Middle East digital transformation key to corporate growth and development – ArabNet founder states

3RD Edition of ArabNet returns to the UAE from May 27-28 2015 to support regional enterprise development

DUBAI, UAE, April 19, 2015: Bringing together like-minded individuals from across the digital sphere, ArabNet is returning to Dubai on May 27-28, 2015. Designed to support regional enterprises through the digital transformation, the event attracts more than 100 top experts who share best practices to help senior executives manage the digital shift impacting the core of their operations.

Commenting on the 3rd UAE edition of ArabNet Omar Christidis, Founder and CEO, ArabNet said: “Long-standing traditional businesses, at first hesitant to take on the digital challenge, are now boldly claiming new markets and business thanks to e-solutions. Research by McKinsey &Co goes as far as saying that those who become digital leaders can expect 50% profit boosts in their next five years. Beyond that, companies that are able to turn their digital investment into a competitive advantage enjoy a 20% higher market valuation than those not investing in digital, according to research by MIT – which highlights the immense potential of this industry. To that end, ArabNet’s mission is to connect like-minded individuals who are passionate about the growth of this industry and spur on the digital transformation.”

CEOs from top corporations such as Exotica, are perfect examples that anyone can make it big by adapting their approaches and not shying away from the digital potential. Ziad Nassif, CEO of Exotica, mentioned that the most important success factor for this transition is to not stop at the first hiccup. Nassif recommended to “launch at 85% or even 90% ready because you will learn as you go”. Thanks to that forward-thinking leadership and multiple upgrades of their website technology, Exotica was able to take its traditional retail business online and created a multimillion-dollar digital revenue stream.

Gulf International Bank is an example of a traditional business that has transformed its model by creating Meem, the region’s first virtual bank. Meem provides financial services through online and social channels without branches, allowing it to capture new customers and markets.

Some organizations have used mergers and acquisitions instead to upgrade their operations with digitally savvy teams and processes. This is especially true in advertising and communications, where Publicis’ Leo Burnett acquired FlipMedia in Dubai in 2012 to boost its digital capabilities.  

Similarly on a global level, Maker Studios, a leading provider of short-form online video, was acquired for $1Billion by the Walt Disney Corporation last year. Maker Studios are amongst the first to be confirmed as speakers at the ArabNet Digital Summit.

The ArabNet Digital Summit, take places from May 27-28 at Atlantis the Palm, Dubai, and is set to be attended by more than 1000 participants, 70 exhibitors and 100 other speakers. To learn more, log on to: www.arabnet.me/conference.