GET TO KNOW
What do you think is the current hot
technology talking point?
There are several but AI for me is the hottest
talking point by far. It is one of the most
transformative technology evolutions today.
Many companies are exploring how AI can
improve customer service and streamline
business operations and IFS is embedding
AI into its ERP software to help customers
achieve this.
There is an abundance of applications
where AI is affecting the daily lives of people
for the better, including material science,
medicine, drug discovery and robotics but to
name a few.
How do you deal with stress and
unwind outside the office?
Several different activities help me to unwind
from the daily stress of work life. I enjoy
long walks on Kite Beach in the evenings,
chatting with friends while enjoying the
sound of waves and beautiful sunsets. In the
mornings, I start my day with a few yoga
asanas and meditation.
It boosts my energy and gives me the
perfect start to the day. Weekends are for
the family; we relax and enjoy going to the
movies or for long drives. I have two young
boys so the three of us enjoy an occasional
game of football or cricket.
If you could go back and change one
career decision what would it be?
Fresh out of college, I spent several years
coding before I realised my passion was
interacting with people and helping them
succeed. In hindsight, I would have entered
a field that involved a focus on people
interaction earlier. However, I did learn a
couple of useful habits during my days of
coding such as paying attention to detail
which helped me get to where I am today.
What do you currently identify as
the major areas of investment in
your industry?
AI and Machine Learning are both
important areas to consider when looking at
investment, companies need to ensure that
their ERP software becomes increasingly
intelligent and automated. Ensuring your
software has a friendly,
adaptive user interface
and can be easily
integrated is another
important area.
Finally offering choice,
having a software runs
both on the cloud or
on-premise without
impacting the users
is important, as
the choice should
be down to the
customer and what
fits their business.
IFS has already made significant
investments in these areas and as a result is
ahead of the game among its peers.
What are the region-specific
challenges when implementing new
technologies in the Middle East?
Lack of skilled resources is a huge challenge
in the region. The UAE government has
already taken measures to attract highly
skilled workers to the country.
Another challenge is the slow adoption
of new technologies by the population.
People in our region tend to be a bit more
“
I DID LEARN
A COUPLE OF
USEFUL HABITS
DURING MY
DAYS OF CODING
SUCH AS PAYING
ATTENTION TO
DETAIL WHICH
HELPED ME GET
TO WHERE I AM
TODAY.
conservative when using new technologies.
Government can play a role to speed up
businesses implementing new technologies
by offering incentives.
What changes to your job role have
you seen in the last year and how do
you see these developing in the next
12 months?
In the recent past, our customers expect
us to be an advisor to their business, giving
them insights into their issues and new ideas
that deliver value. This has been the trend in
the last few quarters.
It means we’ve had to spend more time
educating ourselves about the customer’s
business and new technologies in our
industry. In the future, customers are going
to be more cost-conscious thus expecting us
to offer innovative ways to save money.
What advice would you offer
somebody aspiring to obtain
C-level position in your industry?
You need to have a clear vision that your
team fully supports. Make sure you have the
best team available and empower them.
Having a team that bonds together and
is empowered leads to high performance.
Never stop being obsessed with attention to
detail and customer satisfaction.
Never stop learning; continuously educate
yourself so you grow professionally and
personally. Finally, understand the cultural
intricacies of the region as it will help you
become even more successful. •
80 INTELLIGENTCIO www.intelligentcio.com