K-tuin opens second Apple Premium Partner store in Spain at Calle Muntaner in Barcelona

K-tuin opened its second Apple Premium Partner store in Spain on Thursday, June 22. The team at the renovated store, located at Calle Muntaner 334 in Barcelona, hosted a Grand Opening Event with live performances that entertained the long queues that formed hours before the official opening that evening.

The Apple Premium Partner site is a new Apple store concept with a renewed design, more exhibition space and where customers can access the advice of specially trained Apple experts. There’s also a dedicated workshop space for learning events, as well as a B2B business speciality and technical support on site as well.

In Apple Premium Partner stores, the display of Apple products and Apple accessories is even more important than before. The number of closed showcases is reduced to a minimum, so customers can easily try out the products displayed on open surfaces without the help of the staff.

Many Apple fans attended the opening event call and were able to see first-hand all the latest products in the new store, along with some fascinating live demonstrations of key devices. The surprises began in the queue to enter, a couple of hours before, where patient attendees took part in product raffles and quizzes to find out who was the biggest Apple fan.

Moments before the ribbon was finally cut to open the store, a magician arrived to amaze with his best tricks, making AirPods magically appear or guessing secret numbers with the help of an iPad. All this could be witnessed via an Instagram live that had hundreds of viewers.

During the event, more than 1,000 people entered the new APP store, where they were impressed by the large exhibition of Apple products present on its two floors. Once inside, attendees could taste the sweets from the city’s famous Oriol Balaguer pastry shop and enjoy a session by famous DJ Albert Neve, who cheered this great opening with his best songs.

Javier Ródenas, Retail Manager of K-tuin, was impressed by the impact and success of the event: “We are proud to open our second APP surrounded by so many people. The store really looks amazing, and we are sure that this new space will be one of the best places to see, try, and buy an Apple product in Barcelona. We are not stopping here – in the coming months we are going to open more K-tuin Apple Premium Partner stores in other parts of Spain.”

More about K-tuin

K-tuin was founded in 1994 by Juan Fabre. This young man from Aragon discovered his passion for technology when the meat management program was computerized in the bar-restaurant where he worked. The first store opened in Madrid and dozens of openings followed. K-tuin was the first Spanish company to become an Apple Premium Reseller, the highest classification among Apple resellers.

Today K-tuin is the largest network of Apple Premium Resellers in Spain, with more than 30 points of sale across the country, two in Andorra and a popular online store. Since Midis Group acquired the company in 2019, K-tuin has not stopped growing. In summer 2021 the company merged with two other important Spanish Apple Premium Resellers, Goldenmac and Microgestió, and all are operating today under the K-tuin brand.

Samer Kandalaft interviewed in CXO Insight – Empowering Digital Transformation in Banking

Samer Kandalaft, Executive VP of QuanTech, part of the MDS System Integration Group, recently featured in a detailed Q&A in the major Gulf online publication, CXO Insight Middle East. Samer talked at length about how MDS SI Group plays a key role in the development of fintech and the banking sector in the region.

In the interview, the first question for Samer was about the core of the MDS SI offer. According to Samer, the Group has worked with international players to create their Digital Transformation Platform, which has the potential to revolutionise operations within the banking sector, giving financial institutions the opportunity to move on from legacy applications.

At the heart of the Platform solution is an initial Digital Maturity Assessment, which allows the bank to systematically create a Digital Maturity Matrix that helps the institutions to identify and programme their transformation journey. According to Samer, in response to the Digital Maturity Index, the Quantech team creates a bespoke Technical Architecture and Technical Roadmap which become a guide for the bank to modernise their infrastructure and embrace digital transformation. “When implementing a digital transformation strategy in the banking sector, it is crucial to have a well-defined plan for integration with existing systems and infrastructure” said Samer.

Legacy systems can’t be eradicated overnight, and business continuity is crucial for institutions like banks who need to earn and retain the complete trust of all customers and partners. Samer explained that the MDS SI platform acts as a central core to business systems – but it works alongside legacy architecture, thus allowing a planned and orderly migration across to the new core solutions, minimizing the chances of disruption to data, customers or business.

Banking today works across many channels – online, mobile and in-branch transactions of all kinds need to be seamless, consistent and 100% reliable experiences, and in the interview, Samer talked about the Group’s cross-platform offer: “Our portfolio includes a range of digital client touchpoints, including a seamless and convenient banking experience.” Samer detailed the omni-channel digital approach, which includes microservices and responsive design to suit mobile customers and also self-automated branches.

“What truly sets us apart is the tight integration of our portfolio across all touchpoints” said Samer. “We prioritize maintaining a consistent interface and user experience across mobile, kiosk, ATM and Internet channels. Additionally, we seamlessly integrate unified business rules and digital processes across these touchpoints.”

There’s more detail about how MDS SI and QuanTech is driving Digital Transformation in the banking sector in the full Q&A interview in CXO Insight, pages 20-21

MDSap and partners convene Digital Neuron CFO event about Automation of Credit Decision Making and Risk Management

MDSap and partners Advanced Financial Solutions (AFS) and FICO curated an inspiring fintech summit entitled Digital Neuron – Automation of Credit Decision Making and Risk Management, on June 20, at the prestigious Raffles Europejski in Warsaw, Poland. The event was aimed at CIOs and Heads of Business departments, with 12 invited attendees from a variety of business sectors present.

“Topics covered included optimizing analytics, driving the credit industry with technology, developing robust decision-making models, and exploring data mining and automation” said Marek Sodolski, General Manager, MDSap Poland & Czech Republic, the principal speaker in attendance from MDSap. “The discussions also revolved around the importance of machine learning expertise and integrated risk management.”

Larry Jacobson from FICO began the event with a presentation that explored themes around ‘Credit Risk decisioning challenges and opportunities.’ Larry also asked those present a rhetorical question: “which technologies drive the credit industry, and why?” This then developed into a presentation about the FICO platform which is used to boost credit risk decision-making processes.

The second key session of the CFO event was led by Jiri Geryk and Leo Prochazka from AFS, a company which is also a Midis Group affiliate. Their session was titled “Human and the machine – understanding the interplay between technology and consulting expertise in effective strategy implementation.”

This segment of the event included assessing the usefulness of an integrated risk management platform, and aspects of effective automation of quantitative modelling. Participants were inspired by success stories that showcased how organizations leveraged both technological advancements and consulting insights to successfully drive strategic initiatives and achieve sustainable growth.

More about FICO

FICO (NYSE: FICO) is a leading analytics software company, helping businesses in 90+ countries make better decisions that drive higher levels of growth, profitability and customer satisfaction.

More about AFS

Advanced Financial Solutions (AFS) is a software and consulting company established in 2000 as a subsidiary of the Midis Group, one of the largest technology companies in the region. AFS is specialized in providing Risk, Finance and Compliance software solutions as well as advisory services.

More about MDSap

MDS Dubai enjoys award success with Veritas

MDS Dubai recently enjoyed major award success with Veritas, winning the FY23 Top Partner of the Year – International Emerging Region – award from Veritas during the FY24 EMEAI Channel Sales Kickoff online meeting.

Held on May 17 to review partner progress against agreed priorities, the event allowed Veritas leaders to share the channel vision and growth strategies and while celebrating joint successes with key partners. Following the online meeting, there was a dinner at Scalini at the Four Seasons resort with the CEO of Veritas Technologies, Greg Hughes.

MDS Dubai is a Veritas platinum partner, with the business relationship having been in place for at least 20 years. Veritas is a globally leading software company specializing in Data Management, Data Protection, and Data Security. MDS Dubai is certified to provide a wide range of Veritas solutions, including Cyber Resilience Solutions, to counter threats and increase resilience; Hybrid Multi-Cloud Solutions to manage and control cloud data wherever it lives, and Data Governance & Compliance to control risk and maintain compliance.

“MDS Dubai is profoundly honored for the recognition and extends its deepest appreciation to Veritas Technologies LLC for this prestigious award” said Ali Awada, Group Managing Partner.

“This recognition symbolizes the collective effort, dedication, and unwavering commitment of our incredible team. It was a pleasure meeting Greg Hughes and having dinner at Scalini Dubai – we truly appreciate the insights and perspectives you shared. Thank you for the meaningful engagement.”

More about MDS Dubai

MDS Dubai is one of the leading system integrators in the Gulf region. The company specializes in Data Centre Infrastructure, Network Infrastructure & Information Security, Cyber Security, Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity, Cloud and Artificial Intelligence.

Mindware Announces Partnership with Google Cloud in MENA Region

DUBAI, UAE, June 8, 2023 – Mindware has announced the signing of a distribution agreement with Google Cloud to develop the channel and grow the business across the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region. The agreement will see Mindware promote the Google Cloud portfolio and Workspace across the countries of United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Yemen, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq.

With the support of Google Cloud, the distributor will extend its portfolio with specialized solutions around Data & Analytics, API Management, industry-leading Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) services for improved business outcomes, application development and delivery acceleration.

Mindware will deploy a strategy and methodology of addressing Google Cloud’s requirements to expand its business in the regional markets. The company will deliver increased sales of Google Cloud solutions through a new ecosystem including Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), while leveraging the Mindware Cloud Marketplace as well as professional and support services.

With the Google Cloud portfolio, Mindware partners will be able to offer their customers the flexibility to migrate, build, and optimize applications across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, while minimizing vendor lock-in, leveraging best-in-breed solutions, and meeting regulatory requirements. The collaboration will allow Mindware to strengthen its reach in the market, based on vertical solutions especially in the education sector, and the access to the open-source ecosystem.

Philippe Jarre, Mindware Group President, comments: “We strongly believe that the Google Cloud-Mindware partnership offers a unique opportunity for both organizations to succeed and grow in the market, particularly in the domains of data and AI. Mindware has a diverse range of solutions, allowing for cross-selling and upselling. With extensive market coverage and strong financials, we can adapt to market changes. Our ultimate goal is to become the preferred Cloud distributor in the Middle East and Africa, delivering aggregated Cloud solutions from various vendors, with a specific emphasis on data and AI capabilities. Collaborating with Google Cloud will add value to both companies, as we are going to leverage our capabilities to develop an expansive Google Cloud channel ecosystem and access hundreds of clients from different industries and market segments.”

Google Cloud recently made an exciting announcement of a new Google Cloud region in Doha, Qatar. The new Doha region is now part of the company’s global network of 37 regions and 112 zones that bring Google Cloud services to over 200 countries and territories worldwide. Google Cloud also announced plans to bring a new Google Cloud region to Dammam in Saudi Arabia, as well as to Kuwait.

“The MENA market offers great potential. Mindware will support Google Cloud in aggregating cloud solutions through a reseller ecosystem at scale, providing more organizations with greater access to the Cloud experts and technologies they need to drive positive business outcomes in the Cloud” concluded Abdulrahman Al Thehaiban, Managing Director for META, Google Cloud.

About Mindware

As one of the leading distributors of the finest IT products in the Middle East and Africa, Mindware’s extensive portfolio includes top-class global brands reaching out to over 4,000 partners. Mindware’s comprehensive offering includes a selection of infrastructure, networking, security, and storage leading brands. As part of its VAD methodology, Mindware also offers supplementary value-added services to its reselling partners including pre-sales consultancy, implementation services, local technical support, marketing enablement tools, and multiple channel-enabling programs. Headquartered in Dubai UAE since 1991, Mindware has been uncompromisingly serving its customers for more than three decades.

www.mindware.net | www.mindwarecloud.com | https://store.mindware.net

eSolutions convenes Maximo User Group Conference exploring trends, innovations & best practices

eSolutions held a successful Maximo User Group Conference at the Ritz Carlton, Riyadh on May 28th. Subtitled ‘Maximo Unleashed: Embracing the Digital Revolution’, the conference was the perfect opportunity to gain valuable insights and ‘take your asset management game to the next level.’

The event brought together around 200 industry professionals, experts, and enthusiasts to explore and discuss the latest trends, technologies, strategies, and how to drive Sustainability and Resilience in Enterprise Asset Management.

Representatives from at least eight different industry sectors were welcomed to see a varied selection of perceptive speeches, Maximo Client Use Cases, interactive panel discussions, and workshops led by renowned experts in the field. Nine different speakers gave 13 presentations throughout the conference.

The conference began with welcome keynotes from Gaby Matar – Group Managing Partner of eSolutions and Fahad Alanazi – General Manager, IBM Saudi Arabia. Gaby Matar made a presentation on leveraging IBM Maximo to optimize asset management and drive operational excellence. Fahad Alanazi shared thoughts about Maximo and the partnership with eSolutions.

Maximo is a world-leading enterprise asset management software. According to a 2022 Business Value Survey carried out by IDC in the UK, USA and KSA, the software can potentially bring a 450% increase in ROI over a five year period, recouping the investment in the solution typically within a 13 month timeframe.

The IDC study found that, on average, companies could enjoy average annual benefits of $14.6 million per organisation. As well as improving profitability, Maximo was found to lead to 66% more efficient platform management teams, 43% less unplanned down-time and, for end-users, a 28% increase in productivity.

Before the case studies and technology talks began, Master of Ceremonies for the event, Rob Day, engaged attendees with one of his ice-breaker group exercises.

More about eSolutions

With operations spanning across the Middle East, eSolutions was established in 1996 and since then has managed to make a name for itself as being the region’s leading provider for Enterprise Asset Management solutions.

Counted among the top asset management companies across the Region, eSolutions offer best of breed EAM solutions based on IBM Maximo that facilitates the transformation of your enterprise.

With over 100+ MAXIMO consultants in the region focused only on Maximo Implementation and Support, eSolutions is maintaining the Region’s “Most Prestigious’’ Assets.

MDS Storage Solutions wins Lifecycle Incentive Partner of the Year award at VMware Partner launch 2.0 event

MDS Storage Solutions recently won the Lifecycle Incentive Partner of the Year award at the VMware partner launch 2.0 event held in Abu Dhabi at the Saadiyat Rotana Resorts and Villas. The award was accepted for MDS Storage Solutions by Hadi Nader, Group VP and Managing Partner.

“We thank VMware for recognising MDS Storage Solutions with this key award. This means a great deal to the company, and also to the team who have worked so hard on this key business”said Hadi Nader.

The award recognizes the achievement of MDS Storage Solutions for delivering an outstanding customer experience. They have done this through an integrated program of advisory and consulting services which effectively leads to the consumption of Software as a Service and a subscription journey, aligning to the vision of VMware.

According to a spokesperson, the award is an important recognition for the company – it means MDS is successfully driving the lifecycle of the customer relationship from one stage to another. ‘This results in expediting the sales cycle and creating a continuous momentum of revenue. It is a recognition of our efforts, skills sets, and our overall approach towards sales.’

MDS Storage Solutions is a principal partner with VMware, so the company covers most of the emerging products from the VMware product line such as network overlay and underlay, private/hybrid cloud, automation, orchestration, digital workspace, container infrastructure and more.

More about MDS Storage Solutions

MDS Storage Solutions focuses on integrating and delivering customized advanced enterprise Data Center Solutions which include servers, storage, backup, network and security in the Middle East. Regional coverage is an indicator of the company’s experience, strengths and ability to grow, manage and support various types of projects and environments.

Philippe Jarre, President, Mindware Group – Thoughts on the future of Value Added Distribution

Mindware is a global IT distributor that combines the best of both worlds with global best practices tailored to the regions’ individualities. We offer a complete portfolio of over 50 top-class vendors covering an array of technology verticals such as security, infrastructure and networking, making us a one-stop-shop for all IT needs. Our dedicated services division has 40 solution and pre-sales consultants and focuses on enabling partners. Mindware has a solid financial position that enables us to finance the most complex deals. With warehouses in more than a dozen countries across the MEA region, that allow for faster delivery of hardware and an effective supply chain. Below, I share the journey of our own company as an example of how the market is changing and how VADs need to adapt in order to stay ahead of the curve.

Having been an IT distributor in the region for more than 30 years, Mindware has a strong relationship with its channel partners based on trust, transparency and open communication. In addition to offering hardware and software products, we have the critical skills to integrate and build solutions for our partners, provide value-added services such as technical support, training, and marketing to help channel partners differentiate themselves from the competition. We offer competitive pricing and flexible payment terms to help them manage their cash flow. We also ensure that our supply chain operations are streamlined and efficient, so that our channel partners can receive products quickly and easily. This can include optimizing inventory management, improving delivery times, and providing real-time tracking information.

The traditional responsibilities of IT distributors are changing rapidly. Digital transformation is becoming a key driver of growth in the industry. Businesses are increasingly turning to digital technologies to streamline operations, improve customer experience, and gain a competitive advantage. As a result, IT distributors will need to offer a wide range of digital solutions to help their customers navigate this transformation. Our emphasis must shift towards supporting the technology that underpins this transformation: cloud computing, security, IOT and data analytics. Mindware is investing heavily in these areas and we are constantly upskilling to stay as market leaders and help our partners to succeed in the ever-changing technology landscape.

With the recent economic changes and challenges, as well as the addition of too many dynamics to the global trading and commerce industry, we truly believe that a Value Added Distributor (VAD) like Mindware plays a pivotal role in supporting and facilitating digital transformation across geographies in general – and emerging countries specifically.

The cost of capital continues to rise, and is foreseen as a primary challenge in the year ahead. The past 12 months have seen a sharp increase in interest rates, rising from few percentage points to nearly 10% in this market. This is putting huge pressure on distributors to support their partners to be able to manage their cash flow in a very cash intensive business.  With the increased financing cost and the nature of the technology distribution industry being very price sensitive, we truly believe that we will see a consolidation of players in the market.

“Mindware provides robust financial capabilities in a very financially challenging world today.”

Players in the industry who have financial stability and easy access to cost-effective capital may have a strong interest in acquiring small distributors that are experiencing high financial costs and low return on capital employed (ROCE). With their financial resources, larger players can leverage economies of scale and synergies to enhance their profitability and gain a competitive edge in the market. Furthermore, through acquisitions, distributors can expand their geographic footprint and customer base, as well as gain access to new products and services.

Mindware provides robust financial capabilities in a very financially challenging world today. Our legal presence in most Middle East and Africa countries, as well as our warehouses in over a dozen countries across the MEA region, enable us to offer faster delivery and a more efficient supply chain. Additionally, our dedicated Services division focuses on enabling our partners rather than competing with them, and possesses recognized technical expertise in tailoring the best solutions for our partners and their customers. Our technical services include pre-sales support such as consultation, implementation, integration, and training, which help our partners and resellers identify and deploy the right solutions to their clients.

We also offer post-sales services such as managed services and cloud services, which provide ongoing support and maintenance to ensure those solutions continue to meet their clients’ needs over time. Additionally, we offer services in emerging areas such as AI, IoT, DevOps, and Security, providing the necessary support and expertise to help our customers stay ahead of the curve and achieve their business goals. Mindware is committed to delivering the highest level of service and support, and to being a true partner to our customers in the MEA region and beyond.

“With automated process and real-time data, we make informed decisions and help our partners to adapt the same as part of their business strategy”

A few years back, Mindware studied the market landscape and trends and realized the potential existed for an e-commerce platform. The idea was to reach a customer base outside of the traditional region and to reach all decision makers within the organization. An e-commerce platform automates the entire purchasing process, from order processing to inventory management. IT distributors who do not have an online presence may find it challenging to remain competitive. By launching Mindware’s eCommerce platform store.mindware.net we provide customers with the purchasing options they expect while staying ahead of the curve.

The IT industry has made a big leap towards digital transformation – which was essential in the pandemic era – and since then it has evolved at an alarming rate. Mindware is focused on providing improved customer experience and digital transformation by enabling self-service options, real-time updates and an enhanced communication channel. Not only that, DX helps Mindware to be more agile and respond quickly to market changes and new customer demands. With automated process and real-time data, we make informed decisions and help our partners to adapt the same as part of their business strategy. Most of the business has transformed into cloud, public/private hosting, SAAS, AI, VR and AR, the portion of traditional distribution is getting smaller every day, and the need for high-tech distribution, with the proper online channels such as marketplace, e-commerce, online services and remote assistance is growing day by day.

Mindware is leading the charge in digital transformation and innovation with Mindware Cloud marketplace, automation tools, supply chain capabilities, and as-a-service education portals. The emergence of online marketplaces presents both a significant opportunity and a challenge for the entire channel ecosystem. More vendors are offering their solutions on their own digital storefronts and also leveraging distributors’ marketplaces to increase their reach, gain access to new routes to market, and ensure that the channel adapts to the evolving needs of vendors.

Mindware saw this as a great opportunity to fill the gap with resellers to assist them in navigating complex XaaS licensing models and simplify their purchase process and so launched its marketplace few years back. Mindware’s marketplace (www.mindwarecloud.com) offers its partners a range of aggregated cloud solutions from various hyperscalers, private cloud providers, and ISVs, in addition to our cloud professional and support services. This approach helps partners and their clients with their cloud transformation journey and enables them to cross-sell and upsell. The marketplace provides a smooth user experience, and the platform’s API integrations automate the subscription and consumption management required for high-volume cloud and XaaS business.

“As technology evolves and becomes more complex, the demand for highly skilled professionals in the IT industry has increased, making it more difficult to find and retain top talent”

Skills shortage is a key challenge being faced in the region today by both vendors and distributors. VADs require highly skilled professionals with deep knowledge and expertise to provide the best solutions to our partners and customers. As technology evolves and becomes more complex, the demand for highly skilled professionals in the IT industry has increased, making it more difficult to find and retain top talent. At Mindware, we have already taken the first step in acknowledging and addressing this gap in the region.

Last year, we launched Mindware Academy, an internship program that aims to develop technical skills, and invest and train students in real world scenarios with practical experience, enabling them to prepare for future jobs in the industry. This program aims to bridge the skills gap by providing young talent with the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience. Apart from developing new talent, it is equally important to retain top talent. At Mindware we provide employees with opportunities for growth and career advancement within the organization.

At Mindware, marketing is considered a crucial pillar in the distribution landscape and is taken very seriously. To set ourselves apart from the competition, we have made significant investments in establishing a strong marketing department across the entire region and provide Marketing-as-a-Service to both our vendors and partners. The marketing department at Mindware collaborates closely with the sales and channel team to develop targeted marketing campaigns that cater to the specific needs of buyers at different stages of the sales cycle. These campaigns are closely monitored for ROI, and adjustments are made as necessary to achieve the desired outcomes.

“At Mindware, marketing is considered a crucial pillar in the distribution landscape and is taken very seriously”

Mindware has received several awards and recognition from its vendors and industry leaders recognizing the company’s commitment to excellence, outstanding performance in delivering innovative solutions, driving growth, and providing exceptional customer service. This recognition highlights Mindware’s position as a leading value-added distributor in the MEA region, and demonstrates the company’s commitment to delivering value and excellence to its customers and vendor partners.

At Mindware, we are more than just an IT distribution company; we are a trusted partner to our customers, providing a comprehensive range of value-added services to help them succeed in today’s fast-paced and rapidly evolving technology landscape.

iSTYLE Morocco opens a new APR store in Casablanca Finance City

iSTYLE, the leading chain of Apple retailers in Europe and the Middle East, has opened its second Apple Premium Reseller (APR) retail site in Casablanca. The new store is at the heart of the brand new Aeria Mall in Casablanca, in the modern financial district of the city.

For the occasion, iSTYLE collaborated with two Moroccan superstars. From the music world, Manal Benchlikha and entertainer Amin Radi both appreciated personal tours around the retail site before the opening day and invited their communities to enjoy the new Apple experience.

On the opening day, the first Apple fans attending were able to get exclusive iSTYLE discounts on the latest Apple products. The APR site displays all the innovative and popular Apple products, and features great after-sales service, flexible payment facilities and much more. The Apple Premium Reseller concept builds upon the already excellent iSTYLE retail offerings to include enhanced service from expert sales and tech staff trained by Apple.

“The opening of this extensive new APR reinforces our presence in Morocco and emphasizes the importance of our mission to provide the Moroccan consumer with the best Apple experience. With three great stores in Casablanca now, people from all over the city can enjoy the very best Apple experience.” said Edy Hamati, iSTYLE Business Development Manager, Lebanon and Morocco.

iSTYLE now has two APRs in the famous Moroccan port city alongside an existing and popular iSTYLE store. At 180m2, the extensive retail space has five trained team members on site as well as dedicated areas for service pickup, a flex table for workshops and training, and a program of events aimed at helping Apple users really make the most of their devices.

The new iSTYLE Aeria APR store is at Lot 37 Corner bd Abdellah Cherif and bd L’aéropostal

More about iSTYLE

iSTYLE, part of the Midis Group, is the largest Apple Premium Reseller network in Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and North Africa. Through its 70+ retail and online stores, iSTYLE offers the full range of Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch and Apple TV along with an impressive but carefully selected portfolio of accessories and software.

Poland’s One Identity User Forum: a community of tech experts

The recent One Identity User Forum in Poland brought together a region-wide community of IT experts for a day full of learning and fun. The forum was supported by One Identity’s strategic Value-Added Distributor, Prianto.

Taking place at Arco Bowling in Warsaw on March 16, the event convened 30 specialists and experts and invited them to learn more about how to secure workforce, customer and partner data while saving money. The event explored identity management and how to govern and secure user data, on premises and in the cloud.

Alongside the attendees, the Forum gathered skilled guest speakers who showcased success stories and best practice, led by Todd Werner, Global VP of Channels & Alliances and GM of Emerging Markets, Quest Software and Bartlomiej Jakub Niewiadomski, Channel & Alliances Manager, CEE, Quest Software, who opened the forum.

Cengiz Tuztas, EMEA Presales Manager, One Identity, the second speaker, is an experienced Pre-Sales Identity & Access Management architect with over 15 years of experience in consulting, solution design and technical experience in IAM. He works with some of the largest organizations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, focusing on helping organisations achieve successful and efficient IAM.

Jacub Pis, who was the final guest speaker, is a security specialist with emphasis on IAM & PAM solutions. He is an engineer responsible for integrations, attestation policies and third line support in a large financial sector organization.

The afternoon began with bootcamp sessions exploring how to connect to a Cloud Application using Identity Manager, one of the company range of solutions. The forum ended with a dinner and then everyone present joined together in a bowling tournament.

MMR and MDS win prestigious award from SABIC at 2023 Suppliers Recognition Ceremony

Mohammed Mansour Rumaih Trading (MMR) and MDS recently won a prestigious Performance award from major Saudi Arabian petrochemical group SABIC at their 2023 Suppliers Recognition Ceremony, held on March 20 at the SABIC Jubail building in Al Jubail – the only IT group to do so.

MMR and MDS are more than just key suppliers to SABIC. Since 2002, the two companies have built and maintained a large proportion of the data centers owned by SABIC and also continue to provide equipment and relevant solutions.

In fact, according to a company spokesman, the relationship with SABIC is thought to go back even further than 2002, into the late 1980s and 1990s. The link with the petrochemical manufacturing group has grown into a vital and continuing business relationship – for the East Region branch of SABIC, MMR and MDS are the most important client, along with ARAMCO.

“I would like to thank our esteemed colleagues at SABIC for their continuing business relationship with MMR and MDS – it is a great pleasure to receive this award and we look forward to many more years of success working together” said Rashad Alragheb Alshihabi, General Manager, Eastern Province, MMR. “I would also like to thank our team for all their hard work developing the business and ensuring we maintain our very high standards of expertise, professionalism and high-quality service.”

More about SABIC

Ranked among the world’s largest petrochemicals manufacturers, SABIC is a public company based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 70% of the company’s shares are owned by Saudi Aramco, with the remaining 30% publicly traded on the Saudi stock exchange. SABIC’s growth has been nothing short of miraculous. Today, the company has operations in around 50 countries with a global workforce of over 31,000 talented individuals.

More about MMR

Founded in 1983 by Sheikh Mohammed Mansour Al-Rumaih, MMR is a subsidiary of Midis Energy Group, part of the Midis Group. MMR started its activity by hiring highly qualified staff with thorough experience in the relevant and specialist fields of Power Solutions, Electro-Mechanical Installations and Support Systems, Computers and Data Communications.

Today, MMR is a well-known and reputable organization which has successfully served more than 1,000 customers including successful completion of 100 plus large turnkey projects. MMR is an organization dedicated to a professional approach in order to meet customers’ requirements in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

ICT-Systems Qatar recognized by Mindware as Partner of the Year 2022 for achieving great sales with VERITAS

Information & Communication Technology – Systems has been given the Partner of the Year 2022 award by Mindware in recognition of the companies’ success in selling VERITAS. The award was handed to the ICT-Systems team at the Mindware Qatar Partner Summit 2023 on March 16 at the Kempinski Marsa Malaz in Doha.

ICT-Systems and Mindware have been enjoying a successful business relationship for over 10 years. The VERITAS solutions and products ICT-Systems have been successful selling include major backup implementations in the enterprise sector and data recovery and security solutions.

The Partnership award from Mindware is an important potential boost for business. According to a company spokesperson, it means ICT-Systems is establishing an important footprint in the market along with VERITAS as a key backup system integrator and services provider.

“I thank the Mindware team for this recognition of ICT. I would also take this opportunity to thank my team, both sales and technical, for their combined efforts in achieving such an incredible success. Looking forward for more success to come in the future” said Bachir Skaf, General Manager of ICT- Systems.

More about Information & Communication Technology (ICT)

Information & Communication Technology is a member of East Gulf Group and part of the MDS System Integration Group. Over the years, ICT was able to build on its long experience to address customer business requirements and challenges with cutting-edge infrastructure solutions. By capitalizing on its business and technology knowledge, ICT effectively contributes to the local IT evolution and development that the State of Qatar is witnessing.

ICT employs locally in Qatar highly skilled personnel who are certified with the highest levels of certifications in the areas of their core competencies.

In order to develop a focus on digital transformation, ICT is offering its services portfolio through two divisions: ICT-Systems (hardware and systems), and ICT-Digital (software and digital services). ICT-Digital offers a set of services to enterprise customers such as: Cloud/multi-Cloud solutions & services, Data Platforms, Big Data Analytics, IoT/IIoT, Cybersecurity, Digital transformation advisory services, industry-specific digital business use cases, etc.

Remarkable partnership between Capital Bank of Jordan, IBM and Jordan Business Systems

Capital Bank of Jordan have just worked with IBM to release a detailed case study of their successful project to modernize their data infrastructure which features technical consultancy, design and delivery, with both IBM and their key partner Jordan Business Systems.

The bank has been working hard for the last three years to develop its customer base and has been winning banking awards as well as growing the business substantially. Profits doubled and a new digital sub-brand, Blink, had been successfully launched and broadened the customer base even further.

Beyond the recent successes, however, Capital Bank managers knew that the retail customer market in Jordan could support much more growth. They saw that while many in the country have a mobile (80%) a relatively low number of women had a bank account and only half of the population as a whole had an account. So strategic digital transformation was needed to equip the bank to meet consumers’ needs, but that would mean investment in data management capabilities and a range of other digital infrastructure needs.

In the Case Study, Group Chief Operating Officer (COO) Izzidin Abusalameh is quoted talking about the need to choose the right systems and partners to meet the challenges of developing new services for the intended new customer base. “For us, execution means integrating our acquisitions rapidly and smoothly and beyond that, delivering a high-quality, personalized experience for all of our customers” he says. “We see unified data management as the foundation of those capabilities.”

Implicit in digital transformation projects such as this one is the opportunity to know much more about the customer transactions and needs, with data management being central to the mission. “At its core, our retail and corporate strategies are based on gaining a deep understanding of our customers, and using that knowledge to cultivate and strengthen our relationships with them,” he says. “In that sense, having the right data infrastructure—to collect, organize and analyze our data—is fundamental to the success of our strategy” said Izzidin Abusalameh in the Case Study.

The case study also details the key benefits of the IBM solution, with Bahaa’ Awartany, Capital Bank’s Chief Data Officer (CDO), citing the multiple built-in integrated capabilities of the IBM solution which he sees as unique. “Having a solution that can support every dimension of our vision—data, AI and machine learning—is very important,” he says in the case study. “IBM brings the advantage of a very powerful data warehouse along with a full suite of AI and machine learning tools. It’s what truly set the IBM solution apart.”

To deliver an effective solution for Capital Bank, IBM Business Partner Jordan Business Systems (JBS) was supported offsite by an IBM team in a project that has worked through two stages. The first stage, now completed, saw JBS deploy Netezza Performance Server units which enabled the Capital Bank Data Office to create a new data warehouse. With that achieved, the bank was able to capture and centralize data from all its banking operations, both core and internal, and the range of retail banking applications into one single data warehouse.

The second phase of activity involved the acquisition and data migration of two other major regional banking operations, Bank Audi (in Jordan and Iraq) and Société Générale Bank Jordan. Jordan Business Systems supported the migration of both banking operations into the Capital Bank infrastructure, from the customer-facing retail experience to all in-house payroll, HR and admin systems.

Once these complex operations had taken place, Capital Bank were able to begin a third phase of data science and analytics to underpin further growth plans for the combined banking operations and potential new business opportunities.

To find out more about this successful partnership between Capital Bank of Jordan, IBM and JBS, read the Case Study online on the IBM website.

More about Capital Bank of Jordan

Based in Amman, Jordan, Capital Bank offers commercial and investment banking services and solutions to retail and corporate customers in Jordan, Iraq, UAE and Saudi Arabia. To further expand, Capital Bank acquired Bank Audi’s operations in both Jordan and Iraq in 2021, and in 2022 acquired the branches and operations of Société Générale Bank in Jordan, strengthening its position in the Jordanian and regional banking markets.

More about JBS

Based in Amman, Jordan, JBS is an IBM Business Partner providing business-focused, integrated IT solutions for organizations of all sizes. JBS’s clients can depend on a partner with flexible scale, a broad solution portfolio, and more than 20 years of business IT insight.

MAGNOOS excel as Platinum sponsors at BMC DAY Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

MAGNOOS were Platinum sponsors and exhibitors at BMC DAY in Riyadh on March 8. The event, organized by BMC Software, was billed as a chance for business and IT leaders and professionals to explore trusted technology solutions and cutting-edge innovations for digital transformation.

According to the organizer’s website, to ‘thrive in a digital-first world, organizations must harvest and exploit valuable data with automation and intelligence to optimize business operations, create new routes to revenue, and clear a pathway to innovation.’

The event featured keynotes from distinguished Saudi Government officials alongside key leaders from BMC Software. Salman Kazmi, Country Manager, Saudi Arabia, BMC Software, kicked off the day and was followed by Saleh Alzaid, Cloud Computing and Digital Transformation Adviser to the Government. Saleh Alzaid explored the ‘Saudi Arabia Digital Transformation Journey.’ Other key Government officials and advisers featured in the Customer Success Story Panel which ended the morning session at BMC Day.

At the end of the formal proceedings of the event were the BMC Awards for Innovation, Transformation and Customer Centricity, and as Platinum sponsors, MAGNOOS were pleased to award a prize to the Saudi Electricity Company.

“It was my real pleasure attending BMC DAY Riyadh last week and see the focus that MAGNOOS Information Systems and BMC Software are putting in to the KSA market” wrote Managing Partner of MAGNOOS, Michael Halas. “Congratulations to Salman Kazmi, Rossana Bolis and the rest of the BMC KSA team for organizing a super successful event, gathering TOP customers and partners under one roof!”

“MAGNOOS Information Systems comes with strong investments in KSA and can proudly say that we are ready to really disrupt the market and show value added use cases in the whole spectrum of digital transformation, starting with AISM, AIOps and Data Pipeline Orchestration” added Michael Halas.

More about MAGNOOS

MAGNOOS, part of Midis Group, is a leading Software Value Added Reseller and Technology Implementation company with expertise in the Data Management & Analytics, Service Management and Automation software solutions industry. We operate in the Middle East and Africa region, and enable large private and public organizations to implement state-of-the-art Technologies and adopt best business practices that help them conceive innovative business ideas and incorporate them into corporate strategies. MAGNOOS is a “one-stop shop” of the world’s leading Data Management & Analytics, Business Intelligence, Big Data, Digital Service Management, Digital Business Automation and Robotic Process Automation Technology Vendors and Partners.

MDSap were Gold Sponsors of major SAP Now UAE event at Museum of the Future

MDSap were recently Gold Sponsors of the major SAP Now UAE event which took place at the Museum of the Future in Dubai. Held on March 7, the event welcomed over 300 attendees from across a wide range of sectors from Public Sector and Retail, through Financial Transformation to ENR and EC&O.

According to the organizers, ‘SAP NOW UAE is an exclusive platform where thought leaders and industry experts gather to explore the future of innovation, sustainability and transformation.’

The day-long event began with a welcome and keynote from Zakaria Haltout – Managing Director for the UAE, SAP Middle East and Africa. Presentations from other SAP leaders followed including Martin Wezowski – Chief Futurist & Head of The Future Hub at SAP, and Carlos Diaz – Chief Sustainability Officer – EMEA South, SAP.

Sessions followed about business innovation in critical sectors like the public sector, retail, real estate, energy, and natural resources from customers, SAP experts, and leaders in the industry. Other sessions covered financial transformation, customer experience, and human experience management.

More about MDSap