2016 is Middle East's Year of Digital Disruption, Says SAP

Bion Group in the UAE, Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros. Co. in Qatar, and Saudi’s alfanar Win SAP MENA Quality Awards

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – 15 February 2016 – 2016 will be the Middle East’s year of digital disruption, one of the world’s leading technology companies announced today with the reveal of the MENA Quality Awards 2016 winners.

“With the Internet of Things opportunity reaching USD 14 trillion in the next 15 years, 2016 will be the Middle East’s year of digital disruption, when organizations must embrace digital transformation for long-term success,” said Frank Forndron, Head of Customer Office at SAP MENA, and Quality Management for SAP Emerging Markets.

“The annual SAP MENA Quality Awards award recognize the region’s leading innovators, which have used a digital core to transform employee, customer, and supplier relationships, and succeed in the Digital Economy,” added Frank Forndron.

One of the UAE’s up-and-coming transport and logistics companies, Bion Group, formerly Tarwada Cargo Transport, with partner NTT Data won gold in the Fast category for real-time truck analytics.

"The use of SAP solutions will enable us at Bion Group to maximize our returns from fully-integrating company process including our fleet GPS technology. The automated fleet management system shall facilitate real-time, accurate and reliable data analytics thereby empowering our logistics operations with robust tracking tools, secure on-time deliveries, and enhanced customer service experience,” said Noas Al Rawi, CEO, Bion Group.

Riyadh-based alfanar with partner Business On Demand won gold in the Innovation category for a cloud-based customer service system that increased customer satisfaction by 25 percent.

“SAP’s Cloud 4 Customer service solution has boosted the performance of alfanar’s after sales service organization by reducing the service delivery turnaround time by 40%, meanwhile the customer demands, after the promotion of such services, has increased by 58% with the highest customer satisfaction level”, said Pascal Hoerter, VP Sales and Marketing, alfanar electrical.

“The solution has brought a unique service model on-line which alfanar provides to its customer and driven our growth in the region’s fast-paced manufacturing industry”, added Marco van de Sandt, CIO, alfanar.

One of Qatar’s main automotive distributors, Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros. Co. (AAB), along with Poland’s Hicron SP ZOO as their Implementing Partner, won gold in the Business Transformation for their successful implementation of SAP ERP and SAP Dealer Business Management system. This implementation has taken the organization in accelerated customer service operations by significantly reducing the customer waiting time.

AAB’s massive business transformation program using SAP’s integrated, real-time, single platform has streamlined its processes, enhanced its customer service experience, supported business diversification of its products and services, and given AAB a comprehensive view of its valuable customers. AAB has achieved this award through strong project management, together with the commitment, dedication, and alignment of objectives of their employees. In view of this, ICT projects can be delivered on time, which has made AAB an example in the region.

These three gold winners will now advance to SAP Europe, Middle East, and Africa Quality Awards finals, which will be held in Walldorf, Germany on 6 April 2016.

The MENA Silver winners were Ras Al Khaimah E-Government with SAP Field Services, Al Qaryan Steel with Al Bilad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and DP World with Clariba.

MENA Bronze winners included Saudi Ceramics with CSC, Bahrain’s Arabian Gulf University with Kaar Technologies, and Egypt’s edita Foods with SAP Field Services.