TALKING
‘‘ business
Manufacturing in the Middle East has been experiencing notable growth and transformation , driven by rapid technological advancements and a growing focus on digital transformation . The region ' s strategic location , abundant energy resources , favourable business environment , and government initiatives have majorly contributed to its emergence as a significant player in the global manufacturing sector . Governments across the region are rolling out strategies to diversify economies in the industry .
Both governments and manufacturing companies are investing in infrastructure , technology , and industry clusters to attract investment and promote local manufacturing capabilities . Key sectors such as petrochemical , advanced manufacturing , renewable energy , aerospace , and pharmaceuticals are driving the region ' s manufacturing growth , positioning the Middle East as an important player on the global manufacturing stage .
Saudi Arabia ' s manufacturing sector is among the fastest growing in the world , growing at 7.5 % annually . UAE ' s Dubai Industrial city , in line with the initiatives of Operation 300bn and Dubai Economic Agenda D33 , plays a vital role in elevating innovation and growing the manufacturing sector . Qatar ' s manufacturing industry contributed approximately QR57 billion to the GDP in 2021 and saw 60 new factories .
Bahrain and Oman are also on the path , leaning towards building technology and innovation-oriented industrial sectors . The region is rapidly transitioning to manufacturing and more recent adoption methods for tomorrow ' s manufacturing . In fact , according to a study from The Manufacturer and IBM , 67 % of manufacturers have accelerated digital projects since the advent of the pandemic , a push expected to intensify in 2023 and beyond .
With the expected growth in the sector and several changes , supply chain disruptions and quickly changing market dynamics over the past three years have spurred IT leaders in the manufacturing industry to use digital solutions to drive profitability by optimising key business areas and improving experiences .
From embracing Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing to leveraging cloud and low-code , CIOs in the Middle East are adopting key manufacturing trends to stay competitive and position their companies for success in this dynamic landscape .
Until the second half of 2023 , disruptions in supply chains will likely persist , decisively impacting the manufacturing industry ’ s economic outlook . Business leaders continue to scan markets for challenges and potential opportunities in the scenario .
Given the likelihood of continued disruption , experts who track digitisation processes and trends in manufacturing worldwide , predict the following five digital experience trends for CIOs to keep a close eye on as they hold the potential to drive innovation , revolutionise the industry , elevate operational efficiency , foster sustainable growth and empower organisations to thrive in the digital era .
Digital experiences
Now that industrial buyers have immediate access to information wherever they are , they ' re more self-sufficient . Manufacturers must meet changing expectations and equip buyers to handle order or product issues .
To address this challenge , CIOs should build solutions that provide customers instant access to detailed product and account information , so they can easily search and compare items and provide direct feedback . The final goal should be to deliver effortless digital experiences , empowering organisations to build stronger customer relationships and drive longterm success .
Aftersales experience
The motto do more with less will be a priority for global manufacturing leaders as profit margins are shrinking and the pressure to invest in digital solutions is growing . Making aftersales processes and services more efficient will become even more critical to improve customer satisfaction , streamline operations and reduce costs .
Moussalam Dalati , General Manager , Middle East and Africa , Liferay
www . intelligentcio . com INTELLIGENTCIO MIDDLE EAST 45