NEWS
Microsoft launches Azure Availability Zones to heighten competitiveness of UAE organisations
Yazbeck , General Manager , Microsoft UAE . “ As businesses move forward amid increased industry upheavals and competition from market disrupters , competitiveness hinges on the ability to remain operational even as external issues destabilise markets and supply chains .”
Among those that have already migrated to Microsoft Azure Availability Zones in the UAE are Emirates Group , Commercial Bank of Dubai , Mashreq Bank and First Abu Dhabi Bank .
Microsoft has announced the general availability of Azure Availability Zones , to be delivered via its UAE data centres in Dubai . The investment , which is aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of UAE businesses through the vital provision of business continuity and disaster recovery solutions , reinforces Microsoft ’ s commitment to the UAE government , its business community , and its population .
“ With the advent of the always-on economy , uptime and continuous access to critical data , applications and workloads have become front-of-mind concerns for the region ’ s technology stakeholders ,” said Naim
“ The new availability zones will allow us to enhance the way we use Microsoft Cloud , offering us a greater level of data security , resilience and flexibility , which in turn , will support our customer-centric ethos , and allow us to provide greater benefits for our clients ,” said Srinivasan Sampath , Acting Group Chief Technology Officer , First Abu Dhabi Bank .
UAE consumers increasingly turning to mobile apps for finance and retail services , data shows
As businesses in the UAE double down on mobile apps in a bid to increase customer engagement and spending , they are seeing highly positive results for their efforts with the overall number of installs of mobile apps in the country growing 23 % in H1 2022 , compared to the same period last year . While finance apps were by and large the most successful , with installs growing a staggering 183 %, other categories that posted noteworthy app install growth included entertainment ( 31 %), travel ( 36 %), social ( 30 %), and food and drink ( 15 %).
“ It ’ s clear that as we emerge into the postpandemic world , the accelerated momentum toward mobile that we ’ ve witnessed over the last two years has now created a mobile-first mindset among consumers and businesses . Our findings indicate a growing preference for mobile apps as the primary engagement channel . While this is ushering in a new era of convenience for consumers , it has greatly increased the competitiveness of the space . Businesses must now seek innovative and measurable means of enhancing user experiences and increasing engagement on their mobile apps ,” said
Samer Saad , Regional Manager , Middle East , AppsFlyer . “ In today ’ s mobile-first world , growing app installs , and increasing purchases made via mobile apps are two sides of the same coin .”
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