Leading global provider of high-quality copper and aluminium wire and cable products
DRIVING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Insights from Tamer Hamed, CIO of Ducab
In an era where technology is reshaping industries, Tamer Hamed, Chief Information Officer at Ducab, is at the forefront of driving digital transformation within the manufacturing sector. With a career rooted in enhancing operational efficiency through innovative IT solutions, Tamer shares his insights on how Ducab is leveraging advanced technologies like AI and cloud computing to optimise processes, improve cybersecurity, and enhance sustainability. As Ducab continues to evolve in an increasingly competitive landscape, Tamer discusses the strategies that are shaping the company’s future and ensuring its position as a leader in the industry.
TRANSFORMATION
Career Journey
Can you share your career journey and what led you to your current role as Chief Information Officer at Ducab?
Throughout my career in the digital space, I’ve maintained a strong connection with the manufacturing sector. I spent more than a decade and a half at JULPHAR Pharmacies, where I played a key role in driving the company’s digital transformation, helping to modernise and streamline their operations to meet evolving business needs.
Digital Transformation at Ducab
How is Ducab embracing digital transformation to enhance its operations and overall business efficiency?
We have seamlessly integrated digital solutions into every aspect of our business operations and supply chain, from the customer interface to last-mile logistics tracking. Our internal team, supported by strong technology partners, has been pivotal in driving this transformation. The success we’ve achieved is largely due to our forward-thinking management and the unwavering support of stakeholders across all business functions, who have fully embraced the change.
Today, our diverse technology ecosystem is well adopted by Ducabians, who recognize the tangible value it brings to their work. Ultimately, we are all aligned with a common goal and shared vision, which keeps everyone connected and moving in the same direction.
“We have seamlessly integrated digital solutions into every aspect of our business operations and supply chain, from the customer interface to last-mile logistics tracking”
Cybersecurity Strategy
In an industrial and manufacturing environment like Ducab, how do you ensure cybersecurity is robust enough to protect both the company’s data and its critical infrastructure?
As you are aware, the challenges in the OT environment are very different from those in IT. We have structured solutions surrounding cybersecurity in the OT environment and continue to strengthen these measures.
However, I would like to highlight a strategic approach we took regarding how we blend IT and OT. The traditional methods of either air-gapped networks or direct convergence with IT aren’t suitable for addressing these challenges. This is where we have leveraged the cloud landscape to ensure we have a robust cybersecurity framework.
Data-Driven Decision Making
How is Ducab leveraging data analytics to optimise its supply chain, manufacturing processes, and business operations?
Data is our single source of truth, and we rely heavily on it to analyse bottlenecks, address challenges in planning, and enhance cross-functional collaboration. By leveraging data, we can visualise the performance of our operations, track SLAs, and continuously optimise processes to be lean, effective, and efficient.
But we don’t stop at data. We are actively developing AI models to provide deeper insights into optimising our supply chain, manufacturing processes, and overall business operations. So far, the results from our AI initiatives in supply chain and manufacturing have been very promising, allowing us to further refine and elevate our operations.
Technology and Innovation in Manufacturing
How is Ducab using emerging technologies such as IoT, AI, and automation to improve manufacturing processes and maintain its competitive edge?
We have already transformed one of our factories to Industry 4.0 standards and are on track to complete the transformation of the remaining facilities by the end of this year. AI is one of our top priorities, and we are already leveraging its capabilities in a distributed standalone environment. Currently, we are working towards developing a truly unified AI ecosystem at Ducab, which will integrate and optimise operations across all facets of our business.
Sustainability and IT
How is Ducab integrating sustainability into its IT infrastructure, and what role does technology play in supporting the company’s environmental goals?
Most of our applications and workloads are hosted on the cloud with major service providers who prioritise sustainability and energy efficiency in their operations. In addition, we are actively working towards migrating more of our workloads to the cloud to further enhance efficiency and reduce our environmental footprint.
Moreover, we have implemented a dedicated EHS (Environmental, Health, and Safety) platform to assist internal stakeholders in performing sustainability calculations. This platform enables us to better track, analyse, and report on key sustainability metrics, ensuring we stay aligned with our environmental goals.
Cloud Adoption and Scalability
What role does cloud computing play in Ducab’s IT strategy, and how does it enable scalability and flexibility in your operations?
Look, the future is undeniably in the cloud. Tech giants have already shifted their focus away from developing on-premises applications. Cloud technology enables businesses to move away from CAPEX-heavy investments, providing the flexibility to scale as needed without the constraints of traditional infrastructure. This agility allows organisations to quickly adapt, innovate, and optimise resources more effectively.
Challenges in IT for Manufacturing
What are the main challenges you face as the CIO of a large manufacturing company, and how do you address these challenges to drive innovation?
The main challenges we face aren’t rooted in technology itself but in driving change management across the organisation and ensuring alignment among stakeholders from different business functions. It’s always difficult to introduce change, especially in a tech context, where people are often comfortable with legacy systems. This reluctance to adapt can significantly hinder the organisation’s ability to grow and innovate. The role of the CIO has evolved beyond just managing technology; it now encompasses a broader understanding of the business. Developing a cohesive bond between various applications and technologies throughout the supply chain is an art, and mastering it is key to driving the organisation’s overall success.
Customer-Centric Solutions
How does Ducab use technology to improve customer satisfaction and service delivery across its product range?
We are a customer-centric organisation, and given the substantial average order sizes we handle, we’ve invested significant time and resources into customising a cutting-edge CRM solution. However, our efforts go beyond just CRM. Our entire digital ecosystem is seamlessly integrated, covering the entire lifecycle, from order booking, planning, and procurement to production, warehousing, and logistics. Once a customer is on boarded onto our platform, we ensure full visibility and tracking of their order, right through to last-mile delivery, ensuring a smooth and transparent process.
Future Vision for Ducab’s IT Strategy
What are your future plans for Ducab’s IT strategy, and how do you see the role of technology evolving in the company over the next few years?
Our cloud strategy rollout is currently underway, and in the long run, we plan to further integrate our OT and IT environments. By correlating data sets and leveraging AI, we aim to create new insights that drive decision-making. Automation and AI are set to be the next game changers across industries, empowering business stakeholders with accurate and timely information to respond effectively to changing market dynamics.
Ducab, founded in 1979, is a leading global provider of high-quality copper and aluminium wire and cable products. Serving industries like energy, construction, oil & gas, and transportation, Ducab delivers end-to-end power solutions across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, contributing to major infrastructure projects worldwide.
Tamer Hamed CIO