Azeem Ahmad, Founder/CEO, Network Binary, explores the challenges, trends and key processes for a technology solutions company ahead of GITEX 2023.
In your expert opinion, what do you view as the biggest problem facing enterprises in the IT and technology industries across the Middle East, and what are the steps you would like to take to overcome those challenges?
The Middle East IT sector is vibrant and constantly evolving. However, there’s a pressing challenge that enterprises grapple with: the stark shortage of skilled IT professionals, particularly in specialized domains such as Cybersecurity, Cloud Technologies, AI, and Machine Learning. As per the (ISC)²’s Cybersecurity Workforce Study, there exists a global deficit of close to 4 million professionals in cybersecurity alone. Gartner’s analysis further highlights the acute skill shortage across IT domains.
At Network Binary, we’ve recognised this disparity and are primed to address it. Our comprehensive IT training solutions are tailor-made to bridge this gap. By partnering with leading tech vendors like Cisco, Microsoft, HPE Aruba, Juniper, Huawei, CompTIA, and more, we provide hands-on training, ensuring our graduates are not just certified but truly qualified. Our collaboration with the Office Connect Group amplifies our reach, making high-quality IT education more accessible. In essence, Network Binary stands as a beacon of knowledge, ready to empower the next generation of IT professionals, thus, contributing to alleviating the skill shortage in the Middle East.
OpenAI and ChatGPT are all the rage, and these new AI integrations have been tipped to fundamentally reshape all major industries as we know them. What is your view on OpenAI, are you excited by the new opportunities that it will present, or do you think more regulation is needed to control its impact on society?
The dawn of OpenAI and technologies like ChatGPT indeed marks an exciting era in the AI spectrum. These tools have the potential to revolutionise industries. At Network Binary, we’re optimistic about the prospects and are geared to offer training modules tailored to these emerging technologies, ensuring our clients stay at the forefront of AI advancements.
However, with great power comes great responsibility. AI’s pervasive nature necessitates a balanced approach, emphasising ethical AI practices. While we’re encouraged by its opportunities, we also advocate for thoughtful regulations ensuring its responsible deployment. An educated and ethically trained workforce, which Network Binary strives to nurture, will play a pivotal role in the conscientious growth of AI.
There has been a swathe of digital and cloud transformation projects in the Middle East over the last 3-5 years. However, many have struggled with the demands of cloud transformation, especially legacy-heavy players. What are the key processes that enterprises need to adopt to ensure a successful transformation journey?
Digital transformation, especially cloud adoption, demands more than just infrastructure change; it’s a cultural shift. Legacy-heavy players often grapple with this change due to entrenched traditional processes. To navigate this transition:
Clear Strategy & Roadmap: Begin with a vision and an actionable roadmap, considering both immediate and long-term goals.
Continuous Learning: Digital transformation is an ongoing journey. Enterprises must adopt a culture of continuous learning. Here, Network Binary’s IT training programs play a pivotal role, ensuring teams are always cloud-ready.
Stakeholder Involvement: Align all stakeholders, from top leadership to the front-line staff, ensuring unified progress.
Can you outline to our readers how your company has harnessed cutting-edge technologies to transform how you conduct your day-to-day operations to deliver the ‘experience’ that your customers, end-users, and partners demand in the experience economy?
At Network Binary, we’re not just trainers; we’re lifelong learners. Harnessing cutting-edge technologies, we’ve built a Learning Ecosystem that nurtures exceptional instructors. These educators, in turn, foster a culture of excellence, ensuring our trainees receive top-tier education that’s immediately applicable in their professional realms. Our adaptive schedules, hands-on training methodologies, and industry-veteran instructors collectively enable us to deliver experiences that surpass the demands of our partners, end-users, and customers in this experience-driven economy.
This supplement is titled Tech Vision, so with that in mind, what do you think the future holds for the IT and tech sector across the Middle East, what will be the key trends and technologies that will champion change over the next ‘digital decade’?
The Middle East is on the cusp of a technological renaissance. With visionary leadership and forward-thinking initiatives, this region is steadily positioning itself at the forefront of the global IT and tech landscape. In the upcoming ‘digital decade’, we anticipate several transformative trends and technologies that will redefine the boundaries of innovation and drive exponential growth.
Emerging Technologies: Over the next decade, the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), and Quantum Computing will surge. These tools will not only shape new business models but also revolutionize existing ones, creating opportunities and challenges in equal measure.
Cybersecurity Challenges: As the digital landscape expands, so does its threat landscape. Cybersecurity will be more paramount than ever, with a strong emphasis on advanced threat detection, mitigation strategies, and the continual education of the workforce to stay abreast of the latest threats.
Holistic Digital Transformation: Organisations will seek more than just technology upgrades; they’ll aim for holistic digital transformation. This includes refining business processes, fostering a culture of innovation, and ensuring that every stakeholder, from leadership to frontline employees, is aligned with digital-first strategies.
Bridging the Skill Gap: The rapidly evolving tech landscape will necessitate a skilled workforce proficient in emerging technologies. However, there is an apparent gap between the skills present and those required. Addressing this will be crucial. This is where learning institutions like Network Binary come into play and our collaborations with industry leaders ensure that our curriculum remains updated and aligned with industry needs.
In essence, the Middle East’s IT and tech sector is poised for transformative growth in the upcoming decade. As challenges arise, stakeholders, be they educational institutions, businesses, or government entities, will need to come together, share insights, and co-create solutions. Network Binary, with its emphasis on ‘Elevating the learning industry through benchmark-setting excellence’, is committed to playing a central role in this collaborative future, equipping the next generation of tech professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to navigate the digital decade ahead.
