10 minute read
LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES FOR THE CY
AL-FUTTAIM TECHNOLOGIES IMPLEMENTS GENESYS REMOTE WORKING SOLUTIONS
Advertisement
Al-Futtaim Technologies has implemented mission-critical mitigation strategies for its contact centre customers. In collaboration with Genesys, the global leader in customer experience and contact centre solutions, Al-Futtaim has enabled customers service agents to work remotely, ensuring they continue to provide important business functions during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Al-Futtaim Technologies has put into place secure and seamless remote working solutions using Genesys Cloud and Genesys Premises solutions. Customers across vital sectors including government, healthcare, financial services and aviation in the UAE have taken advantage of Genesys Rapid Response offer and Al-Futtaim’s #BeAloneTogether program to enable remote working capabilities for contact centre agents.
As a result of its early intervention, over 500 contact centre customer service agents are remotely ensuring they continue to provide important business functions.
Murali S., Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies, said, “Before the early signs of the COVID-19 impact on businesses, our team looked at global trends from the major hotspots and engaged with our customers early to ensure business continuity in a seamless and timely manner. As part of our regional #BeAloneTogether program and in line with the group’s efforts, we are committed to supporting communities and our partners in these challenging times. Our customers, staff and associates are at the forefront of our operations and we are dedicated to ensuring that their health and safety.
“We also want to thank our silent heroes – customer service agents who are working tirelessly to contribute towards ensuring that our customers and their business operations have minimal impact. Our team put into place a robust mitigation plan that enabled critical sectors in the UAE to continue to operate as normal and meet key business objectives. We are extremely pleased with the results and the quick response from our team to ensure there was no impact on our customers’ operations,” he added.
Moro Hub launches Unified Communication Cloud Service pow- ered by Avaya
Avaya’s Unified Communications and Contact Center solutions to be made available via a cloud based subscription model
Moro Hub (Data Hub Integrated Solutions owned by DEWA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has launched Moro Connect, a disruptive offering that provides Unified Communications-as-a-Service (UCaaS) and Contact Center-as-a-Service (CCaaS) for businesses across the UAE.
Moro Connect is built on technology powered by Avaya, a global leader in business communications software, systems and services. The collaboration between Avaya and Moro Hub will enable businesses in the UAE to deliver services to their customers faster at significantly reduced total cost of ownership (TCO), with better return on investments (ROI).
Mohammed Bin Sulaiman, Moro Hub’s CEO said, “Businesses in the UAE are increasingly adopting ICT in their daily operations to boost their productivity, growth and to accelerate digital transformation. At Moro Hub, we recognize the importance of embracing technology to power innovation to devise new products, services and processes. Through our partnership with Avaya, Moro Hub will be introducing groundbreaking unified communication solutions in the UAE. These solutions will allow our customers to experience improved and streamlined access to their data through a consolidated process of IT systems, making it effortless to achieve their business outcomes through high levels of services delivery.”
Moro Hub will host Avaya’s innovative Unified Communications and Contact Center solutions and make them available to enterprises in a cloud based subscription model, enabling organizations to purchase the capacity and services they require, as and when needed, without large upfront costs.
“Avaya solutions, hosted by Moro Hub, will give businesses in the UAE the flexibility and agility they require to benefit from the latest technology trends and prepare for digital transformation. Enterprises will be able to get access to Avaya’s innovative technology solutions at prices that suit their needs, while benefiting from the reliability and expertise that industry leaders such as Avaya and Moro Hub bring to the market place,” said Nidal Abou Ltaif, Avaya President, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and EU.
DUBAI CHAMBER MEMBERS TRADING IN ASIAN MARKETS REMAIN RESILIENT
Dubai Chamber members who are trading with markets in Asia are faring better than expected despite business challenges brought forth by the pandemic, a new report issued by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry has revealed.
The report, entitled Asian Markets: Bright Spots amid the COVID-19 Trade Disruptions and issued to Dubaibased exporters and re-exporters who are members of the Chamber, observed signs of resilience in several markets and geographical regions, with trade activity particularly strong in Southeast and East Asian markets.
The total value of Dubai Chamber members’ Certificates of Origin (COOs) targeting Southeast Asian markets during the month of April 2020 reached AED 652.3 million, with overall activity in this region registering a 34% year-on-year (y-o-y) growth rate for the same month, and a 119% month-on-month (m-o-m) growth rate. With respect to East Asian markets, the declared overall value of COOs in April reached AED 341.7 million, representing a y-o-y growth rate of 23% and m-o-m growth rate of 0.1%.
Several factors supporting Asian markets’ ability to deal with the impact of Covid-19, include past experience in dealing with pandemics, namely measures implemented to promote commerce amid restric
tions and divert trade from countries under lockdown to Dubai.
In addition, large amounts of gold shipped from Dubai to Asian markets in recent months has boosted the value of the emirate’s exports – a trend that is particularly evident in Singapore.
The report identified Singapore as the top Southeast Asian market for Dubai Chamber members in April, with the value of COOs targeting the country reaching AED 407.5 million, marking y-o-y growth of 93% and m-o-m growth of 202%. Indonesia was next most significant market in Southeast Asia for Dubai Chamber members with COOs valued at AED 75 million, representing a y-o-y growth of 9% and m-o-m growth of 136%.
UAE banks among top performing in GCC, KPMG report finds
Abbas Basrai Partner and Head of Financial Services, KPMG Lower Gulf
KPMG recently released its fifth edition of the ‘GCC listed banks’ results’ report, which analyzes the published results of listed commercial banks across the region for the year ended 31 December 2019. The report, titled ‘New Age Banking’, demonstrates that the UAE’s top ten banks reported positive results in 2019, with an average 13.9 percent growth in net profit,a the highest among GCC countries, driven by an increase in the overall loan book and inorganic growth.
The local banking sector continues to show strength and resilience as top UAE banks reported the region’s highest growth in their asset base of 19.5 percent. UAE-based Emirates NBD reported the highest net profit across the GCC, at USD 3.94 million, and the highest return on equity at 21.8 percent.
Speaking about the report, Abbas Basrai, Partner and Head of Financial Services at KPMG Lower Gulf, commented: “The UAE banking sector has remained resilient, with overall good performance from the top ten listed banks. These positive financial results, coupled with the increasing focus on ‘digitization’ in the region, have resulted in a move towards a more innovative approach in “new age banking.”
On another note, Covid-19 is having an unprecedented impact on financial markets globally and locally and creating a unique situation for the industry. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Central Bank of the UAE announced several relief packages. Banks must contend with many new regulations, as well as meet consumer demands for innovative, new digital banking products.
“Looking to the future of the financial services sector in light of the current pandemic we are experiencing, banks will need to innovate now more than ever to reach their customers through digital platforms and new mediums. Banks that are agile, flexible and willing to transform their business models will succeed, and secure their financial strength for future growth, while those that rest on their laurels will be left behind,” added Basrai.
DXBUY – a B2B e-commerce app launches in UAE
The Dubai-based startup connects small businesses with manufacturers and wholesalers through a digital platform and a tech-savvy supply chain.
DXBUY, a B2B e-commerce platform dedicated to the small & medium businesses in retail, unorganized trade and F&B has announced its official launch. After being available to select users during the beta phase for nearly six months, DXBUY is now available to all businesses in the UAE to download and self-register. The mobile eCommerce app is designed to simplify the buying process by offering convenience, control, and choice.
Co-founded by two experienced entrepreneur brothers, Rizwan and Adnan Zubairi, DXBUY’s mobile-first approach is designed to make the everyday
buying process faster, smarter, and cheaper for retail buyers. The company helps fill the gaps in supply chain and provides a wide range of products by having multiple vendors and brands on a single platform. Buyers can be assured of getting cost-effective, timely deliveries and could further benefit by reducing their inventories to save on precious real estate space.
The platform leverages data-driven technology to efficiently operate across the high volume, low transaction value categories by optimizing sales and logistics cost. It further supports local manufacturers, wholesalers and brand owners to streamline their operations with greater visibility and insights about their product categories.
“Even in this day of technological advancement, the majority of purchase decisions are impulsive. Our application acts as a convenient marketplace and comparison tool for businesses to make rational decisions, while providing visibility on buying patterns to both consumers and vendors,” says Adnan Zubairi, CEO – DXBUY.
“With the progression of technology and changing consumer preferences, B2B buyers fancy a B2C shopping experience for their every-day business purchase needs. With a sleek app, extensive product range and dynamic pricing, we at DXBUY have thus raised the bar in B2B e-commerce,” commented Rizwan Zubairi, COO – DXBUY.
Ziina launches UAE’s first Social P2P Payments Solution
UAE bank account holders can now use their smartphones to send and receive money as easily as sending a text message. Ziina, the UAE’s first licensed social peer-to-peer (P2P) payment application, is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for download.
Ziina is on a mission to simplify payments for everyone. Users can send and receive money with just a phone number — no IBAN or swift code required. Ziina offers bank-grade security and end-to-end encryption, never holding onto your money so every transfer goes fast. The app provides a seamless way for friends and family to split the cost of takeout or a grocery bill.
The young start-up raised a pre-seed round of US$850,000, led by San Francisco based Class 5 Global with participation from Samih Toukan’s Jabbar Internet Group, and other prominent angel investors.
Ziina is the latest addition to the Middle East’s fintech ecosystem and is capitalizing on the region's rapid adoption of fintech friendly regulation. Ziina’s cofounders – Faisal Toukan, CEO, Sarah Toukan, Chief Product Officer, and Andrew Gold, VP Engineering - look to encourage the adoption of mobile payment solutions in their bid to fast track the UAE’s transition towards a cashless society. They are joined by a strong advisory board including serial entrepreneur Samih Toukan, and Emre Tok, who previously served as VP of Growth at Careem leading a team of 80 people. The founding team recently launched the start-up’s operations out of Dubai’s In5 tech start-up incubator, with a license issued by TECOM.
Faisal said, “With several user-centric features, Ziina will redefine the way people in the Middle East think of, interact with and experience financial services. Our company is founded on the belief that everyone should have access to the next generation of financial services.”
Ziina plans to gradually introduce several value-added services such as QR Code Integration, Prepaid Cards, and Utility Payments, amongst others. In the medium-term, Ziina will integrate different revenue streams.
