2021 Technology Trends (Covid-19 vaccines, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZenica, Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen, Bharat Biotech, Gamaleya, CanSino, Vector Institute, Sinopharm-Wuhan, Sinovac

JANURARY 2 0 2 1
N E W S
Stroke Survivors Walk
Faster and Farther by
Using Soft Robotic
Exosuit
The 2019 APAC Data
and Digitization Report
Dubai Internet City
Celebrates its 20-Year
Anniversary
42 46 50

2

the best prescription for security

E D I T O R ‘ S N O T E
Over the past few
years, the electronics
manufacturing industry
is changing quite faster than
anyone expected. Although
this is a positive thing to
note, it also meant that many
companies are finding it hard
to keep up with the trends.
Among these emerging trends,
the most common and starting
to become increasingly
popular are the Internet of
Things (IoT), big data, and
virtual reality (VR).
The development of IoT can
be attributed to three preexisting
technologies, the
internet, cloud computing, and
smaller sensors. Combining
the three gave way to more
devices getting interconnected
quicker and easier. Many
businesses have started
to make smart decisions
based on the real-time
information provided by the
interconnected devices. When
paired with other technological
innovations, IoT is likely to
drive more efficient decisions
both for short term and long
term.
Although big data has been
previously used by larger
companies exclusively,
even small to medium-sized
ones can now accessed it
because of the increasing
sources of data readily
available. This has resulted
in electronics manufacturers
using big data information
in reducing their operational
2021 Global Electronics
and Technology Trends
costs all while boosting profit
margins and market share.
The management can now
overcome any problems, as
well, as they can predict and
avoid those using big data.
VRs, while many believe are
revolutionary in the gaming
sector, are also becoming
very useful in electronics
manufacturing. When
coupled with computeraided
design, VR can help
designers tweak their products
more accurately and make
modifications quicker before
the actual production begins.
As a result, inspection time
is reduced since workers
can easily identify and fix
errors before the product is
created. The cost of labor and
the possibility of producing
inaccurate and poorly
designed products are also
significantly lowered.
However, trained people
in these fields has been
surprisingly low, creating a
skill shortage in the electronics
manufacturing industry. So
to overcome this problem,
companies are starting offer
training to prospective hires
and making themselves
attractive to pre-trained
candidates.
4

* For any inquiries, please contact Mr. Rohan Suares
Address: LG Electronics Gulf, P.O Box 61445, Dubai, U.A.E, Tel. # +971 52 710 0999, Email: rohan.suares@lge.com

C O N T E N T S
8
Co Ban Kiat: Celebrating 100
Years of Providing World Class
Hardware Solutions
22
2021 Global Electronics and
Technology Trends
42
Stroke Survivors Walk
Faster and Farther by
Using Soft Robotic Exosuit
46
The 2019 APAC Data and
Digitization Report
50
Dubai Internet City Celebrates
its 20-Year Anniversary
54
A Smart Helmet to Detect
Covid-19 Infection
58
Air Dryers Vs. Paper Towels:
What’s the Difference?
66
The Covid-19 Survival of Engineering
Companies Lies in
Digitalization
70
The Future Of Engineering And
Its Impact On The Industry
74
Data and Digitization
Report UAE Market
82
Sharaf DG Energy challenges
warehouses and factories to
reduce emissions
6

FEATURE STORY
Co Ban Kiat: Celebrating 100 Years
of Providing World Class Hardware
Solutions
Co Ban Kiat Hardware Inc. has remained
steadfast in sharing its genius innovations
and technological solutions to multitudes of
people in need, effectively entrenching itself as one
of the largest purveyors of hardware, tools, small
appliances, and machinery in the Philippines. As
CBK Hardware nears its century-long existence,
it is worth noting that before prospering into the
hardware giant it is today, the brand began on a
humble journey. Like any trailblazing business in
any industry, the journey to a position of global
leadership is not without its peaks and valleys.
The Rich History of CBK Hardware
Co Ban Kiat Hardware Inc. was founded in 1920 in
the heart of Binondo, Manila’s own Chinatown, due
to the business acquisition efforts of the Cobankiat
family patriarch. After the Wholesale buy and
sell hardware business was fully acquired by the
family in 1924, the business prospered for another
15 years. From its peak performance, the brand
entered its first valley in the form of the devastating
World War II. Fortunately, the family and their
business bounced back in 1945 and re-established
their headquarters in Binondo 4 years later.
In 1952, CBK Hardware was incorporated and
from that day on an endless market expansion
effort was made. The business began dealing in and
distributing traditional hardware, a wide array of
appliances, and any tool that promoted ease of life.
Business prospered further and in 1990, Johnny
Cobankiat introduced the retail concept for
hardware products in the country which led to
the birth of Hardware Workshop stores inside
SM Supermalls. Johnny Cobankiat’s other notable
accomplishments include the inauguration of
Coby’s Design Center as a means to answer the
increasing demand of high-end architectural
hardware products and the accretion and
introduction of Ace Hardware USA in the country
on 1997, with CBK Hardware Inc. as one of its
suppliers.
In 2003, the company continued to be the leading
supplier in all major retail hardware stores such
as Wilcon Depot, All Home, D.I.Y Hardware, Citi
Hardware, and MC Home Depot, to name a few.
Mayapa Wood Products and Interior Solutions,
Chubbsafes, and Lincoln Electric have also recently
added to its growing world-class brand portfolio.
Needless to say, these procurements will not be
CBK Hardware’s last set of acquisitions.
CBK Hardware Inc. acquired Mayapa Wood
Products and Interior Solutions in 2013, joining
the ever-extending family and business network.
8

It is proud to be the most innovative
manufacturer of quality wood products and
interior solutions in the Philippines today.
In its vision to provide word-class hardware
solutions, CBK Hardware added global
brands including Chubbsafes and Lincoln
Electric. Truly, CBK chooses only the
best brand and quality products to serve.
Needless to say, these procurements will not
be CBK Hardware’s last set of acquisitions.
2015 marked the start of CBK’s corporate
social responsibility efforts. In their vision
to give back to the Filipino community
and engage in ethically-oriented practices,
Co Ban Kiat Hardware began undertaking
efforts of philanthropy, activism, and charity.
Supported by their employees and partners,
numerous non-government organizations
and foundations received monetary aid,
product donations, and services from the
company.
As of yet, CBK Hardware has gone nowhere
else but upward in its journey to supply the
country with world-class, life-improving
technological and hardware solutions.
And what are these world-class, lifeimproving
technological and hardware
solutions?
CBK Hardware Today: Projects
and Industries
These are the countless hardware and
home improvement products and services
CBK Hardware utilizes to realize market
leadership in every market segment. CBK
Hardware has dipped its toes in different
business units to cater to multiple industries,
such as building materials, hardware,
wholesale and retail, oil and gas, HVACR,
electrical, power generation, construction,
mining, machinery, equipment, utilities,
telecommunications, automotives, and
9

Saving
lives
every day
Part of Blue Ocean Robotics

FEATURE STORY
manufacturing, to name a few. Out
of all of these areas of expertise, the
retail, construction, industrial, and
ecommerce sectors are Co Ban Kiat
Hardware Inc.’s fortes.
For wholesale and retail business
segment, CBK Hardware supplies to
over 2000 partner wholesale and retail
stores nationwide, which includes
D.I.Y stores, roadshops, depots, and
much more for 68 brands and over
6,000 SKUs. For industrial, the brand
has both ensconced strong distribution
channels in innumerable business
sectors and boasts an expansive list of
automotive, hospitality, service, and
other industry clientele who all trust in
the brand to supply them with superb
improvement solutions. In the area of
construction, the brand has been one
of if not the most trusted partners of
hardware suppliers of distinguished
real estate developers and construction
companies nationwide. Lastly, CBK
Hardware Inc. has been looking to
the future in the area of ecommerce,
priding itself to be the first hardware
distributor to aggressively offer
products online through websites,
partner ecommerce platforms, and
social media accounts. Truly, CBK
Hardware Inc. has come a long way
and, fortunately for them, there is still
a long, long way to go.
12

Together in Excellence:
Brand Portfolio
CBK Hardware Inc.’s product portfolio
has lengthened and evolved over
the years since its establishment in
1920. Currently, the brand is one of
the country’s leading suppliers of the
top-of-the-line hardware and home
improvement materials to a long
list of brands. CBK Hardware Inc.
is constantly putting its nose on the
grindstone and burning the midnight
oil, invigorated by its vision to be
the largest network supplier of the
biggest brands in the world in the
hardware industry. Its employees are
the backbone of the company as they
endlessly source the best products to
supply its customers.
With 68 trusted global brands
of building materials, electrical,
houseware, power equipment, outdoor,
plumbing, hand and power tools,
CBK Hardware Inc. has been steadily
paving the way to a brighter future for
the Philippines and the world. They
have served over 1,500 industrial and
commercial organizations with over
6,000 hardware products to choose
from. They have satisfied over 1,600
roadshop customers, partnered with
over 600 home building specialty
stores nationwide. CBK Hardware
has distributed items that have aided
in erecting over 50 premium 5-star
hotels, residential condominiums, and
secure office buildings.
In their 100 years, CBK Hardware
Inc. has accumulated an extensive
list of global brands. They have been
distributing brands such as Baldwin,
Chubbsafes, DeWalt Power Tools,
Dormakaba, Facom, Fairbanks Scales,
13

15

FEATURE STORY
Lincoln Electric, Nilfisk Professional
Cleaning Equipment, Pelican, Proto,
Ridgid, Shop-Vac Vacuums, Stanley Hand
Tools, Toho, Viper Cleaning Equipment,
Westinghouse, Yale Locks, and more. These
brands are all being smoothly distributed
to customers who want to get more bang
for their buck when it comes to home and
facility improvement, safety and security,
D.I.Y projects, energy conservation,
cleaning and disinfection, and the like.
Supplied and shared out by CBK Hardware
Inc., these brands are truly together in
excellence.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Efforts
Business in the hardware industry is not
the only way the brand is helping the world
become a better place. CBK Hardware Inc.
is also partaking in multiple advocacies,
philanthropic endeavors, humanitarianism,
and charity work, because those in the
company are wholeheartedly committed to
contributing towards the growth of society
and the environment.
Hundreds if not thousands of people from
different walks of life have benefited from
CBK Hardware Inc.’s initiatives, from the
intensive CSR programs to the hardware
donations for the improvement of living
facilities. Stomachs have also been fed in
the conducted feeding programs.
The goodwill of CBK Hardware
Inc., was also gifted to the neglected
children and elders residing at different
charitable institutions. Another CSR
campaign entitled Pailaw ni Juanita was
also dedicated to Mrs. Juanita Co, the
company’s shining beacon of hope who
16

shared her blessings by giving out large
amounts of flashlights by teaming up with
different NGOs known for their advocacies
in livelihood, peace, order, and education.
Through a fruitful partnership with ABS-
CBN’s Mission Possible, CBK Hardware
Inc. has also provided state-of-the-art
hardware solutions to a near endless
quantity of customers as well as the
neediest. This showcase of livelihood was
able to transform the lives of 5 case studies
in little ways by donating quality power
and hand tools that have helped increase
income generation.
CBK Hardware is also an active supporter
of Brigada Eskwela, a school preparation
program for the upcoming academic
year by donating hardware materials and
engaging their employees in constructing,
painting, and cleaning the different areas of
each selected educational institution.
Environmental conservation is also an area
in which CBK Hardware Inc. volunteers.
Recently, those in the company have
implemented many clean-up drives such as
the one in the coastline of the Las Piñas-
Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism
Area (LPPCHEA) in partnership with
Haribon Foundation last August 11.
#WithCBKweCanHELP Donation Drive
has also been created In response to the
increasing number of individuals who are
in dire need of help due to the COVID-19
pandemic. This donation drive’s proceeds
have been donated to children and elderly
in chosen institutions. Other drives
include the 100 Donation Drive which is
a 10-month long CSR project that aims to
help 100 organizations.
17

To the Next 100 Years
With all of these financial and tool donation drives,
feeding programs, partnerships with humanitarian
organizations, and other forms of noble CSR efforts,
CBK Hardware Inc. is building the community and
fostering an environment of togetherness. While their
tools and appliances certainly do help in improving
the home situation, charity and philanthropic
endeavors such as these are what can improve the
overall life situation of both the givers and the
receivers.
As the company enters a new century, there will be
even more local and global brands to acquire and
form a partnership with, more ways to help out and
give back to the community that deserves the utmost
care, more homes and buildings to improve using
the many tools and appliances the brand has in its
disposal, and more individuals to help in any way.
In the same way the brand was ever-present in the last
century, so too will CBK Hardware Inc. be present,
proactive, and professional in the next. With endless
brands to befriend, CSR efforts to initiate, facilities
to improve and establish, and people to help, CBK
Hardware will always lend a helping hand.
Where to Buy?
For 100 years, Co Ban Kiat Hardware
Inc. is the most trusted distributor of
home improvement and hardware items
in the Philippines.
Let’s shop wisely. #StayAtHome and
order online at your convenience. Visit
us in the following sites and enjoy deals,
discounts, and more!
Website: https://www.cbkhardware.
com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
cbkhardware/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/
cbkhardware
Join our Fast Growing Viber
Community http://%20https//bit.
ly/3ebeCXU
Co Ban Kiat
Hardware, Inc.
Ground Floor, Cobankiat
Building II, 231 Juan Luna St. Binondo
Manila, Philippines.
Phone +632 8243-1931
Phone +632 8243-5263
Phone +632 8894-6561
Email info@cobankiat.com.ph ;
ind@cobankiat.com.ph
Coby's Designer
Center
Unit 467 level 4
Shangri-La Plaza Edsa
Corner Shaw Boulevard
Mandaluyong City, Philippines
Phone +632 86364895
20

About CBK
Hardware
For almost a hundred years, a
family’s surname has become
synonymous to the country’s
biggest hardware supply
company. Co Ban Kiat Hardware
Incorporated, of the Cobankiat
family has a regular client
network of more than 1,500
industrial organizations; 1,600
traditional community hardware
stores, and 584 home building
specialty chain of stores across
Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
This ever-growing conglomerate
traces its humble roots to
Manila Chinatown, as a pioneer
enterprise started by family’s
patriarch, Mr. Cobankiat in
1920. Despite the ruins of World
War II, the business goes back
to its feet in 1948, rebuilding a
storefront from the very same
spot where it was known for
three decades.
This ever-growing conglomerate
traces its humble roots to
Manila Chinatown, as a pioneer
enterprise started by family’s
patriarch, Mr. Cobankiat in
1920. Despite the ruins of World
War II, the business goes back
to its feet in 1948, rebuilding a
storefront from the very same
spot where it was known for
three decades.
While the Filipinos continue to rebuild their lives post war, CBK
Hardware sees the opportunity to introduce the retail concept once
unheard for in hardware industry. Cobankiat Hardware brought the
first DIY business in the Asia. A do it on yourself concept that created
Cobankiat hardware in the Philippines. The Hardware Workshop
Store is the fruit if this endeavor. CBK Hardware further cemented
its legendary distribution channel with the creation of Coby’ Design
Center in Edsa Shangi La in 1996, a specialty store that caters to
discriminating taste of modern Filipinos.
In 1997, Mr. Johnny Cobankiat, the 4th generation Cobankiat leader,
set another milestone for the company when he brings a franchise of
Ace Hardware USA to the Philippines, and signs up CBK Hardware
as one of its major suppliers. This further expanded into delivering
quality world class products nearer to families of Filipino overseas
workers in the countryside.
A century’s excellence can quickly pass, and guided by the vision to
be the largest network supplier of the biggest global brands in the
hardware industry, CBK Hardware resolve to source the best products
to supply its customers anytime and every time.
21

22

Over the past several years, the change in electronics manufacturing
industry has been accelerating. This caused many players in the
industry to experience difficulty in keeping up with the trends. While
there have been many changes in electronics, there are a handful that
will likely continuously make an impact in the coming years.
23

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C O V E R
S T O R Y
Trends in the Industry
Internet of Things
The entirety of the electronics industry has
been increasingly interested in the world of
Internet of Things (IoT), an interconnection
of different equipment and devices through
the internet. Leveraging this technology, the
electronics manufacturing industry has greatly
benefited from this in a variety of ways. Among
the notable ones are lowered costs, increased
product innovation and efficiency, and
improved safety.
Predictive Maintenance
A company’s production schedule is easily
affected by equipment breakdown. This can
cause substantial revenue loss, especially
when repairs take a long period of time.
With this, prevention is becoming a priority
for the bulk of the electronic businesses, and
predictive maintenance is among the most
common ways of doing so.
This can be done by utilizing several
technologies depending on what equipment
a company is using. But much of this task is
by integrating IoT technology that can monitor
an equipment’s health, predict when and how
it may fail, and allow managers to avoid such
breakdown.
Shifting from B2B to B2B2C
Many electronics manufacturers traditionally
operate in a business-to-business (B2B)
approach, but recently, this has started to
shift to a business-to-business-to-consumer
(B2B2C) model, allowing consumers to
26

purchase directly from manufacturers. This
apparently increased profit as companies
skip the retailers and provided a faster time to
market products.
The B2B2C approach is improved by better
consumer data, allowing manufacturers to
change their products and services and
providing better relationships with customers.
A business will need to leverage existing
e-commerce platforms and logistics divisions,
though.
Supply Chain Leverage
Every company in the industry should focus on
being competitive. While this can be done in
many ways, one of the most popular is pointing
toward the supply chain, where businesses
hope to avert the constant reduction in price.
Thankfully, many innovative technologies are
starting to emerge in the logistics field and
allowing businesses to improve areas across
the entire supply chain.
This, in turn, made operation more efficiently
and reduced cost in several key areas.
ERP Systems
Among the core factors in keeping a
competitive and lean company is the Enterprise
resource planning (ERP). This is because it
provides many benefits, including automating
and optimizing a business’ processes with realtime
information, making quicker decisions that
are much more accurate, and becoming much
more affordable and easier to implement.
Big Data
Traditionally, larger companies have exclusively
use big data, mainly because small to mediumsize
businesses don’t have access to it.
Thanks to the latest advances with IoT and
other technologies, this is no longer the case.
Companies can now acquire information from a
wide range of sources, making big data much
more usable than it previously was.
27

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Among the notable ones are
lowered costs, increased
product innovation and
efficiency, and improved
safety.

31

34
Provides many benefits,
including automating and
optimizing a business’
processes with real-time
information.

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AR & VR
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) have started
to become more useful in a handful of capacities, especially
in the design phase of products since VR can now be
integrated with computer-aided design. AR and VR allow
designers to produce more accurate and reliable changes to
their product even before the production phase starts.
3D Printing
There is a variety of benefits when using 3D printing in
electronic manufacturing, with lowered production costs
being one of the top perks. This also makes prototyping
quicker for the business and allows designers to easily
troubleshoot and test their products. Although this will need
a huge investment up-front, it can reduce cost further for the
business as it allows tooling to be completed on-site.
38

Continued Reshoring
Reshoring has been a relatively unexpected trends in
the past few years but has been impacted by a handful
of factors. The trends has been driven by more active
economies in the world that has boosted their cost of
operations in many countries, thus increasing wages.
Difficulty in Finding Employees
The use of technology has dramatically increased in many
industries, but training in this field has apparently not kept
up in pace. This created a skill shortage in many niches,
including the electronics field.
- End -
39

NEWS
Stroke Survivors Walk
Faster and Farther by
Using Soft Robotic
Exosuit
Stroke is the leading cause of serious longterm
disability in the US with approximately
17 million individuals experiencing it each
year. About 8 out of 10 stroke survivors
suffer from “hemiparesis”, a paralysis that typically
impacts the limbs and facial muscles on one side
of their bodies, and often causes severe difficulties
walking, a loss of balance with an increased risk of
falling, as well as muscle fatigue that quickly sets in
during exertions. Oftentimes, these impairments
also make it impossible for them to perform basic
everyday activities.
To allow stroke patients to recover, many
rehabilitation centers have looked to robotic
exoskeletons. But although there are now a range
of exciting devices that are enabling people to walk
again who initially were utterly unable to do so,
there remains significant active research trying to
understand how to best apply wearable robotics
for rehabilitation after stroke. Despite the promise,
recent clinical practice guidelines now even
recommend against the use of robotic therapies
when the goal is to improve walking speed or
distance.
In 2017, a multidisciplinary team of mechanical
and electrical engineers, apparel designers, and
neurorehabilitation experts at the Harvard John
A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied
Sciences (SEAS), Wyss Institute for Biologically
42
Inspired Engineering and Boston University’s (BU)
College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent
College showed that an ankle-assisting soft robotic
exosuit, tethered to an external battery and motor,
was able to significantly improve biomechanical
gait functions in stroke patients when worn while
walking on a treadmill. The cross-institutional and
cross-disciplinary team effort was led by Conor
Walsh, the Paul A. Maeder Professor of Engineering
and Applied Sciences at SEAS and Wyss faculty
member, Lou Awad, an Associate Faculty member of
the Wyss, and Terry Ellis, from BU.
Now, the same team took a critical step forward in
translating their technology towards a rehabilitation
strategy. Using an untethered version of the robotic
exosuit that carries its own battery and motor, they

showed in a cohort of six post-stroke survivors with
hemiparesis that their device could significantly
increase individuals’ walking speed by an average
0.14 meters per second, with one individual
walking as much as 0.28 meters per second faster.
These same individuals, when asked to walk as far
as they can in 6 minutes, were able to go 32 meters
farther, on average, with one person traveling over
100 meters farther. These findings are published in
IEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and
Biology (OJEMB).
“The vast majority of people who have had a
stroke walk slowly and cannot walk very far.
Faster and farther walking after physical therapy
are among the most important outcomes desired
by both, patients and clinicians. If neither speed
nor distance are changed by a therapy, it would be
difficult to consider that therapy to be effective,”
said Awad, the study’s first author.“The levels of
improvement in speed and distance that we found
in our exploratory study exceeded our expectations
for an immediate effect without any training
and highlight the promise of the robotic exosuit
technology.”
Awad also is Assistant Professor at BU’s College
of Health and Rehabilitation: Sargent College and
Director of the Neuromotor Recovery Laboratory.
The robotic exosuit deployed in this study weighs
less than five kilograms and targets the limbs of
stroke survivors during distinct phases of the gait
cycle. Fully mobile, it is powered by a battery and
initiated by an actuator unit both worn at the hips.
It delivers mechanical power to the ankles via a
cable-based mechanism, whereby the cables and
other parts of the robotic exosuit are anchored to
the body by lightweight functional textiles. Adding
further to its low weight and potential to reduce
gait asymmetries is the fact that patients wear it
only on the impaired paretic side, unlike rigid
exoskeleton systems – many of which need to be
worn on both sides.
Walsh’s team designed the robotic exosuit to assist
with plantar flexion, the ankle movement that
pushes the foot down into the ground during the
stance phase of the gait cycle, and with dorsiflexion,
in which the foot is lifted up and the toes pulled
toward the shin during the swing phase. Both these
movements are variably impaired in post-stroke
hemiparetic walking, and survivors often exhibit a
“drop foot”, an inability to raise the foot from the
ankles. Walsh, whose group has pioneered and
broadly validated soft exosuit technology over the
last years, is the founder of the Harvard Biodesign
Lab.
To demonstrate broad applicability for their
approach in stroke survivors with hemiparesis, the
team focused on six hemiparetic individuals with
varying severities and types of impairments that
were all entered a chronic phase. After an initial
clinical assessment of patients, and adjustments of
the robotic exosuit to individuals, the researchers
performed a series of tests on a 30-meter walkway.
Wearing the exosuit unpowered did not cause any
disadvantages with regards to participants’ walking
speeds, distances, or energy costs compared to
when they were not wearing the exosuit.
When the robotic exosuit was then powered on,
“we saw important and immediate improvements
in walking speed and distance which are
meaningful outcomes that make a real difference
in everyday lives of individuals who have sustained
a stroke. It’s these kind of clinically meaningful
outcomes that stimulate excitement among
physical therapists and others in the rehabilitation
community,” said co-author Ellis, Director of the
Center for Neurorehabilitation at Sargent College
and Associate Professor and Chair of Physical
Therapy at BU.
“Our engineering and clinical teams at Harvard
and Boston University are highly motivated by
these results to refine the technology and study
its immediate impact in stroke survivors with a
wide range of walking abilities. We are also eager
to explore
therapeutic
applications
in both
clinical
settings and
day-to-day
walking
in the
home and
community,”
said Awad.
43

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NEWS
The 2019 APAC Data and
Digitization Report
As data volumes continue to grow and
become more disparate by the day, the
time is now for organizations to implement
ways to efficiently leverage this critical data. In
July 2019, Alteryx surveyed 500 businesses to
understand how data and analytics are driving
their businesses to thrive in this data-led world.
The new Alteryx-commissioned research uncovers
the benefits and impact of data analytics in
digitization projects across six of the most digitally
advanced countries in Europe, the Middle East
and Africa (EMEA) and Asia-Pacific (APAC).
This report summarizes the key findings of the
research and uses the information gathered
to provide a snapshot into how companies are
progressing in their analytic journey. It explores the
current thinking into the value of data, the primary
data challenges, the culture of data and analytics
and the key technology enablers to demonstrate
how a smart approach to data guides the way to
successful digitization.
Commenting on the findings of the research,
Alan Jacobson, chief data and analytics officer
at Alteryx said: “The business case for data
has truly been acknowledged. While many
are still balancing data inefficiencies with the
challenge of a shortage of skilled data workers,
this latest research from Alteryx underscores
that investing in data and analytics alone won’t
deliver real business-altering results. Whether
performing precision marketing to improve sales
or analysing data from various departments
across an organization, the world of business is
quickly becoming the world of analytics. A smart
approach to data and a data literate culture will
guide the way for successful digitalization.”
Abboud Ghanem, Senior Director – Middle East
and Africa at Alteryx, added: “There is no doubt
that data is key in driving business success in
46
the minds of businesses. Every data worker,
regardless of technical acumen, wants to be able
to easily find and understand what information is
at their disposal; have the flexibility to prep, blend,
enhance and analyse data from more sources;
and easily operationalise analytic models through
a collaborative and governed platform. At Alteryx,
we will continue to make the Alteryx Platform
easier to use for all data workers, while extending
its ability to handle more sophisticated data
science outcomes for trained data statisticians
in order to create an analytics-centric culture
across most every industry and functional areas of
business.”
Data is permeating every part of business and is
key to success
• With over three quarters of survey respondents
(79%) agreeing that data is a critical corporate
asset for driving the business forward it’s clear
that businesses are taking advantage of what
seems to be insurmountable data sources

across industries and internal functions.
• When it comes to where businesses are in their
analytical journey, almost two thirds (62%) of
businesses class themselves in the advanced
stages of their analytic journeys.
• For those businesses leveraging data for
insights over two fifths (41%) report the major
business benefit as increased productivity,
followed by over one third (36%) citing they
gained better insight into customers, and over
one third (34%) stating the ability to make
savings and efficiencies for my department or
organisation.
• Businesses are also seeing soft benefits
increase. Over over three quarters (79%)
agreed that using data analytics has helped
break down internal silos. Respondents cited
improved employee satisfaction (41%) as a
benefit of using data. Overall two in five (40%)
said that analytics improved work-life balance
and are able to better balance their lives after
embracing data in their role.
• Businesses can’t win in analytics without the
human element
• With digital skills classed as a major priority
for businesses, over four in five (83%) agree
that everything they are investing in data
and analytics is useless without people who
understand it.
• roving that businesses simply cannot proceed
to tackle the technical challenges existing
in a data-driven industry without the right
workforce, more than two fifths (41%) reported
that it was easier to access the talent needed
to manage analytics than last year, while
almost one in three (32%) have a team of
dedicated data scientists for all their analytics
work.
• Only one in five businesses reported that a
talent shortage prevented them from becoming
a data-driven business.
• Those who are leveraging data report several
key factors that they still need to overcome in
order to be more efficient. When allocating time
to performing impactful data analyses, one in
three (33%) cite data quality as a big challenge
to building a data pipeline for the business,
followed by almost one third (30%) stating
a lack of strong data governance is a major
contributing factor to wasted time that could
have been spent assembling insights.
• A culture of data and analytics is needed to
transform data into actionable insights
• When it comes to the building blocks for their
digital transformation initiatives, over four in
five (81%) agree that empowering people is
the key to digital transformation.
• Stressing that empowering employees to
affect business-change with data will enable
them to succeed in their digital transformation
initiatives, over one third (35%) state a culture
of data and analytics will be the biggest game
changer for analytics success while two fifths
(40%) state they need more focus on employee
skills and talent to drive transformation.
• Businesses are starting to build this culture to
derive value out of their data, as almost one
third (30%) have a clear enablement strategy
based around community, training, and tools
that drives our data analytics usage and over
one quarter (29%) hold regular data workshops
to inspire data workers to generate insights as
part of our data analytics strategy.
• In an increasingly data-driven world, over two
thirds (70%) of respondents agree that data is
so valuable that it’s become a new currency,
and the same number agree data progression
is also key to career progression.
• Technology can be an enabler or constraint to
data analytics success
• Proving data will always be at the forefront and
one of the most important drivers of success
and true digital disruption, businesses across
the UAE reported the top three technology
enablers having the greatest impact on their
business today as data and analytics (42%),
artificial intelligence/machine learning (36%)
and blockchain (33%).
• When asked their top technology priorities to
continually modernize their analytic journey,
UAE businesses digital transformation enablers
(47%), getting more value out of our data
resources (47%), and further investment in
data platforms and services (46%) in order to
accelerate time-to-insight and break barriers.
• Technology can also be a constraint to a
data-driven business. When asked which
key technology enablers they are prioritizing
investment in within the next five years to
support a variety of initiative for data analytics
success almost one third cited data and
analytics (32%), just ahead of blockchain
(28%), and artificial intelligence/machine
learning (27%).
• UAE businesses anticipate the biggest
technology game-changers for data analytics
success within the next five years to include:
self-service analytics (31%), augmented data
discovery (27%) and explainable AI (27%).
47

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NEWS
Dubai Internet City
Celebrates its 20-Year
Anniversary
TECOM Group’s communities home to 6,500 businesses, 95,000 professionals and 27,000
students
Dubai Internet City
celebrates its 20-
year anniversary,
starting as a vision
announced by His Highness
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid
Al Maktoum, Vice President,
Prime Minister and Ruler of
Dubai to anchor the Emirate as
the regional technology hub.
Pioneering the first dedicated
tech community in the
world, Dubai Internet City
50
provides extraordinary
competitive advantages for
tech companies, including
world-class infrastructure,
an ideal environment for
business success, a culture
that embraces rapid growth
and innovation, and finally,
unrivaled simplicity of doing
business.
The success of Dubai Internet
City was the first in a series of
successes that translated the
same leadership vision, setting
the foundation for TECOM
Group. Fast forward 20 years,
the Group has ten thriving
sector-focused business
communities in Dubai that
are home to over 6,500
businesses and more than
95,000 professionals.
In addition to Dubai Internet
City, these business
communities are Dubai Media
City, Dubai Knowledge Park,

Dubai International Academic
City, Dubai Production City,
Dubai Studio City, Dubai
Outsource City, Dubai Science
Park, Dubai Design District,
and Dubai Industrial City.
Today, the Group—a member
of Dubai Holding—is a major
contributor to the rapid growth
of Dubai’s knowledge and
innovation-based economy
and the transformation of
the Emirate into a magnet
for some of the world’s top
companies and talent.
TECOM Group’s CEO, Malek
Al Malek, said: “We started
as a vision of His Highness
and two decades later, we are
proud to be a key economic
contributor to the inspiring
story of Dubai. In the past 20
years, we have successfully
attracted thousands of
businesses across core
sectors, proving at the same
time that we are a bedrock for
homegrown innovation.”
Under the same vision of
advancing the economy of
the future and to support the
budding entrepreneurship
ecosystem, TECOM Group
also launched startup
incubator in5 in 2013,
providing an innovation
pipeline and a solid link
between the top-notch
educational institutions that
host over 27,000 students
within its communities and its
business partners. This also
provides opportunities for
more businesses to succeed
and equips upcoming talent
with future-proof skillsets. The
incubator currently hosts over
200 startups who raised 400
million Dhs by the 3rd quarter
of 2019.
Having set the scene for
the region’s rapidly growing
startup ecosystem, Dubai
Internet City is home to the
biggest success stories that
have inspired the region,
such as the Careem-Uber
deal, the Amazon acquisition
of ecommerce marketplace
Souq, and the funding deal of
Anghami, amongst others.
The Group’s business
communities continue to
witness steady growth. Al
Malek commented: “To further
drive innovation, productivity
and economic growth in
Dubai, we are on a mission
to set new world benchmarks
when it comes to doing
business. As our ecosystem
matures, we foresee more
innovations and local success
stories coming out of our
communities and soaring to
global recognition”.
TECOM Group’s business
communities comprise
passionate and committed
executives, who have risen
through the ranks to form a
team driven by 100 per cent
UAE nationals who are leading
the future of the economy
of Dubai— qualifying a new
generation of distinguished
Emirati leaders.
51

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N E W S
S T O R I E S
A Smart Helmet to Detect Covid-19
Infection
* World Security unveiled a new Smart Helmet
that is designed to make contactless detection
of people potentially infected with COVID-19
while ensuring the highest levels of safety and
security
* World Security is the first security services
provider in the UAE to adopt and use the
revolutionary headgear which is packed
with high-precision sensors, processors and
transmission systems
World Security, the innovative security solutions provider of DP World, UAE Region has unveiled
a new Smart Helmet that is designed to make contactless detection of people potentially infected
with COVID-19, and help ease the movement of traffic in areas where it operates, while ensuring
the highest levels of safety and security.
World Security is the first security services provider in the UAE to adopt and use the revolutionary
headgear, which is a product of decades of innovation and research and is positioned to be the
first choice for epidemic prevention activities. Made of advanced tough, yet lightweight materials,
it is packed with high-precision sensors,
processors and transmission systems.
The KC N901 Smart Helmet’s top five
powerful functions are: Efficient contactless
temperature recording, rapid screening for
both indoors and outdoors, rapid screening
of vehicles and passengers, and rapid face
recognition and identity verification, using
thermal imaging that enables the invisible
visible.
54

Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and Managing Director, DP World, UAE
Region, said: “With the reopening of the economy, we have now entered
a new phase where monitoring public places for potential infection has
become imperative. By introducing this technology at a time when the fight
against the pandemic is in full swing, World Security has reaffirmed its
commitment to keeping the community secure. As the frontline economic
growth engine, DP World, UAE Region and its businesses are strictly
adhering to the COVID-19 containment programme requirements, and
we’re constantly working towards introducing such new and effective
measures to ensure business continuity.”
A key to the security requirements of DP World and many other crown jewel
economic assets in Dubai, World Security has been providing security
solutions for over two decades in the region. The global pandemic was
a never-before tackled, new challenge encountered by this established
company and required unprecedented solutions.
55

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N E W S
S T O R I E S
Air Dryers Vs. Paper Towels:
What’s the Difference?
Washing of hands is important especially
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Proper handwashing not only reduces
the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), it can
prevent the spread of other viral illnesses such
as cold and flu.
According to Unicef, respiratory viruses like
coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread when
mucus or droplets containing the virus get into
your body through your eyes, nose or throat.
Most often, this happens through your hands.
Hands are also one of the most common ways
that the virus spreads from one person to the
next. During a global pandemic, one of the
cheapest, easiest, and most important ways to
prevent the spread of a virus is to wash your
hands frequently with soap and water.
However, we do not address what happens
after handwashing.
Convenience rooms or toilets are primarily used
for every human’s egestion activities. Today, as
long as they are kept appropriately clean, they
are some of the favorite places in a building.
One area of priority in a toilet is the process of
hand drying after toilet use.
Hand drying is generally done by the use of
a paper towel or air dryers. However, there
is a persistent debate on which hand drying
method is best. This has given rise to queries
such as, “are hand dryers cleaner than paper
towels?” and vice versa.
Here, we examine the debate and what makes
the difference between these two methods of
hand drying.
58

Why Hand Hygiene Is Important
A lot of diseases and germs are transmittable by
hand contact. After the preventative measure of
hand washing, hand drying is next in order.
Hand drying is important because any left-over
bacteria on the hands after washing can be
removed. These are other considerations that
make hand drying an important act:
• Hand Washing May Be Done Wrongly: It is
common knowledge that washing the hands with
soap is the most effective hand hygiene habit.
However, there is no quality control system to
confirm proper handwashing in a toilet. Hand
drying is then the last resort to save most people.
• Germs Can Easily Be Passed Through Wet Skin:
Germs tend to remain on improperly washed
hands. The hand in a wet state can quickly transfer
just about any form of germ to other surfaces.
Germ survival is less likely on dry skin.
The use of air dryers and paper towels are the
main methods of hand drying. As mentioned, there
has been a constant comparison on which of the
two is the best.
Let’s examine them.
Hygiene
Paper towels are the clear winner in this
comparison. Paper towels are one-use. All you
need to do is wipe your hands with it and then
dump them in the bin. This accounts for effective
hand drying and less contamination within the
space of the toilet.
Jet air dryers blow fast air to the point that it
might cause germs to fly through the toilet space.
This puts other and future toilet users at risk of
contamination. Warm hand dryers, with the warm
environment they create, are believed to aid
bacteria growth.
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Also, it might require more discipline to
use a hand dryer. Toilet users sometimes
have to wait for up to a minute for the
air dryer to dry their hands thoroughly.
If many people are waiting in line to
use the air dryer, some might forgo it
completely. This increases the likelihood
of having incompletely dried hands
when leaving the toilet, increasing
their risk of contracting and spreading
germs.
The Cost Difference
Both air dryers and paper towels serve
the fundamental purpose of maintaining
healthy habits. From a medical point
of view, cost shouldn’t be a factor of
consideration. Still, cost drives most
business decisions. So, it must be
considered.
A paper towel dispenser has a very
insignificant initial cost, but its running
cost racks up your expenses pretty
quickly. On the other hand, air dryers
are known for their higher initial cost of
purchase and significantly lower running
costs.
The running cost of paper towel
dispenser comes from the cost of
buying paper towels while that of an air
dryer comes from energy costs. You can
lower both operating costs by buying
less expensive paper towels and buying
more energy-efficient air dryers.
In this comparison, the air dryer wins.
This is because paper towels still cost
so much more over the years, and their
use is hardly controllable.
62
Environmental Friendliness
The carbon footprint of both hand drying methods
must also be weighed to know which one performs
better.
Paper towels can be examined based on the
material they are made of and how they are disposed
of after use. Paper towels are made of a new paper
from trees or recycled waste papers. Trees are used
to produce paper towels, which has a considerable
effect on the environment. Although paper towels
can be made with recycled paper, they end up in
landfills or are composted because they cannot be
recycled.

Notably, paper towels do not use
electricity. However, they have
a long chain of production and
disposal that negatively impacts
the environment.
Air dryers, on the other hand,
have a high environmental
impact when in use. About 20
to 80 grams of CO2 equivalents
are produced whenever they are
used. However, there are more
energy-efficient options, like jet
air dryers. Most of them come
with tags that detail their energy
efficiency.
Air dryers win in this comparison
rank.
Modern and Low Maintenance Option
Air dryers are a more advanced option compared to paper towels. They typically look trendy,
parched against the wall as though they are interior decoration items. This is one of the reasons
many organizations invest in them. Also, air dryers are a low maintenance option. They do not
require a trash can or ever get exhausted.
Paper towel trash cans need to be cleaned out and the dispenser refilled often. Using paper
towels might amount to an increase in toilet staff responsibilities.
Air dryers, on the other hand, afford easier toilet cleaning and less concern on how users will get
their hands cleaned.
Final Thoughts
The debate between air dryers and paper towels is most unlikely to end soon. This is partly
because it is a debate being used to fuel the marketing of either product. The priority in hand
drying is to ensure that maximum hand hygiene is achieved.
Paper towels are the winners when it comes to hand hygiene. However, air dryers trump paper
towels in terms of cost, environmental friendliness, and a more modern outlook.
Many businesses may opt for an air dryer without much consideration. However, it is a worthy
consideration that companies who want to maintain a very hygienic environment go for paper
towels. The prioritization of hygiene over costs can be an excellent way to boost company image.
63

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N E W S
S T O R I E S
The Covid-19 Survival of Engineering
Companies Lies in Digitalization
The impact of the
Coronavirus has been
a shock reverberating
across every aspect of our
lives and in every business.
In the engineering sector, the
current global pandemic is
forcing the hands of industrial,
construction, manufacturing,
energy, and HVAC to prepare
for a post-COVID-19 world.
As many countries are
beginning to relax, or look at
relaxing, measures imposed
as a result of the crisis,
engineering firms need to
be ready to rapidly evolve to
address a very different world
and a possible recession.
The future of engineering
and contracting services
is a moving target, and
institutions must streamline
their operations and be able
to cost-effectively bring the
66
right products to the right
customers.
It is important that engineering
and tech companies are able
to adapt in order to ensure a
smooth reopening of financial
markets and the economy,
whether that be digital or
physical.
Being agile won’t just
save us, it will sustain us
To succeed in a market that
keeps changing, you need
to be able to move quickly
and be agile, composing new
products and services faster.
Even with restrictions
relaxing in many countries,
the expectation is that many
employees will continue to
work from home and that
face-to-face interactions will
continue to be limited. The
value of enabling an agile
engineering workforce through
digitalization has increased
even more. Simply put, new
solutions are needed across
many industrial sectors, and
the push for digital remains a
top priority.
There are also millions unable
to work who are receiving
support from governments
backed by banks and financial
institutions by implementing
measures like payment
holidays and delayed interest
payments. This is where
the ability to be agile and
flexible, and work in a dynamic
environment is vital.
Investing in digitalization and
putting it at the center of the
engineering strategy provides
a competitive edge and
longevity. To build the best
experience, tech companies

need to start changing with the
market, instead of hoping the
market will stop changing.
Enter composable
banking for engineering
firms
Today, even the simplest
banking service involves a
complex orchestration of
core systems, transaction
processing, decisionmaking,
reporting, analytics,
authentication, security and
more. Monolithic platforms
make it harder to incorporate
the latest capabilities and
tools, and the opportunity for
financial institutions today is
to replace any component
whenever needed without
embracing new technical risk.
Composable banking is a
new approach to building
banks and lending businesses
that treats change as a
constant. It is about having the
control to use fit-for-purpose
technologies to compose
precisely the right design and
delivery of financial services
infrastructure.
With fintechs coming in and
attracting industrial customers
with digital offerings, it
becomes increasingly
important for the established
ones, like the big banks,
to work on retaining their
engineering customers by
digitising, and fast. To serve
an agile market, financial
institutions need to compose
new products and features
faster than everyone else to
predict demand and to better
serve existing customers like
renewables, contractors, oil
& gas, construction, water
treatment and telecoms.
Composable banking offers
innovative solutions for
organisations to create their
own architecture for new
products and services faster.
It helps financial institutions
create modern customer
experiences to compete in the
digital era — and constantly
evolve them to respond to
change.
Embracing the fintech
era for engineering
companies
COVID-19 has had a
transformative effect across
societies, economics
and offices. As market
dynamics keep on changing,
engineering, energy, industrial
and technology have a chance
to make a positive impact on
their customers.
There is one thing in common
for organisations, regardless
of how far they have come with
digitalization. The COVID-19
pandemic has made it clear
that you can no longer
manage your business the
same way as before.
In the long-term, companies
can choose to embrace the
new world based on rapid
evolution and modern ways
of working, or continue on the
old paths which will see them
unable to adapt when needed
most.
For many businesses,
adopting new and agile
ways of operating based on
composable banking will help
guide their path and prepare
them for the very different time
that lies ahead of us.
67

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N E W S
S T O R I E S
The Future Of Engineering And Its
Impact On The Industry
There is no doubt that Genetic Engineering,
which is the basis of modern Molecular
Biotechnology, will be the most interesting
scientific field of the next century. Because
the initial achievements to date promise a
lot. Although they evoke mixed feelings of
excitement, anxiety and confusion in the
world, as seen recently with the possible
modernization of human cloning or genetic
control of longevity, and many others.
The opportunities are only likely to grow
across all areas, especially the Asian and
Middle Eastern markets where new concepts
are forever evolving. In this instance, people
wanting to move into this line of work should
look at educating themselves in all areas
of advancements and give yourself the
opportunity to complete your goals.
Change is coming
Due to the advance of digitization, the range
of job profiles demanded by employers is
increasingly wide and jobs are constantly
appearing that until a few years ago were
unthinkable that they existed. This makes the
gap between job demand and the reality of the
labor market widening.
The engineering sector is particularly
affected for this reason, it is one of the
sectors that generates the most vacancies
and it is very difficult to fill them, according
to an analysis of trends in the labor market
carried out by the human resources company
Randstad. The market needs expert
professionals in all emerging branches of
engineering.
Any company must have a multidisciplinary
profile, with great versatility and analytical
capacity, strategic vision, proactivity and
adaptation to change, since they are
the characteristics most sought after by
companies. Especially after the COVID-19
crisis, it’s vital that companies are providing
adequate risk assessments for all workers - or
could humanity be replaced by more digital
aspects?
Some of the areas and profiles most in
demand in the short and medium term are:
70
• Electrical engineering: Due to the growth
of society, the need to meet various
requirements in the fields of engineering
related to the generation and use of energy,

Robotics in more areas?
the design of electromechanical elements and
the automation of systems is generated.
• Smart cities: The population is increasingly
concentrated in cities, which are experiencing
a rapid evolution towards aspects of intelligent
management of resources, efficient urban
planning, sustainable mobility and other
elements that make up a Smart City. This
panorama requires the specialized work of
engineers with knowledge in Open Data,
artificial intelligence and systems and
application development capable of creating
technologies for these objectives.
• Biomedicine and biotechnology: Although
engineers already had a presence in the
medical and health areas, it is one of the newer
professions at an academic level.
• Industrial organization: It is one of the least
technical profiles of engineering in the industrial
field, but it is one of the most demanded by
companies and, also, one of the most successful
among students despite being relatively new.
• Industrial design: Design is applied in all
aspects of society. Its objective, however, is not
only aesthetic, but also seeks to make all the
products it creates more useful, comfortable
and efficient. Design is a distinctive element in
the very competitive market in which we find
ourselves.
The main challenge of building robotics
continues to be the integration of robotics
from the controlled environment of a factory to
a changing environment such as construction
activities. The potential of the robot is its
ability to carry out work beyond mere manual
operation, but also beyond industrial repetition
and its direct control by digital data. Robots
are becoming more autonomous and can
perform more functions and tasks, reducing
the waiting time for them to be used in
construction.
At first, the supervision of professionals and
their interaction with robots in construction will
be essential. Robots’ difficulty in navigating
complex environments will initially require
significant human intervention. However, the
trend is for less skilled workers to be replaced
by robots, while higher skilled workers will
collaborate with the latter.
The speed and precision of a robot can
dramatically increase productivity on
a construction site. The challenge is
undoubtedly the ability to program it to
perform the right tasks efficiently. In addition
to the benefit in the field of productivity, the
accident rate of workers will also be reduced,
as robots carry out part of the jobs that
involve more occupational risks. Robotics
can completely transform construction as we
understand it today.
The impact of technology in construction
can influence not only work processes, but
also architecture, engineering and creativity
in the design of new environments. The
great challenge is that robots do not replace
human capacity and that they help improve
architecture, aesthetics, productivity, design,
safety and quality of life for construction
professionals.
71

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N E W S
S T O R I E S
Data and Digitization Report
UAE Market
Executive summary
74
As data volumes continue to grow and become more
disparate by the day, the time is now for organizations to
implement ways to efficiently leverage this critical data.
In July 2019, Alteryx surveyed 500 United Arab Emirates
(UAE) businesses to understand how data and analytics
are driving their businesses to thrive in this data-led world.
The new Alteryx-commissioned research uncovers the
benefits and impact of data analytics in digitization projects
across six of the most digitally advanced countries in
Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia-
Pacific (APAC).

This report summarizes the key findings of the research and uses
the information gathered to provide a snapshot into how companies
across the UAE are progressing in their analytic journey. It explores
the current thinking into the value of data, the primary data
challenges, the culture of data and analytics and the key technology
enablers to demonstrate how a smart approach to data guides the
way to successful digitization.
Commenting on the findings of the research, Alan Jacobson,
chief data and analytics officer at Alteryx said:
“The business case for data has truly been acknowledged. While
many are still balancing data inefficiencies with the challenge
of a shortage of skilled data workers, this latest research from
Alteryx underscores that investing in data and analytics alone
won’t deliver real business-altering results. Whether performing
precision marketing to improve sales or analysing data from various
departments across an organization, the world of business is quickly
becoming the world of analytics. A smart approach to data and a
data literate culture will guide the way for successful digitalization.”
Abboud Ghanem, Senior Director – Middle East and Africa at
Alteryx, added:
“There is no doubt that data is key in driving business success
in the minds of businesses across the UAE. Every data worker,
regardless of technical acumen, wants to be able to easily find and
understand what information is at their disposal; have the flexibility
to prep, blend, enhance and analyse data from more sources; and
easily operationalise analytic models through a collaborative and
governed platform. At Alteryx, we will continue to make the Alteryx
Platform easier to use for all data workers, while extending its ability
to handle more sophisticated data science outcomes for trained data
statisticians in order to create an analytics-centric culture across most
every industry and functional areas of business.”
Data is permeating every part of business and is key to success
• With over three quarters of survey respondents (79%) agreeing that data is a critical corporate
asset for driving the business forward it’s clear that businesses are taking advantage of what
seems to be insurmountable data sources across industries and internal functions.
• When it comes to where businesses are in their analytical journey, almost two thirds (62%) of
UAE businesses class themselves in the advanced stages of their analytic journeys.
• For those businesses leveraging data for insights over two fifths (41%) report the major
business benefit as increased productivity, followed by over one third (36%) citing they gained
better insight into customers, and over one third (34%) stating the ability to make savings and
efficiencies for my department or organisation.
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• Businesses are also seeing soft benefits increase. Over three quarters (79%) agreed that using
data analytics has helped break down internal silos. Respondents cited improved employee
satisfaction (41%) as a benefit of using data. Overall two in five (40%) said that analytics
improved work-life balance and are able to better balance their lives after embracing data in their
role.
Businesses can’t win in analytics without the human element
• With digital skills classed as a major priority for businesses, over four in five (83%) agree that
everything they are investing in data and analytics is useless without people who understand it.
• Proving that businesses simply cannot proceed to tackle the technical challenges existing in a
data-driven industry without the right workforce, more than two fifths (41%) reported that it was
easier to access the talent needed to manage analytics than last year, while almost one in three
(32%) have a team of dedicated data scientists for all their analytics work.
• Only one in five businesses reported that a talent shortage prevented them from becoming a
data-driven business.
• Those who are leveraging data report several key factors that they still need to overcome in
order to be more efficient. When allocating time to performing impactful data analyses, one in
three (33%) cite data quality as a big challenge to building a data pipeline for the business,
followed by almost one third (30%) stating a lack of strong data governance is a major
contributing factor to wasted time that could have been spent assembling insights.
A culture of data and analytics is needed to transform data into actionable insights
• When it comes to the building blocks for their digital transformation initiatives, over four in five
(81%) agree that empowering people is the key to digital transformation.
• Stressing that empowering employees to affect business-change with data will enable them to
succeed in their digital transformation initiatives, over one third (35%) state a culture of data and
analytics will be the biggest game changer for analytics success while two fifths (40%) state they
need more focus on employee skills and talent to drive transformation.
• Businesses are starting to build this culture to derive value out of their data, as almost one third
(30%) have a clear enablement strategy based around community, training, and tools that drives
our data analytics usage and over one quarter (29%) hold regular data workshops to inspire data
workers to generate insights as part of our data analytics strategy.

N E W S
S T O R I E S
• In an increasingly data-driven world, over two thirds (70%) of respondents agree that data is so
valuable that it’s become a new currency, and the same number agree data progression is also
key to career progression.
Technology can be an enabler or constraint to data analytics success
• Proving data will always be at the forefront and one of the most important drivers of success
and true digital disruption, businesses across the UAE reported the top three technology
enablers having the greatest impact on their business today as data and analytics (42%),
artificial intelligence/machine learning (36%) and blockchain (33%).
• When asked their top technology priorities to continually modernize their analytic journey, UAE
businesses digital transformation enablers (47%), getting more value out of our data resources
(47%), and further investment in data platforms and services (46%) in order to accelerate timeto-insight
and break barriers.
• Technology can also be a constraint to a data-driven business. When asked which key
technology enablers they are prioritizing investment in within the next five years to support a
variety of initiative for data analytics success almost one third cited data and analytics (32%), just
ahead of blockchain (28%), and artificial intelligence/machine learning (27%).
• UAE businesses anticipate the biggest technology game-changers for data analytics success
within the next five years to include: self-service analytics (31%), augmented data discovery
(27%) and explainable AI (27%).

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N E W S
S T O R I E S
Sharaf DG Energy challenges
warehouses and factories to reduce
emissions
Sharaf DG Energy advises companies to look to their warehouses as the first step to becoming
more sustainable
Sharaf DG Energy, one of the leading solar
energy solution providers in the UAE vows to
tackle the issue of climate change head on,
stating that the starting point should be within
warehouses and factories across the region.
Manufacturing represents 54% of the world’s
energy consumption and is responsible
for 20% of global emissions – increase in
efficiency can help to conserve energy and
contribute to global CO2 reductions. Rising
environmental issues and growing economic
uncertainty means manufacturers must rework
their current practices to ensure more is
done to reduce harmful emissions and waste
disposal that has a negative impact on the
planet.
The logistics industry is becoming increasingly
aware of its ecological impacts meaning
warehouses and factories are the perfect
starting place for companies to implement
sustainable solutions. A combination of
extensive unused rooftop space, the need for
generating clean and reliable energy and the
possibility of generating additional income
makes warehouse ideal for solar.
The concept behind green logistics is to create
measurable reductions in CO2 emissions
due to daily operations from logistics and
warehousing activities. To optimize operations,
it is essential to create strategies that will lower
costs and conserve energy.

“As the climate emergency accelerates, factories and warehouses must adapt and create
new strategies with sustainability at the core of their business” says Vice President of
Sharaf DG Energy, Sanjay Dabur. “There is an opportunity to turn the negative into positive
and use the current environmental climate as an opportunity to look internally – Middle
East manufacturers should implement the necessary changes towards becoming more
sustainable – streamline processes and begin to see this as an opportunity as apposed to
a threat”.
“Installing solar panels on a warehouse is financially beneficial as well as a great way to
utilise empty roof space” says Mr. Dabur. “The key advantage of using solar panels is that
a warehouse can become more self-reliant by producing its own energy which can amount
to significant savings over time”.
Sharaf DG Energy believes the companies that will successfully navigate the current
environmental issues are those that embrace sustainable solutions across their factories
and supply chains – improving operations whilst increasing sustainability means higher
productivity and smoother processes that will in turn benefit all areas of the company.
By making the switch to solar, Dubai warehouses could benefit from extensive annual
savings, security from producing their own clean energy that isn’t dependant on stability of
the energy market, along with the biggest advantage being less pollution of the planet.
Sharaf DG Energy was founded in 2014 as a progressive and forward-thinking enterprise
– bringing together global experience and local knowledge to create sustainable energy
solutions.
Sharaf DG Energy hails from the wider Sharaf Group comprising of 47 companies with
presence in 40 countries across MENA, Africa, India & Asia. The Sharaf Group continues
to dominate sectors including Shipping & logistics, Industrial, real estate, travel & tourism,
IT and financial & retail since its establishment in 1975.

AN ENERGY
REVOLUTION
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