight, potentially creating unmanaged solutions. However, with governance frameworks, automated compliance checks, and monitoring, these tools can bring visibility and control to previously hidden applications.”

Guardrails That Enable, Not Restrict

The solution, all four agree, is smart guardrails with governance frameworks that protect the enterprise without stifling innovation. “Organizations can absolutely put governance frameworks in place for low-code/no-code platforms without killing innovation—it’s all about creating smart guardrails rather than rigid rules,” says George. “Instead of locking everything down, IT teams can offer pre-approved templates, secure data connectors, and role-based access that help business users build safely and confidently. Automated monitoring and approval workflows can keep things visible and compliant without slowing anyone down. The goal isn’t to control every move—it’s to create a safety net that encourages creativity while protecting the organization.”

Syed emphasizes flexible, risk-based frameworks with automated compliance checks and continuous monitoring. “Continuous monitoring and audit trails provide oversight without restricting creativity,” he says. “Combined with training for citizen developers, these measures enable safe and responsible innovation at scale.”

Kamal advocates a comprehensive approach that treats LCNC as a “governed ecosystem,” with policies around data access, federated identity, version control, and central visibility.

Syed summarizes the mindset succinctly when he says, “The goal

Iftikhar

Kamal Farag Digital Services Director, HRDF, KSA

isn’t to control every move—it’s to create a safety net that encourages creativity while protecting the organization.”

Industries Poised to Benefit Most

Highly regulated sectors are particularly well-positioned to reap the rewards of LCNC combined with agentic AI.

“Highly regulated and service-oriented industries—such as government, financial services, and healthcare—stand to benefit immensely,” says Kamal. “These sectors face constant pressure to improve service delivery, reduce time-to-market, and ensure compliance. LCNC with agentic AI enables them to rapidly build applications that are both intelligent and compliant. For example, in government, we’ve used LCNC platforms to roll out employment and citizen services in weeks, not months, while ensuring full traceability and audit readiness.”

Syed points to real estate as another promising arena. “Industries with complex, fast-changing workflows benefit most from combining LCNC with agentic AI. In real estate, these tools can speed up property management, digital customer services, and sales operations, enabling developers to respond quickly to market demand while maintaining operational control.”

The Road Ahead

Looking forward, the consensus is that LCNC platforms, supercharged by agentic AI, will become a strategic pillar of enterprise

technology.

The opportunity is not just to build applications faster, but to enable systems that learn, adapt, and improve on their own. At the same time, the risks around security, compliance, and integration demand thoughtful governance.

As George says, “The opportunity is exciting, but enterprises need governance frameworks to make sure accessibility doesn’t turn into exposure.”

Syed highlights the obvious advantages. “The organizations which adopt will enjoy shorter product-to-market cycles and will see a massive reduction in costs.”

The message from the experts is clear that LCNC and agentic AI are rewriting the rules of enterprise application development. Those who move quickly and put the right guardrails in place, will not only build faster but also build smarter, unlocking a new era of intelligent, adaptive digital services.

"Enterprises adopting low-code/no-code platforms gain significant advantages in speed and agility, enabling rapid application development and faster time-to-market,” he notes.

“They also benefit from cost savings by reducing reliance on large developer teams while freeing skilled resources for more complex projects."

MODERNISING DATA MANAGEMENT

Levent Ergin, Chief Strategist for Climate, Sustainability and AI, Global Head of ESG Strategic Alliance Partnerships at Informatica discusses how Informatica’s data management approach enables enterprises to manage their data natively across platforms, eliminating vendor lock-in and reducing cloud concentration risk.

In increasingly hybrid and multi-cloud environments, what makes Informatica’s data management approach stand out?

One of the reasons organisations are increasingly adopting hybrid and multi-cloud environments is to reduce their reliance on any single provider or infrastructure. This is not just smart business practice; it’s also being recognised by regulators. For example, the EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) highlights the importance of avoiding concentration risk, or as it’s often described, putting all your eggs in one basket.

But while hybrid models solve one problem, they create another: data silos. Hyperscalers’ native data management tools are often locked within their own ecosystems, which leaves organisations with fragmented, disconnected environments. This is where Informatica makes a real difference. We’ve always positioned ourselves as the ‘Switzerland of data’, providing neutral, best-of-breed capabilities that work seamlessly across all major cloud providers. Whether it’s AWS, Azure, GCP, Oracle Cloud, Databricks, or Snowflake, we enable enterprises to manage their data natively across platforms, eliminating vendor lock-in and reducing cloud concentration risk.

How do you see data management evolving over the next 3–5 years?

AI is going to be the biggest force shaping data management in the years ahead. One fundamental aspect of AI-ready data is metadata which delivers understanding of where data comes from, how it’s defined, and how it flows through the organisation. That’s why we’ll see new Target Operating Models emerge, where data management becomes more holistic, encompassing people, processes, technology, and of course the data itself at the centre.

At the same time, organisations will increasingly recognise the difference between high-quality data and AI-ready data. For many, even achieving consistently high-quality data has been a struggle, so the idea of levelling up to AI-ready data can feel

Levent Ergin

Chief Strategist for Climate, Sustainability and AI, Global Head of ESG Strategic Alliance Partnerships, Informatica

daunting. Here’s the irony: the key to preparing AI-ready data is actually AI itself. Manual data management, at the scale AI requires, simply isn’t possible. But with AI-powered automation, tasks that once took months can now be done in minutes. By applying AI to integration, governance, and quality processes, organisations can not only keep pace but also achieve new levels of speed, accuracy, and scalability.

Can you elaborate on how Informatica’s Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC) is enabling enterprises to modernise their data infrastructure?

Legacy technology has always been the Achilles’ heel of digital transformation. Informatica’s IDMC helps enterprises overcome that challenge by rapidly accelerating the modernisation of their data infrastructure. Its powerful metadata capabilities cover everything from mainframes to modern cloud platforms, such as Snowflake, allowing organisations to unlock data that’s otherwise trapped in legacy systems and make it available for AI initiatives.

For companies moving to the cloud, we also support modernisation through our PowerCenter programmes in partnership with hyperscalers. These help enterprises transition on-premises integration patterns to the cloud quickly and effectively. The result is that businesses can modernise without disruption and immediately start reaping the benefits of data-driven innovation.

With the rising importance given to data governance and compliance, how does Informatica ensure secure, compliant, and trusted data management at scale?

At Informatica, we don’t just adhere to the highest security standards ourselves – such as ISO 27001 and SOC 2 compliance – we also empower our customers to implement best-in-class risk controls. A good way to look at this is through the lens of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework: identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover.

The first step, identifying critical data, is where we play a pivotal role. We help organisations automatically discover and classify sensitive information such as personally identifiable information (PII), build robust data catalogues, and establish the right governance frameworks. This ensures that enterprises can not only protect their most valuable assets but also demonstrate compliance, building trust with regulators and customers alike.

How does Informatica address data unification without disrupting existing systems?

As I mentioned previously, we like to say Informatica is the ‘Switzerland of data’ for good reason. Rather than ripping and replacing existing systems, we co-exist with them, acting as the glue that stitches siloed environments into a unified governance platform. This ability to bring order to chaos is what enables enterprises to unlock the value of their data, whether for compliance, knowledge management, or digital transformation initia-

tives such as safe AI deployment.

Could you share an example or two of how organisations in the Middle East, or globally, are leveraging Informatica solutions to achieve tangible business outcomes?

A great example is Yamaha Corporation, the world-renowned leader in musical instruments. Yamaha turned to Informatica’s Master Data Management (MDM) solution to unify dispersed data across its global enterprise. By combining information from more than 200 systems spanning product, customer, and financial data, Yamaha has been able to create a trusted, AI-powered 360-degree view of its business.

The impact has been significant. Decision-making has become faster and more accurate, innovation has accelerated, and the company is now in a stronger position to drive growth with reliable, consistent, and complete data at its core.

What role will agentic AI and automation play in data management?

Agentic AI is powerful, but it introduces risks that every C-suite leader needs to be aware of. Misaligned goals, opaque reasoning, and organisational drift can all arise when agents are trained on fragmented or poorly governed data. The root problem here is ungoverned, siloed data.

Fittingly, the solution lies in governance AI agents. These agents autonomously discover and classify data, enforce privacy and compliance policies in real time, and monitor data quality and lineage. They act as a safeguard, ensuring that every decision made by autonomous systems is based on a trusted, consistent source of truth.

Just as CISOs elevated cybersecurity to the board level, governance agents will institutionalise trust in the age of autonomy. They make agentic AI not only possible but also safe, scalable, and aligned with enterprise goals.

What role do partnerships with hyperscalers such as AWS, Azure, and GCP play in Informatica’s growth strategy?

Our partnerships with hyperscalers are absolutely central to our strategy. Informatica focuses on data management while our hyperscaler partners provide the storage layer. Together, this pairing delivers the critical capabilities enterprises need to operate in hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

By building native integrations with AWS, Azure, GCP, and others, we give our customers the freedom to choose the platforms that work best for them while still managing their valuable data in a consistent and trusted way. These partnerships don’t just help us grow; they enable us to deliver real value to customers navigating an increasingly complex cloud landscape.

DRIVING CYBER RESILIENCE

Rejeesh Kumar, CTO, Mindfire Technologies outlines the company’s key focus areas, Saudi growth strategy, and the evolving threat landscape shaping enterprise security today.

What are Mindfire’s key focus areas in cybersecurity today?

At Mindfire Technologies, our key focus areas in cybersecurity are centred around delivering enterprise-grade, end-to-end protection. We operate a Next-Generation SOC with advanced MDR/ XDR capabilities, proactive threat hunting, and SOAR-driven automation to reduce response times. We strengthen resilience with exposure and vulnerability management, including attack surface management (ASM/EASM) and breach-and-attack simulation. Identity and Access Management is another priority—covering IAM, PAM, IGA, and Zero Trust adoption—while our cloud and data security stack spans CNAPP, DSPM, DLP with automated classification, and insider-risk protection. We are also heavily investing in AI-driven defenses, from behavioral analytics and anomaly detection to AI assurance frameworks for secure adoption of generative AI. Alongside technology, we deliver strong Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) consulting, helping clients in the UAE and Saudi Arabia align with frameworks like PDPL, Dubai ISR, and NCA ECC, while embedding FAIR-based risk quantification to link security outcomes directly to business value.

Can you elaborate on the company’s priorities in Saudi Arabia, in addition to your presence in the UAE?

While the UAE remains our operational hub, Saudi Arabia is a key strategic growth market for Mindfire Technologies. With Vision 2030 accelerating digital transformation, the Kingdom’s demand for advanced and resilient cybersecurity services is unprecedented. Our priorities there include helping organizations achieve compliance with NCA ECC and related mandates, building a local SOC and managed services capability to ensure in-country support, and partnering with both public and private sectors to secure critical infrastructure, protect sensitive data, and strengthen cloud and data residency programs. We view Saudi Arabia not simply as an expansion market, but as an opportunity to directly contribute to the Kingdom’s national cybersecurity resilience and long-term security objectives.

How do you view the current cybersecurity threat landscape, and what do you see as the major threat vectors?

Well, the current cybersecurity threat landscape is highly dynamic and complex, shaped by three major trends: the commoditization of cybercrime, the exploitation of the human element, and the growing sophistication of supply chain attacks. Social engineering—especially phishing—remains the most persistent vector, with AI-driven campaigns making them harder to detect and more impactful. Supply chain compromises are also on the rise, creating cascading risks across industries and highlighting the importance of robust third-party risk management and a Zero Trust approach. At the same time, Ransomware-as-a-Service and wide-

Rejeesh Kumar CTO, Mindfire Technologies

ly available malware have drastically lowered the entry barrier for attackers, fueling a surge in ransomware campaigns. In this environment, the focus must shift from reactive, perimeter-based defenses to proactive, integrated security strategies that combine advanced technologies with stronger human resilience.

What role does AI play in shaping modern cybersecurity strategies, and how is Mindfire integrating it into solutions?

AI is no longer optional in cybersecurity—it has become the backbone of modern defense strategies. At Mindfire Technologies, we view AI as a force multiplier that augments both scale and precision. Within our Next-Gen SOC, AI-driven analytics power real-time correlation, anomaly detection, and behavioral baselining, while predictive models help us anticipate threats before they materialize. We embed AI into our threat intelligence platforms to enrich context, identify hidden patterns, and forecast emerging risks, and extend this capability to customers through

AI-powered SOAR automation that reduces response times from hours to minutes. Beyond detection and response, we are building an AI assurance and adoption framework to help clients safely leverage generative AI while defending against AI-enabled threats. By fusing human expertise with AI-driven cyber defense, we enable organizations to transition from reactive firefighting to proactive, intelligence-led, and adaptive security.

What is unique about the way you advise your customers regarding their cybersecurity posture and deployments?

Our approach is customer-focused and business-centric, not just technology-driven. We start by understanding the client’s risk landscape and business objectives, then design AI-augmented cyber defense strategies that balance compliance, resilience, and digital growth. What makes us unique is the way we combine risk-based advisory with practical deployment—blending governance frameworks, AI-driven analytics, and next-gen controls into a unified, outcome-oriented model. This ensures every engagement delivers measurable improvements in security posture while positioning cybersecurity as a driver of business value, not merely a cost or compliance exercise.

Which key technology vendors do you work with across different areas of cybersecurity, and how do these partnerships add value?

At Mindfire Technologies, we take a business-aligned, risk-based approach to cybersecurity, and what truly differentiates us is the strength of our partner ecosystem. We work with leading global vendors across every domain to deliver a unified, AI-augmented cyber defense framework. On the governance and compliance side, we leverage Swiss GRC, while for cloud security we integrate solutions like Wiz for CNAPP and CSPM Forensics and investigations are supported through Exterro, and resilience is strengthened with Acronis for backup, recovery, patch management, email archival etc. When it comes to identity and access, we rely on CyberArk for PAM and privileged identity security, while Check Point provides network, SASE, and collaboration protection along with endpoint security. Data-centric defense is enabled through Forcepoint and Fortra, and we extend this to insider visibility with Syteca for employee monitoring. Application security are powered by Invicty, while Tenable supports our exposure and vulnerability management strategy, and Checkmarx strengthens application and DevSecOps security.

On the endpoint and SOC operations side, we work with CrowdStrike and SentinelOne for EDR and XDR, complemented by LevelBlue and Exabeam for SIEM, UEBA, and SOC automation, with ExtraHop providing NDR and deep network visibility. We also address OT and IoT environments with MicroSec, ensuring critical infrastructure is secured alongside enterprise IT. For enterprise security we also work with IBM Security and Microsoft while Radware protects against web application and DDoS threats. Cyble powers out threat intellegence and brand protection portfolio while mobile security is assured in by Ermetix and Hexnode.

Bringing these technologies together under Mindfire’s managed services model allows us to unify governance, cloud, data, identity, endpoint, network, insider risk, OT, and SOC operations into

a single, risk-based and AI-driven security framework. The outcome for our clients is measurable resilience, regulatory alignment, and a cybersecurity posture that serves as a true business enabler across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and beyond.

What are the strengths of your SOC and managed security services, and where do you see the growth opportunities in this space?

The real strength of our SOC and managed security services lies in our continuous investment in people and process, alongside partnerships with leading global technology vendors. Our SOC operations are not just about monitoring dashboards—they’re complemented by a dedicated red team for adversary simulation, an engineering and incident response team for rapid containment and recovery, and a GRC team that ensures compliance and risk management are embedded into every engagement. This holistic model allows us to deliver more than just threat detection—we provide end-to-end cyber resilience that aligns with business, regulatory, and technical requirements.

"While the UAE remains our operational hub, Saudi Arabia is a key strategic growth market for Mindfire Technologies. With Vision 2030 accelerating digital transformation, the Kingdom’s demand for advanced and resilient cybersecurity services is unprecedented."

MODERNIZATION WITHOUT ALIGNMENT IS A DEAD END

F5 Distinguished Engineer Lori MacVittie warns that without aligning security, automation, and deployment strategies, AI becomes little more than a high-tech bandage—optimizing yesterday’s problems instead of solving tomorrow’s challenges.

In the rush to modernize, many organizations are deploying AI to optimize outdated processes—without questioning whether those processes still make sense at all. It’s a classic case of automating a fax machine instead of just using email.

As we move through 2025, the pressure to deliver faster, more secure, and more efficient applications is intense. Yet complexity, legacy practices, and misalignment keep undermining AI’s full potential. To stay competitive, organizations must align strategies across security, automation, and deployment. That’s the theme that arose from our analysis of responses from 659 technology decision makers across the globe. We asked about AI, about automation, about delivery and security, and what concerns, frustrations, and blockers are slowing their organizations down.

That’s why it’s important to consider that such a disruptive technology is an opportunity to rethink those environments—from operations to security, from application delivery to microservices—and ask ourselves if the way we’re doing things is really the best way to keep doing things, albeit much faster.

Let’s take a look at some of those “things” right quick, shall we?

Security focus: Prioritizing AI over microservices

Security tends to follow the buzz—AI is the new shiny object, so it naturally receives the most attention. But the forgotten corners of your architecture can be just as vulnerable, if not more so.

• Data insight: AI deployments often receive top-tier security due to their direct interaction with sensitive data, while microservices—vital to modern apps—are overlooked.

• Implication: Shielding AI is crucial but leaving microservices under-protected opens the door to breaches. These services often handle user authentication, data exchange, and core logic; a weak link here can threaten the entire ecosystem.

Manual operations amid automation ambitions

We love to talk about how AI and automation will transform everything, yet many teams still rely on manual steps. It’s like dreaming of driverless cars but insisting on push-starting them first.

• Data insight: Although AI promises automated tasks like traffic optimization, nearly 29% of teams are still mired in scriptwriting, and 56% rely on human operators to kick off processes.

• Implication: Legacy methods and manual interventions choke the pipeline. Even the most advanced AI can’t deliver results if the infrastructure relies on time-consuming, error-prone manual steps.

Deployment delays: Stuck in outdated processes

In a world that glorifies “continuous everything,” it’s ironic how many teams still use processes that require multiple manual approvals and ticketing. This not only delays deployments but also saps team morale.

Lori MacVittie F5

• Data insight: Traditional deployment practices, such as reliance on human operators and cumbersome ticketing systems, cause significant delays—23% cite ticketing integration as a primary automation roadblock.

• Implication: Modern CI/CD pipelines are built for speed, but outdated processes slow them to a crawl. If you’re pushing for continuous delivery yet still depending on manual approvals, you’re missing the point of agile deployment.

Complexity: The silent barrier to application delivery automation

We tend to blame slow progress on a single big problem—like a security gap or an old database. In reality, it’s the combined weight of countless small complexities that can grind your automation efforts to a halt.

• Data insight: The challenges in automating application delivery—across APIs, tasks, languages, and time zones—are widespread and evenly distributed, revealing systemic complexity.

• Implication: Fragmentation across multiple tiers and services adds layers of manual effort and risk. Streamlining APIs, reducing redundant tasks, and unifying technologies can drastically reduce complexity, unlocking genuine automation benefits.

Final thoughts

Misalignment is the real enemy—whether it’s security mismatches, outdated manual steps, or legacy deployment holdovers. AI can optimize old processes, but it can’t fix fundamental misalignment on its own. . Embrace modernization with a clear strategy, or risk automating yesterday’s problems.

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BEAT THE HEAT IN YOUR DATA CENTRE

Osama Obeidat, Director, Energy Sector, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain discusses how AI-Driven cooling innovations help data centers meet sustainability targets without compromising computing performance

Data centers are the foundation of today’s digital world, powering everything from cloud computing to AI. But this immense capability comes at a cost - substantial energy consumption, much of it tied to cooling systems. As demand for computing grows, so too does the urgency to find more efficient, sustainable solutions.

AI is shifting the energy narrative, driving smarter, leaner consumption

Data centers account for about 1% of the world’s total energy consumption, according to the International Energy Agency. With the rapid growth of AI, edge computing, and 5G networks, this figure is expected to rise. Cooling systems alone can consume 30-40% of a data center’s energy, making them an essential area for improvement.

AI is changing this narrative by introducing intelligent, adaptable, and automated solutions that optimize system performance while minimizing energy consumption. One major application is energy efficiency optimization. As AI workloads increase, data centers face rising energy demands and associated emissions. According to Arizton, there are 33 operational data centers in Saudi Arabia, and 41 more facilities underway, with Saudi Arabia contributing to over 22.3% of the total power capacity added by data center operations in the Middle East.

AI-driven systems also respond to external environmental conditions in real time. They adjust cooling strategies based on current weather, humidity, and temperature, maintaining efficiency while adapting to changing surroundings. This flexibility helps data centers meet sustainability targets without compromising computing performance.

Cooling solutions: From air to liquid and beyond

To meet evolving demands, data centers are embracing a mix of cooling solutions:

1. Air Cooling: Air cooling, a traditional method, uses fans, heat sinks, and air circulation to dissipate heat from crucial server components like processors and memory. Data centers have traditionally used air flow to cool servers; approximately 99 percent of data centers still use this approach in one form or another.1 Advanced techniques like hot/cold aisle configurations and intelligent fan zoning help optimize airflow and reduce energy

Osama Obeidat Director, Energy Sector, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, Dell Technologies

use. It is cost-effective, easy to maintain, and widely compatible with most standard servers and racks, making it a convenient option. However, it is less energy-efficient, struggles to scale with high-density AI workloads, and heavily relies on HVAC systems, which can increase electricity consumption and carbon emissions. While suitable for many setups, air cooling may fall short

as computational demands rise, often prompting a shift to more advanced solutions.

A great example of this is the Dell AI Factory. Purpose-built to support high-performance AI workloads, the facility integrates advanced hybrid cooling technologies including Dell’s industry-first PowerCool Enclosed Rear Door Heat Exchanger (eRDHx). This self-contained solution captures 100% of IT-generated heat and reduces cooling energy costs by up to 60%, while supporting air cooling of up to 80 kW per rack. Combined with factory-integrated IR7000 racks and support for warmer water temperatures, the system minimizes reliance on expensive chillers and increases data center capacity by 16% without additional power consumption. In a region with demanding climate conditions, Dell’s AI Factory exemplifies how localized, energy-efficient cooling innovations can enable sustainable, scalable AI infrastructure.

2. Liquid cooling: Direct liquid cooling (DLC) uses small heat exchangers, known as cold plates, to deliver liquid directly to heat-generating components, leveraging liquid’s superior thermal conductivity to efficiently dissipate heat. It supports higher-density server configurations, reduces noise by minimizing fan use, and handles increased thermal loads with lower energy spikes. According to PWC, the Middle East is set to triple its data center capacity to 3.3GW by 2030, driven by AI, cloud growth, and rising digital demand. GCC nations are leading this surge, backed by strategic policies and major global and regional investments.

Dell’s DLC enabled servers like the Dell PowerEdge XE9680L employs liquid cooling directly within critical components like CPUs and GPUs. Data center liquid cooling solutions reduce cooling energy consumption by 40 - 50% and improve power usage effectiveness (PUE).3

3. Hybrid Cooling solutions with Integrated Rack Scalable Systems: Hybrid cooling combines elements of both air and liquid cooling systems. It involves direct-to-chip liquid cooling for high-priority components (like CPUs or GPUs) along with air cooling to manage ambient temperature and cool other components like memory. Even DLC-enabled racks of dense compute can generate intense air heat loads up to 80 kW per rack.

Traditional air-cooling approaches limit rack density and create space and power challenges, even with direct liquid cooling on CPUs and GPUs. Standard industry rear door heat exchangers rely on cold water from a power-hungry refrigerated chiller system to extract heat from the air before blowing chilled air into data centers.

Placing cold plates on additional server components can be done in a 100% DLC system, but that increases costs, dramatically reduces serviceability and configurability, and means that all the cooling system components must be replaced with each generation of new hardware.

The IR7000 is a Dell-engineered, multi-generational rack infrastructure based on the OCP standard Orv3 rack design, with additional enhancements that support a hybrid cooled infrastructure. With the addition of the new, industry-first Dell PowerCool Enclosed Rear Door Heat Exchanger (eRDHx) technology, the

system captures 100% of IT heat to liquid by leveraging both direct-to-chip liquid cooling integrated into the IR7000 that is delivered by blind-mate quick disconnects, and heat to liquid for all remaining components.

Instead of sending cooled air out into the environment, the eRDHx uses unique high-performance fans to recirculate now-cooler air back to the front of the rack for continuous cooling. By completely enclosing rack airflow and recycling the air through the side channels of the IR7000, the eRDHx can operate at warmer water temperatures than standard RDHx. This increase in water temperature eliminates reliance on refrigeration systems to cool water, reducing cooling power consumption up to 60% versus other DLC racks with rear door heat exchangers.

AI and cooling: A smarter approach to energy efficiency

The demands on data centers are only growing, and so is the need for innovative cooling solutions. By adopting AI-powered cooling strategies, businesses can reduce energy consumption, cut operational costs, and meet their sustainability goals without compromising performance. Now is the time to embrace smarter, AI enabled technologies that ensure data centers can power our digital world responsibly.

"According to PWC, the Middle East is set to triple its data center capacity to 3.3GW by 2030, driven by AI, cloud growth, and rising digital demand. GCC nations are leading this surge, backed by strategic policies and major global and regional investments."

GREEN STEEL & THE POWER OF IT

Shailesh Mani, the Group IT Head at a leading Metal Trading company in Dubai, and a seasoned digital transformation leader discusses how technology applied with a purpose can be a force multiplier and help forge a sustainable future for the industry

Introduction: A New Era for Industrial evolution

In the heart of today’s industrial evolution lies a challenge — and an opportunity—that’s reshaping the way we think about manufacturing: sustainability. Among heavy industries, steel remains one of the most essential, yet one of the most polluting. But now, a wave of digital transformation and climate-conscious innovation is giving rise to what’s known as Green Steel.

Aa a Senior IT professional who handled IT at various business verticals, I’ve had the privilege of leading digital transformation across multiple countries and sectors. My journey spans over 26 years, handling multiple countries, with industries such as manufacturing, FMCG, pharma, and retail. What ties them all together is a single truth: when technology is applied with purpose, it becomes a force multiplier—for business, for people, and for the planet.

What Is Green Steel—and Why Is It Crucial?

“Green Steel” is steel produced through environmentally friendly and sustainable processes, drastically minimizing the carbon footprint that traditional steelmaking methods create. Steel manufacturing currently contributes 5–7% of global CO2 emissions, largely due to its reliance on fossil fuels like coal and coke.

The Green Steel movement is about replacing these carbon-heavy inputs with clean energy and innovative production methods, including:

• Hydrogen- Use as an alternate fuel.

• Electric Arc Furnaces powered by renewable electricity (solar, wind, hydro)

• Carbon capture and reuse technologies

In solar-rich regions like the Middle East, this shift is not just necessary—it’s entirely feasible.

The Role of IT in Green Steel Transformation

Omar Akar Regional VP, Middle East & Emerging Africa, Pure Storage

The steel industry is complex, capital-intensive, and operates on thin margins. But IT is emerging as the single most critical enabler in the Green Steel journey. From real-time emissions tracking to intelligent energy management, technology is turning vision into action.

Key Contributions of IT:

Group IT Head at a leading Metal Trading company

• Energy Optimization: Smart energy management platforms help monitor and optimize consumption in real-time.

• Emission Tracking: IoT and sensor networks measure carbon output across all stages of production.

• AI-Powered Automation: From predictive maintenance to intelligent quality control, AI reduces waste and increases precision.

• Transparent Supply Chains: Blockchain and ERP integration offer full visibility into sourcing, processing, and compliance.

• ESG Reporting Tools: Real-time dashboards ensure accurate, auditable sustainability metrics.

Shailesh Mani

In essence, IT provides the backbone for decarbonizing steel while improving operational agility.

Digital Tools for Driving Sustainability

Steelmakers aiming to reduce emissions and energy use should consider a suite of digital technologies that go far beyond ERP or SCADA systems.

Recommended Technologies:

• IoT for Data Capture: Collect and analyze machine-level data for predictive maintenance and performance insights.

• AI for Optimization: Reduce downtime, improve quality, and optimize raw material usage.

• Smart SCM Platforms: Ensure end-to-end traceability of raw materials to avoid disruptions and validate ESG compliance.

• Advanced Analytics: Corporate dashboards powered by real-time data for fast, informed decisions.

With the right tools in place, steel plants can transition from reactive to predictive, and from linear to circular.

Challenges in ESG Data and Supplier Integration

Sustainability isn’t only about reducing emissions in-house—it’s also about the entire ecosystem. And that’s where companies face hurdles:

• Lack of Standardization: Different regions and suppliers have different data protocols, making integration difficult.

• Data Confidentiality: Many suppliers are unwilling to share sensitive emissions or production data.

• Accuracy and Validation: Ensuring that all collected data is reliable and auditable is a major challenge.

• Cost and Resources: Implementing full ESG tracking systems demands time, talent, and financial investment.

• Stakeholder Expectations: ESG reports must not only be accurate but meaningful to investors, regulators, and internal leaders.

• Solving these challenges requires a robust IT governance model, cross-border collaboration, and ongoing vendor engagement.

IT’s Role in the Circular Steel Economy

As the industry embraces circularity—minimizing waste and maximizing reuse—IT steps in as the orchestrator of material intelligence.

Use Cases:

• Scrap Tracking: Sensors monitor scrap quality, origin, and flow across plants.

• Digital Product Passports: Store detailed lifecycle data including materials used, maintenance history, and recyclability.

• Predictive Maintenance: IoT and AI predict part failures to avoid unnecessary waste and extend machine lifespans.

• Remanufacturing Systems: Identify reusable parts and components for reverse logistics.

• Design for Disassembly: IT tools support modular designs that can be disassembled and reused.

Together, these digital capabilities turn a linear manufacturing model into a circular, regenerative system.

Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0: What’s Next

The integration of AI, robotics, and IoT is redefining steel manufacturing—from plant floor to boardroom.

Emerging Trends:

• AI-Driven Predictive Maintenance: Minimizes unplanned downtimes and reduces repair costs.

• Humanoid Robotics: Automates manual tasks, improving safety and consistency.

• AI in Quality Control: Detects micro-defects, reduces inspection times, and boosts reliability.

• Smart Inventory Management: AI systems forecast raw material needs and identify potential supply chain risks.

• Digital Twins: Virtual simulations of steel plants to optimize design, process flows, and efficiency.

The future is fully autonomous, digitally connected steel mills that are not only efficient but environmentally responsible.

"The steel industry is complex, capital-intensive, and operates on thin margins. But IT is emerging as the single most critical enabler in the Green Steel journey. From real-time emissions tracking to intelligent energy management, technology is turning vision into action."

SHIFTING FROM PRODUCT TO POSSIBILITY

Omar Tabch, Regional Director - Strategic Business, Middle East at Backbase writes about what Banks can learn from IKEA about designing journeys that build loyalty

Omar Tabch Regional Director - Strategic Business, Middle East, Backbase

Digital transformation is NOT digital banking

Digital transformation set out to digitize every product or transaction we’ve attempted over the past twenty years. Digital banking, on the other hand, aims to reinvent banking around every customer need that’s been overlooked all this time.

Digital banking is a digital access to financial services that feel tailored to your lifestyle, offering personalized experiences, proactive insights, and smart tools that simplify money management. It is what customer value, and what turns banking from a chore into a natural part of daily life.

And herein lies the uncomfortable truth: most banks today have digitized their products, but not the customer journey.

An app that replicates a paper form is merely transformational. A chatbot that routes you to a human agent after four wrong guesses isn’t intelligence. True digital banking requires a re-architecture of the entire customer experience—from first contact to ongoing engagement—around outcomes, not processes.

If the term “digital” is causing the confusion, let's take a non-digital example. Walk into any IKEA store and you’re immediately part of something more than a shopping trip. You’re on a curated journey. There’s no wandering aimlessly. Instead, every turn, every room, every staged kitchen or cosy reading nook is placed with purpose. IKEA isn’t just offering furniture; its offering possibilities tailored to your lifestyle.

Clearly, it’s a model that works to great effect. So why can’t banks borrow a page from IKEA’s playbook? What if, instead of organizing products into silos, they shaped experiences around the real lives of the people they serve?

Article by: You’ve probably used your bank app once or twice a month for the past decade, maybe even more comfortably since the pandemic. Chances are, you don’t even remember the last time you stepped into a branch. We’ve reached a surprising level of convenience from our traditional banks, something we might not have expected years ago. But then you pause and ask: what’s the real buzz around digital banking today? What more could players like Revolut, Wio Bank, or Neo (SNB) really offer? The truth is transformation and convenience alone don’t build loyalty. Digital banking goes further. It’s about relevance, personalization, and value that evolves with the customer, not just for them.

Let’s explore how banks can move from selling products to curating journeys—deepening loyalty, increasing value, and making everyday banking feel surprisingly, but intuitively, human.

Context is Everything: Designing for Real Life, Not for Transactions

The beauty of IKEA’s experience lies in its context-awareness. A student might find a small space kitted out with budget-friendly essentials. A young family might pause at a cheerful playroom complete with child-safe finishes and clever storage. An elderly

couple feels downsizing is possible and comfortable too. Each setup speaks to a life stage, not just a catalogue page.

Banks must do the same. A young professional may appreciate a digital and seamless onboarding process today, but is unlikely to read through a long and boring account statement or even stay loyal. What they need is tools like PFM (personal finance manager) to manage their expenses, personalized updates on budget breaches, and celebration of meeting personal saving goals. Parents may appreciate a digital onboarding of their minors or an insurance policy linked to their account but what they actually need is full-fledged family banking capabilities to issue and manage cards, manage allowances, and control spending of their loved ones remotely, anywhere anytime. Each element of their daily banking journey needs to be relevant, timely, personalized and positioned around their life—not the bank’s product categories.

This shift matters because most customers don’t think in terms of “products.” They think in terms of goals—buying a home, planning a holiday, sending money back home.

Get the Context Right, Sales will Follow

At IKEA, there is always someone in a yellow or blue polo shirt available to help. However, there’s almost never anyone trying to sell you anything. The minute they built a context aware journey and a setup that resonates with your lifestyle, selling, cross-selling and upselling follow naturally. How many times have you gone out to buy a dining table and ended up walking out with an entire set of kitchenware?

Banks that design context-aware customer journeys aren't just improving experiences—they're capturing rich, actionable data at every touchpoint. This data becomes the fuel for AI-driven insights and smarter, more effective sales strategies.

Using AI to Maximise Lifetime Value, One Nudge at a Time Customer lifetime value isn’t just about retention. It’s about relevance—being able to evolve with a customer as they grow, shift priorities, and navigate life’s transitions.

This is where AI becomes a powerful enabler. Think of it as the engine behind personalization at scale. With intelligent data models, banks can anticipate a change in income, recognize a career milestone, or even spot the financial patterns that precede major life events. That means more meaningful conversations, smarter nudges, and perfectly timed offers.

Much like IKEA tailors its catalogues and displays to reflect customer milestones—first apartment, baby on the way, retirement downsizing—banks too can guide people through each stage with empathy and insight. AI can recommend the next best action, but it can also help shape an overall journey that feels responsive and supportive, not sales-driven.

The problem is too many banks still run broad campaigns that ignore personal context. They rely on basic segmentation or scattergun messaging. In doing so, they’re leaving emotional engagement, and long-term value, on the table.

Curating Ecosystems: Banks Don’t Have to Build It All

Here’s another lesson from IKEA: you don’t have to make everything to offer everything. IKEA works with hundreds of suppliers and product designers to curate a cohesive experience. The same thinking applies to modern banking.

Forward-thinking banks are moving towards ecosystem models, partnering with FinTechs, InsurTechs, RegTechs, ProTechs, and even wellness or education platforms, to enhance their value proposition. By using composable platforms, where new services can be plugged in like building blocks, banks can bring a universe of capabilities into their apps without building them from scratch.

Imagine a bank app that offers an integrated budgeting tool, a financial wellness tracker, or even local transport and utility payments. For customers, it just feels like a more useful, well-rounded app. For the bank, it’s a powerful way to grow engagement and relevance without bloating internal development.

From Chore to Choice: Banking as a Lifestyle

If you ask someone to name their favorite lifestyle brand, chances are they won’t say a bank. But that’s changing.

Some digital-native banks are already positioning themselves not just as places to store money, but as daily companions. They’re embedding travel benefits, subscription management, gamified savings goals, and real-time social spending comparisons into their platforms. Banking becomes not just functional, but engaging—or at the very least, relevant.

By meeting customers where they are—on the go, on their phones, in the midst of real life—these banks make financial management feel less like a chore and more like a choice. And that’s where the real stickiness lies.

To succeed here, banks need to think beyond financial services. What else supports the customer’s daily life? How can the banking experience blend so well into other activities that it becomes invisible?

From Catalogues to Context: Building Loyalty the IKEA Way

The financial services sector isn’t short on products. What it often lacks is narrative—an intentional journey that helps customers feel seen, understood, and supported.

IKEA shows us what’s possible when you go beyond transactions to design experiences. It teaches us that context matters, that curation creates clarity, and that people are more loyal to brands that help them move through life with confidence. Can banks do that?

The challenge is clear. Don’t just digitize the past. Reimagine the future. Make banking about possibility, not just products. When they do, loyalty becomes the natural result—not because customers have to stay, but because they genuinely want to.

DERISKING ENTERPRISE CORE MODERNISATION

David Boast, General Manager – UAE & KSA, Endava discusses his view on a smarter path to transformation

CDavid Boast General Manager –UAE & KSA, Endava

ore modernisation is no longer a question of if, but when. Enterprises across industries are grappling with the realities of legacy systems that, while once the backbone of operations, are now slowing down agility, innovation, and scalability. But as necessary as modernisation is, it’s also a daunting undertaking—one that carries risks ranging from operational disruption to spiralling costs and integration challenges.

The good news is that modernisation doesn’t have to be a highstakes gamble. With the right strategy, it’s possible to transform core systems while maintaining business continuity, managing risks effectively, and ensuring that the investment pays off in real, tangible value.

Mapping: Laying the Groundwork for Modernisation

The first step is understanding what you’re working with. Before any modernisation effort begins, an organisation needs a clear picture of its existing core systems, infrastructure, and business processes. Too often, enterprises dive into transformation proj-

ects without fully grasping how their legacy systems function, where inefficiencies exist, and what dependencies could complicate integration. A deep assessment of the current environment— spanning technical architecture, business workflows, and data structures—creates a foundation for smarter decision-making. It’s about identifying what to keep, what to change, and what to retire, ensuring that modernisation efforts don’t inadvertently break what’s already working.

Design and Strategy: A Value-Driven Approach

Once there’s clarity on the current state, the focus shifts to defining a modernisation strategy that delivers continuous value. The most successful transformations aren’t those that attempt a massive overhaul in one go, but rather those that take an incremental, carefully phased approach. Rather than aiming for an end-state that could take years to realise, businesses should focus on delivering value at every stage of the journey. This means adopting an agile mindset, where modernisation efforts are rolled out in stages—each phase stabilising and proving its worth before the next step begins. It’s a way to maintain flexibility, minimise disruption, and ensure that the system evolves in line with real business needs rather than rigid long-term plans.

There’s also a fundamental balancing act that comes into play when designing a modernisation roadmap. Every decision involves trade-offs—whether it’s performance versus security, flexibility versus complexity, or cost versus scalability. The key is determining which attributes are essential for the long-term sustainability of the system. A future-ready enterprise core isn’t just one that meets today’s needs; it’s one that can adapt to future changes in business models, regulatory requirements, and technology landscapes. Designing for flexibility from the outset ensures that modernisation isn’t something that needs to be revisited every few years, but instead becomes an ongoing, adaptive process.

Execution Models and Accelerators: Driving Efficiency with AI and Automation

Of course, even the best-laid plans can be derailed without the right execution model. The real challenge of modernisation isn’t just knowing what needs to be done—it’s ensuring that the process is efficient, transparent, and minimises business risk. The traditional approach to system transformation often relied heavily on manual processes, extensive documentation, and time-consuming change management. But today, with AI and automation, modernisation can be executed in a way that significantly reduces risk and effort.

Modern delivery teams now have access to accelerators that enhance decision-making and streamline the execution of change. AI-powered tools, like Endava’s Compass, that act as virtual subject matter experts can provide on-demand insights and guidance—supporting teams as they navigate complex environments and make critical system changes with confidence. This shift not only reduces dependency on static documentation but also empowers transformation teams to move faster, while minimising operational risk.

An agile, iterative execution model also allows for continual reprioritisation as business needs evolve. No modernisation project exists in a vacuum—market conditions shift, customer expectations change, and new technological capabilities emerge. By adopting a flexible, data-driven approach, organisations can ensure that transformation efforts remain aligned with strategic goals, rather than getting locked into outdated plans that no longer serve the business.

More than the Core

Ultimately, successful modernisation isn’t just about upgrading technology—it’s about creating a foundation for business agility and innovation. Organisations that approach transformation with a clear roadmap, a focus on delivering continuous value, and an execution model that prioritises efficiency and risk management will be the ones that see the greatest long-term benefits. Modernisation done right isn’t just about catching up with today’s demands; it’s about setting the stage for future growth and resilience.

"The most successful transformations aren’t those that attempt a massive overhaul in one go, but rather those that take an incremental, carefully phased approach. Rather than aiming for an end-state that could take years to realise, businesses should focus on delivering value at every stage of the journey."

DELL PRO MAX

Designed for demanding applications, the new Dell Pro Max portfolio offers a range of high-performance PCs. The Dell Pro Max with GB10 and Dell Pro Max with GB300, at the top end of the high-performance PC range, packs exceptional performance in a compact and power-efficient form factor. In a category where performance is key, the new portfolio features greater performance generation-over-generation through Dell’s new, patented thermal design. The devices include Intel Core Ultra (Series 2, U SKUs) and AMD Ryzen and AMD Threadripper processor options and professional graphics. Users can power intensive workloads, from animation to video rendering, run AI inferencing and fine-tune large language models (LLMs), while maintaining security and managing costs.

Building on Dell’s circular innovation leadership, the new portfolio focuses on innovative modular design and the increased use of recycled, low emissions and renewable materials in products and packaging. Dell Pro and select Dell Pro

Max are the world’s first commercial notebooks built with a modular USB-C port. New technology innovations in battery chemistry also allow the new Dell Pro and Dell Pro Plus batteries to use up to 80% less cobalt and reduce dependence on critical minerals.

Highlights:

workloads, from data intensive applications to 2D CAD to AI training.

• Dell Pro Max PCs pack high-end performance in a portable, lightweight and modern design, with Dell Pro Max Plus and Premium models coming later this year.

• Engineered for unmatched performance, Dell Pro Max PCs harness the full potential of cutting-edge CPUs, professional-grade GPUs, high-speed storage, and advanced memory. Built for power and reliability, they are designed to handle your most demanding

• The all-new 16-inch size provides expansive screen real estate and supports complex and high-performance applications on-the-go.

• The spacious display offers up to QHD+ resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio and an optional touch screen. With support for up to the NVIDIA RTX 2000 Ada Generation Laptop GPU, designers, engineers and architects can have the performance they need for AI inferencing, rendering and creative applications.

ASUS ExpertBook B3 Series

The ASUS ExpertBook B3 series is an all-new lineup of AI-powered laptops that offers extensive customization to empower daily business needs. Equipped with up to the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 processor (Series 2) with Intel vPro, Intel AI Boost NPU and Intel Arc graphics, and up to 64 GB of memory, the laptops deliver solid performance to tackle a wide range of tasks seamlessly.

There’s also a suite of powerful AI tools such as ASUS AI ExpertMeet, Microsoft Copilot and AI noise-canceling technology that deliver unmatched productivity experiences. Connectivity options like up to Wi-Fi 6E and 5G connectivity ensure users can keep connected. With a build that’s as lightweight as 1.4 kg, a 180° lay-flat hinge, military-grade durability, comprehensive connectivity, and advanced security features, ASUS ExpertBook B3 series AI PCs ensure flexibility and efficiency on the go, keeping employees productive, wherever they work.

As an AI PC, these laptops go beyond the traditional CPU and GPU setup by incorporating an advanced Intel Neural Processing Unit (NPU). This integrated AI engine seamlessly delivers improved collaboration and productivity through local AI assistants and superior video-editing performance, all while maximizing energy efficiency for exceptional battery life.

ASUS ExpertBook B3 boasts a sophisticated, architecture-inspired design with a new chassis. It features an elegant, gentle grey color finish and a sustainable design incorporating over 25% post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials.

Moreover, the laptops are designed for easy repairability and feature an exceptionally user-friendly battery assembly. Offering a choice of two battery-upgrade options, it can be easily disassembled and reassembled because it uses just six screws for the base cover

SWISSLOG INTRAMOVE AMR SERIES

Swisslog, a leading provider of best-in class warehouse automation and software, has expanded its portfolio with the introduction of its IntraMove series of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that provide a versatile, horizontal transportation for payloads up to 3,000 kg (6,613 lb). The new AMRs, which leverage AI to enhance performance, are designed to offer flexibility in volatile environments and adjustability based on changing transport needs.

IntraMove is connected to the AI-based fleet management software via the VDA 5050 standard communication interface. The software enables the mapping of numerous industrial scenarios, ensuring optimized route planning and assignment of transport orders to the robots, which travel independently and autonomously on all routes. It can be directly linked to a WCS or WMS system like Swisslog’s SynQ software that manages the transport orders. External equipment, such as doors and elevators, can communicate to the fleet management software via various standard protocols (e.g., MQTT, ModBus, OPC UA, etc.).

The robot’s Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) navigation, which utilizes two laser scanners, uses AI algorithms to calculate the most efficient path to a destination while avoiding physical obstacles and traffic without needing cables, strips or tapes.

Swisslog's IntraMove AMR robots are available in different payload versions for a wide range of applications. The compact model IntraMove AMR 600 is designed for a payload of 600 kg

(1,322 lb), the pallet transporter IntraMove AMR 1500 is suitable for 1,500 kg (3,306 lb), while the heavy-duty omnidrive IntraMove AMR 3000 is intended for payloads of 3,000 kg (6,613 lb).

Highlights:

• The AMRs feature a fully integrated lifting device that rises in smooth steps to transport goods without jolts or damage.

• It is a highly scalable solution, adapting the number of mobile robots to the growth of each business without modifying the warehouse during operation.

• A wide range of different top modules, such as platforms and conveyors, ensures efficient product handling and flexibility in transportation.

Highlights:

• Robust performance: Up to Intel Core Ultra 7 processor (Series 2) with vPro, Intel Arc graphics, up to 64 GB of memory to elevate business pursuits.

• Smarter, faster and AI-powered: Groundbreaking integrated AI engine with ASUS-exclusive AI assistants to boost everyday productivity.

• Business-centric and easily repairable: Lightweight frame, comprehensive connectivity, and up to Wi-Fi 6E and 5G in a simple-to-maintain design.

• Enterprise-grade security and privacy: Rigorous security features, including biometric login, webcam shield and TPM technology.

40% OF ENTERPRISE APPS WILL FEATURE TASK-SPECIFIC AI AGENTS BY 2026

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End of 2025, Almost Every Enterprise App Will Have Embedded AI Assistants

Forty percent of enterprise applications will be integrated with task-specific AI agents by 2026, up from less than 5% today, according to Gartner Inc., a business and technology insights company. As organizations accelerate digital transformation, agentic AI in enterprise applications will move beyond individual productivity, setting new standards for teamwork and workflow through smarter human-agent interactions.

Gartner forecasts agentic AI will drive approximately 30% of enterprise application software revenue by 2035, surpassing $450 billion, up from 2% in 2025.

“AI agents are evolving rapidly, progressing from basic assistants embedded in enterprise applications today to task-specific agents by 2026 and ultimately multiagent ecosystems by 2029,” said Anushree Verma, Sr Director Analyst at Gartner. “This shift transforms enterprise applications from tools supporting individual productivity into platforms enabling seamless autonomous collaboration and dynamic workflow orchestration.”

CIOs have a crucial three- to six-month window to define their agentic AI strategy, as the industry is at an inflection point. Organizations that do not embrace agentic AI promptly risk falling behind their peers. Managing strategic priorities requires a focused approach across the five stages of agentic AI evolution (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: The Future of Agentic AI in Enterprise Applications

Stage 1: AI Assistants for Every Application

Gartner predicts that by the end of 2025 almost every enterprise application will have embedded assistants, transforming inefficient apps into intelligent systems that operate on users’ behalf.

AI assistants are the precursor to agentic AI. They simplify tasks and interactions for users but depend on human input and do not operate independently. The most common misconception is referring to these AI assistants as agents, a misunderstanding fueled by widespread “agentwashing.”

“CIOs and technology leaders must focus on creating seamless em-

ployee experiences by integrating AI assistants with robust APIs, enabling a shift from traditional application-centric interfaces,” said Verma.

Stage 2: Task-Specific Agent Applications

By 2026, AI assistants will evolve into AI agents with task specialization, a significant step toward true agentic capabilities. Gartner predicts 40% of enterprise applications will be integrated with task-specific agents by 2026, up from less than 5% today.

“As AI agents begin acting independently and handle tasks ranging from routine development to complex incident response without human involvement, leaders must ensure strong security and governance,” said Verma.

Stage 3: Collaborative AI

Agents Within an Application

Collaboration among AI agents will redefine enterprise applications as organizations move beyond single-purpose automation. By 2027, Gartner predicts one-third of agentic AI implementations will combine agents with different skills to manage complex tasks within application and data environments.

Today’s AI agents often focus on individual, task-specific functions, which can limit their overall business impact. Collaborative agents will offer more adaptable and scalable solutions by learning from real-time data and adjusting to new conditions. At this stage, technology leaders will need to prioritize standardization and interoperability and adopt protocols that support seamless agent-toagent communication.

Stage 4: AI Agent Ecosystems Across Applications

By 2028, AI agent ecosystems will enable networks of specialized agents to dynamically collaborate across multiple applications, allowing users to achieve goals without interacting with each application individually.

This shift will drive the need for new business models, greater transparency, dynamic pricing and increased governance to ensure ethical agentic AI operations.

Gartner estimates that by 2028, a third of user experiences will shift from native applications to agentic front ends, requiring new business models to avoid disintermediation.

Stage 5: The “New Normal” for Democratized Enterprise Apps

Gartner predicts that by 2029, at least 50% of knowledge workers will develop new skills to work with, govern and create AI agents on demand for complex tasks.

“As agentic AI matures, standardized protocols and frameworks will enable seamless interoperability, allowing agents to sense their environments, orchestrate projects and support a wide range of business scenarios,” said Verma. “Early adopters will set the standard for the new normal while others risk falling behind as humans begin relying on AI agents as much as their smartphones.”

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