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

JANUARY 2 0 2 1
N E W S
Cybercriminals
are Targeting
Manufacturing
Companies
Powder Coating Market
to Exceed USD 17 Bn
by 2025: Global Market
Insights, Inc.
Xinhua Silk Road:
Shaangu Group to
break new ground with
gold medal won
42 46 50
1

2

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1

E D I T O R ‘ S N O T E
Although the construction
industry appears to be looking
more robust in the face of
the COVID-19 threat than
the hospitality and travel
industries, it has not entirely
avoided the downfall of the
economy. Businesses and
organizations refuse to invest
in modernized and new
facilities with the economy at a
slowdown, resulting in ending
the industry’s decade-long
expansion last spring, and by
the looks of it, the construction
industry will not recover until
well into 2021.
While the economy did slow
down, if not shut down, in
mid-March in hopes of limiting
the spread of the virus, many
expected that after the initial
steep drop in economic
activity, there would be an
almost equal rise in recovery.
This expectation is due to the
fact that May and June payroll
reports revealed an additional
7.5 million net new jobs for the
economy after chopping off
22 million in March and April.
Almost 50 million individuals
also applied for unemployment
insurance benefits since
mid-March and five million
small businesses received
over $500 billion in loans
through the Payroll Protection
Program (PPP) of the Small
Business Administration.
Forecasters hoped that both
circumstances were enough to
boost the economy.
2021 Global
Construction Forecast
However, in mid-June, the economic growth stalled due to the
spike in COVID-19 cases across many states, pausing and
even reverting their reopening plans. Making matters worse,
such new slowdown and potential reversal of the economic
recovery come just when the supplemental federal employment
insurance payments and required expenditure of the PPP loans
are approaching expiration. With this, it is extremely doubtful
that the economy will support self-sustaining growth anytime
soon.
Still, economic conditions have constantly been instable since
the beginning of the pandemic, and it appears that this volatility
will continue for quite some time. There are upside risks and
downside risks, though, that can both improve and delay the
economic recovery.

* 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 Construction
Forecast
42
Cybercriminals are
Targeting Manufacturing
Companies
46
Powder Coating Market to
Exceed USD 17 Bn by 2025:
Global Market Insights, Inc.
50
Xinhua Silk Road: Shaangu
Group to break new ground
with gold medal won
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

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

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
The construction industry seemed to be doing rather well amidst the
threat of COVID-19 compared to most other service sectors like
travel and hospitality that rely greatly on face-to-face interaction.
However, the industry wasn’t able to entirely avoid the economy-wide
drop. Because of the economy being in the slowdown, if not shutdown,
mode, businesses and organizations are discouraged to invest in new
and modernized facilities. This, in turn, ended the construction industry’s
decade-long expansion, and apparently, this sector will remain in the
downside throughout the year and well into 2021.

23

C O V E R
S T O R Y
The American Institute of Architects recently revealed in
its mid-year Consensus Construction Forecast update
that spending on non-residential facilities will drop by over
8% this year and another 5% next year. The commercial
building sector, including hotels, office, retail, and other
commercial structures, is expected to be the most affected,
with spending estimated to fall by almost 12% this year and
an additional 8% next year. Meanwhile, the industrial sector,
which includes the manufacturing production and its related
distribution facilities, is expected to witness a decline of
5% for 2020 and 3% for 2021. While institutional buildings
like education, health care, religious, and amusement and
recreation will emerge stronger than the non-residential side,
spending on such facilities will still fall by almost 5% this
year and 2% next year.
Upside Risks that can Improve the Economy
Although the current economic conditions have constantly
been in a state of flux since the dawn of the pandemic, there
is a set of upside risks that can improve the economy more
than that of what we expect.
Potential Additional Stimulus
Extending unemployment insurance and small business
loans under the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) will help
stabilize economic conditions and avert a further drop in the
economy. Furthermore, it would be beneficial to boosting the
economy if state and local governments could extend their
support and offer an infrastructure program.
Strengthening Housing Market
Growth in the housing sector can be attributed to growth in
residential building permits, increases in purchase mortgage
applications, gains in homebuilder confidence, and firming
in the existing homes sales market. As the housing sector
grows, so does the broader construction industry.
Possible Early Vaccine
While the COVID-19 vaccine’s availability is expected
around mid-2021, a vaccine in the early 2021 will
tremendously boost the economic expansion should current
research succeed to create one.
26

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COVID-19 vaccine’s availability
is expected around mid-2021,
a vaccine in the early 2021
will tremendously boost the
economic expansion should
current research succeed to
create one.
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There will be a significant
need for post-pandemic
designs in the majority of
existing buildings.

35

C O V E R
S T O R Y
Stronger International Growth
While the international economy is unlikely to do substantially better than
the US economy this year and next, the Chinese and Indian economy is
expected to grow and even outperform the US in the following years. Both
countries will offer export opportunities for many US companies.
Facility Retrofits
When the economy opens again, there will be a significant need for
post-pandemic designs in the majority of existing buildings. This will
automatically create a surge in building retrofits that will greatly benefit the
construction and design industries.
Downside Risks that will Delay the Economic Recovery
There are, however, still a set of downside risks that could further postpone
the rebound of the economy.
Resurgence of Pandemic Concerns
Although there are signs that the pandemic is starting to wane, infection
rates begin to rise again by mid-June, particularly in the states that had
previously performed well in the early threat of COVID-19. Because of this,
many of these states are starting to pause, if not entirely revert, their reopening
plans. This, in turn, will further delay the growth in economy.
38

New Business Models
Running a profitable business in an economic environment post-pandemic
can be discouraging even for those areas where businesses are reopening
successfully. After all, a restaurant or airline that is only allowed
to operate at most 50% of its capacity will evidently struggle to become
profitable, especially when such constraints are in place for a longer time.
Household and Business Financial Pressures
While most renters and homeowners are still capable of making their
monthly rent and mortgage payments, this will unlikely continue in the
absence of further government support. The longer the economy suffers,
more and more households and business will not have the financial ability
to weather this downturn.
Emerging Trade Tensions
There is a high possibility of governments enforcing tariffs to protect their
domestic industries as countries start vying for the shrinking opportunities
in trade. Unfortunately, this will likely become a trade war soon if not
averted.
- End -
39

NEWS
Cybercriminals are Targeting
(AI), 42 Robotics, the Internet of
Manufacturing Companies
The COVID-19 pandemic
has resulted in a massive
spike in cybercrime with
industrial and consumer
manufacturing companies
on the front line, and micro,
small and medium enterprises
particularly vulnerable to attacks,
Houlin Zhao, the Secretary
General of the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU),
warned.
Zhao’s remarks came in a
keynote address that preceded
a panel discussion around
the topic of ‘Cybersecurity:
Safeguarding the future of
manufacturing’, which included
representatives from GE, United
Airlines, Good Harbor Security,
and Dublin City University
(DCU).
“If we want to safeguard
the future of engineering,
construction, energy, HVAC
and manufacturing companies,
businesses of all sizes need to
rally around good cybersecurity
practices,” Zhao said. “We at the
ITU believe that, in addition to
regulations, voluntary standards
are an important tool to support
reliable and predictable
management of risk.”
COVID-19 has highlighted the
fundamental importance of
digital technologies and services
to economies and societies
everywhere. New technologies
such as 5G, Artificial Intelligence
Things (IoT), and many others,
have the power to transform the
industrial and manufacturing
landscape on an unprecedented
scale, Zhao said.
Zhao also categorically rejected
conspiracy theories that
COVID-19 is transmitted via 5G
networks, which he said would
be critical to the next wave
of manufacturing innovation
and acceleration towards the
achievement of the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
“Let me be clear, viruses
cannot travel on radio waves
and mobile networks,” he
said. “These claims have no
scientific basis whatsoever and
ITU condemns the attacks on
infrastructure vital to address
the pandemic and keep our
economies and societies
working,” he said.
Now is the time to invest in
cybersecurity
Emilian Papadopoulos,
President of Good Harbor
Security, stressed that the crisis
had hit companies hard and
imposed financial constraints
that meant investments
in cybersecurity are not
necessarily a top priority, even
though the risk of an attack
had risen exponentially during
the pandemic. However, he
said Chief Information Security
Officers (CISO) should make
a strong case for investment
despite the current climate.
“The attackers are still coming
at us. They didn’t stay at home
and stop working. And the
coronavirus has just taught
us that Black Swan events
happen. So now is not a time
to be constraining the purse
strings for the CISO, we need to
actually invest more in security
right now,” he said.
Deneen DeFiore, Vice President
and Chief Information Security
Officer (CISO) of United Airlines,
also warned companies against
compromising on cybersecurity,
saying that there was no
question that cybercriminals
were taking advantage of the
crisis and that industry data
showed threat activity had
increased by as much as

1,000%.
“It’s not the time to cut the
budget. It’s actually the time to
double down and make sure that
you are closing the gaps. That
doesn’t mean investing millions
of dollars, but there are lots of
things you can do to get back
to basics and shore up those
vulnerabilities and heighten your
posture a little bit,” she said.
Towards global standards
Justin John, Executive
Technology Director of GE,
stressed the importance of
strengthening standards
governing cybersecurity and
fourth industrial revolution
technologies so that more
companies complied with them.
“There’s a number of standards
that are out there, but they
lack regulatory teeth. They lay
out a really good plan of how
you should comply, but there’s
nothing that’s enforceable about
them,” he said.
Ray Walshe, Dublin City
University (DCU) and
Technology Standards Leader
– EC, WEF, UN, agreed on
the importance of developing
international standards due
to the proliferation of new
technologies coupled with the
complexity of global supply
chains.
“The whole ecosystem that we’re
living in has changed. Emerging
technologies are highly
embedded in the industrial
and consumer manufacturing
companies now,” he said.
“Standards give you that
interoperability when you have
people who are geographically
dispersed and you’re trading
across international boundaries.
Standards are the glue that
holds all these ecosystems
together, so I can’t emphasise
enough how important that
standardisation process is.”
DeFiore cited the aviation
industry as an example of a
sector where global standards
had been successfully
introduced and said this could
be applied across others
industries.
“You’re only as secure as
the entire ecosystem and in
aerospace and defence that’s
huge,” she said. “Our assets
are big, they’re mobile and they
cross international boundaries.
So, for us, cybersecurity
is paramount, as is having
standards that are enforceable
and normalised across the
standards bodies, as well
as regulators, and are easily
implemented by operators.
That’s something that we’re
working on in the aviation
industry but should be applied
across many other industries as
well.”
Multi-stakeholder
collaboration is vital
John stressed the importance of
multi-stakeholder collaboration
to combat the threat posed by
cybercriminals. He cited a US
example of a cybersecurity
partnership between
government, academia, national
labs, and industry that had
helped stay a step ahead of fastmoving
hackers.
He said national labs and
academia are constantly
conducting groundbreaking
research into AI machine
learning techniques in
cybersecurity. Industries then
deploy the technology in the
market while governments can
shed light on the attacks that are
taking place at a national level.
“You combine all these together
and you can keep pace with
what the hackers are doing.
And the goal of the government
is to get that technology to the
customers because they want to
raise the level of cybersecurity
across the globe. It’s really a
win-win for everyone on the
defence side of cybersecurity.”
Walshe said collaboration was
key for standardisation and
that it should happen on an
international level in order to
facilitate global trade. He said a
joint technical committee of the
International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) and the
International Electrotechnical
Commission (IEC) is developing
standards for cybersecurity
which would be adopted by the
European Union.
“As soon as that happens,
then all national bodies who
are members of the EU will
adopt that as a national
standard, which is then used
as a mechanism for regulation,
certification, and legislating for
cybersecurity issues. So, the
best way to do it, which allows
for international trade, is through
international standardisation,” he
said.
Papadopoulos said the most
effective role for government is
to focus on managing systemic
risk by looking at critical nodes
across digital supply chains
to identify vulnerabilities in
infrastructure that many small
companies and entire industries
depend on.
“Government has a role to look
at that systemic risk and say it’s
not any one company’s job to
fix that,” he said. “But if it goes
wrong the nation suffers, the
international community suffers,
and therefore it is government’s
role to go and look at those
problems.”
43

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Powder Coating Market to Exceed
USD 17 Bn by 2025: Global Market
Insights, Inc.
Latin America powder coatings market demand
is projected to cross 250 kilo tons by 2025 on
account of strong growth in furniture industry in
Mexico, as numerous companies have shifted
certain segments of their production operations
in the country.
Global powder coating market is poised to
witness significant growth from 2019 to 2025
owing to environment-friendly properties,
cost effectiveness, high quality, swift
paint applicability, and easy usability over
conventional paints. These coats are solventfree
and have minimal volatile compounds
emissions compared to liquid paints. It
provides a long-lasting and durable finish
for metal products & parts and also exhibits
superior gloss retention. Factors such as
high corrosion resistance, easy recycling and
reduced processing time will also influence
product demand
Various technical advantages over liquid
46
paintings coupled with low VOCs emissions will
support the powder coating market value over
the forecast timeframe. Ability to produce much
thicker coatings than conventional liquid form
without sagging or running will support the
application scope across various industries.
Faster curing time and wide range of specialty
effects have proliferated the product scope
across numerous applications including door
handles, rims, and under hood components in
light of superior finish and texture.
Thermoplastic resin powder coating market
demand is anticipated to witness CAGR
over 6.5% owing to key benefits including
better chemical resistance, thicker coating,
and low toxicity. It also offers a good amount
of resistance to disparity amongst the
environmental forces and does not require
any cross-linking or curing to achieve these
properties. Thermoplastic resins owing to
eco-friendly properties, easy recyclability and
low toxic nature finds application in several

industries including construction, automotive,
outdoor furniture, oil & gas, and aerospace &
defense.
Powder coats in the appliances are generally
used in refrigerator doors, shelves, washing
machines, dryers, freezers, water heaters,
vacuum cleaners, kitchen appliances,
microwave ovens, garbage disposals,
dishwashers, etc. Appliances require a durable
finish and dynamic colors to protect against the
damages owing to the everyday use.
The color of the appliance has now become
one of the most important factors that influence
the purchasing decisions among consumer.
As a result, appliances manufacturer to launch
products in stylish colors, finishes, and texture
combinations. Decorative color and coating
styles incorporated ensures low abrasion,
better chipping and high chemical resistance.
Strong demand for metallic substrate coats to
protect steel, copper and aluminum surfaces
form corrosion due to chemicals and moisture
fueling powder coating market revenue. Easy
applicability on metallic substrate compared
to the non-metallic substrate will also support
product application scope. The metallic
surfaces can be electrically grounded and
coated via an Electrostatic Spray Deposition
(ESD) process. This process enables uniformity
over the substrate material which makes the
products more appealing to the eye. Easy
availability of wide range of colors, thicknesses,
finishes, and textures is anticipated to fuel
product sales.
Latin America powder coatings market led
by Brazil and Mexico is projected to exceed
250 kilo tons by 2025. Mexico is expected
to witness strong growth in furniture industry,
as numerous companies have shifted certain
segments of their production operations in the
country. The country offers superior logistical
solutions while shipping products to target
markets such as U.S & Canada and suffer low
overhead cost as compared to other overseas
destinations.
Key powder coating market players include
BASF, Axalta Coating System, AkzoNobel
N.V., Asian Paints and Jotun. Manufacturers
are continuously focusing on enhancing their
visibility by uploading their catalogs on the
website and retailing their products through
online portals. Also, key manufacturers are
hiring industry specialists and investing in
capacity expansion to gain a competitive edge.
The manufacturers try to establish direct
partnerships with end users to ensure the
continuous retail of their products. They also
incorporate strategies, such as expanding
product portfolio and establishing long term
supply chain agreements, to enhance profit
margin and gain competitive edge in the
market.
47

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NEWS
Xinhua Silk Road: Shaangu Group
to break new ground with gold
medal won
At the recent 2019 World
Manufacturing Convention, Shaanxi
Blower (Group) Co., Ltd. (Shaangu
Group) won gold prize of innovative
products in green energy saving for its blast
furnace power recovery turbine (BPRT),
which again proves the company’s technical
innovation power.
Back in 2016, the very technology won the
“Double Top Ten” awards of international
energy saving technologies sponsored by
the International Partnership for Energy
Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC) and the Gold
Product Award at the Czech Brno International
Machinery Industry Expo.
50

According to Li Hongan, chairman of the group, BPRT’s innovative threemachine
coaxial technology has increased the power recovered by more than
8 percent compared to the blast furnace top gas pressure recovery turbine
units (TRT units), and the recovered power accounts for 50 percent of the
original drive power, raising the power generation per ton of iron to 50kWh/t,
which shows remarkable energy saving and environmental protection effects.
At present, the BPRT technology and products have been widely used in
metallurgy, coal chemical industry and other fields, and has been exported to
India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and other countries.
Based in Xi’an, capital of Northwest China’s Shaanxi province, Shaangu Group
is a systematic solution provider and service provider specialized in distributed
energy. Its energy-saving and environmental-friendly products and systematic
solutions and services cover the fields of petroleum, chemical industry, air
separation, metallurgical industry, environmental protection, pharmaceutical,
power generation, etc. Six of its research achievements have won China’s
State Scientific and Technological Progress Award, and more than 200 science
and technology awards recognized by the Chinese government. By the end of
2018, the group has obtained 275 patents.
In recent years, the group has actively participated in Belt and Road
construction and paced up overseas expansion. It owns now 12 overseas
subsidiaries and service organizations including Shaangu Europe R&D Center,
in Germany, and Shaangu EKOL, in Czech Republic, and has established
overseas service networks in more than 40 countries and regions including
Russia, Indonesia, India, Turkey, the United States, Germany, Brazil, the
Republic of Korea, Spain, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The group’s TRT units have acquired a high market share in the Indian market,
and its large axial compressor units have served the needs of a leading
refining enterprise in Kazakhstan.
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.
59

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N E W S
S T O R I E S
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.
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.
62

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.
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“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.
83

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