Latest news with #digitalinnovation
Al Bawaba
18 hours ago
- Business
- Al Bawaba
Cluster 2 signs an agreement to advance smart airport operations in Saudi Arabia
Airbus Defence and Space has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cluster 2 at the Paris Air Show to deliver next generation digital solutions that enhance airport efficiency, security and collaboration across Saudi Arabia. The ceremony was attended by H.E. Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Wouter Van Wersch, Executive Vice President of Airbus International, Gabriel Semelas, President of Airbus in Middle-East and Africa, and Mr. Saad A. Alajlan, General Manager of Commercial Operations and Business Development at Cluster partnership will introduce advanced technologies including Agnet Turnaround by Airbus , a smart platform that enables real time coordination of airport operations. This will empower Cluster 2 to streamline workflows, enhance on-time performance and elevate the passenger experience across its network of 22 international and domestic this MoU, Airbus and Cluster 2 aim to raise operational standards, improve situational awareness and drive seamless collaboration between ground staff, security teams and control rooms.'This partnership underscores our commitment to driving digital innovation in aviation. With Agnet Turnaround, we are enabling smarter, safer and more connected airports that align with the Kingdom's vision for the future of transportation.', said Antoun Farra, Managing Director of Airbus Defence and Space in Saudi Arabia.'Airports are vital gateways to the Kingdom, and digital transformation is at the heart of our strategy. Partnering with Airbus allows us to enhance safety, reduce response times and create a unified operations ecosystem across our airports.', commented Eng. Badr Al-Dalami, Chief Executive Officer of Cluster 2. With multiple communication and automation capabilities, Agnet Turnaround is a smart and secure solution which aims at solving daily operational challenges for aviation stakeholders and enhancing On Time Performance (OTP).
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Ecolab Builds The Future With Data And AI
Ecolab corporation headquarters in St. Paul, MN getty Ecolab Chief Digital Officer Kevin Doyle has been with the company for 15 years and in his current post for two. He oversees a broad scope, blending traditional CIO responsibilities with a mandate to build innovative data-rich digital products. His team supports both Ecolab's 48,000 employees and a diverse global customer base, bringing together IT, digital product development and supply chain modernization under one strategic roof. Ecolab's mission to make the world cleaner, safer and healthier translates into an expansive portfolio of offerings from water treatment and infection prevention to advanced analytics and industrial automation. 'We touch a lot of different areas,' Doyle said. 'Pretty broad base of what we're capable of, but all impactful.' His team drives value creation through data-driven insights, IoT applications and mobile solutions tailored to both internal operations and customer-facing engagements. Delivering Value Through Ecolab Digital A recent organizational shift brought Ecolab's commercial digital solutions group and IT teams together under a single banner: Ecolab Digital. 'It was to take advantage of all of the technology, wealth of knowledge and capability that we had, and use it to differentiate, not only for internal operations or our customers, but how we can jointly do that,' Doyle said. Ecolab Digital delivers a broad array of commercial innovations, including digital twins in data centers and food retail facilities, AI-powered dish machine diagnostics and predictive analytics that detect waterborne pathogens like Legionella. 'We cover a lot of different territories,' Doyle explained. 'But we have a base platform that we take all of our data into. We call it Ecolab 3D.' This cloud-based infrastructure turns real-world data into insights that drive customer value across sectors such as retail, hospitality and industrial water. Empowering the Front Lines with Intelligent Tools While customer-facing innovation remains central, Doyle emphasizes the importance of arming Ecolab's employees, especially the 28,000 in the field, with modern technologies. 'We're trying to take advantage of the latest trends in technology, [such as] artificial intelligence and some of these things that are more generative in nature,' he said. These tools aim to elevate how Ecolab personnel identify, deliver and quantify value in customer environments. Ecolab Chief Digital Officer Kevin Doyle Ecolab A major initiative involves using AI to share knowledge across the global field team. 'If you're in Southeast Asia or southeast Idaho and you've got a dairy plant that you're serving, you might have ideas that never cross paths,' he said. 'We're now surfacing those to people as opportunities to say, 'have you considered these things?' They've created value for customers in other places.' This approach transforms siloed knowledge into scalable insights, helping the field organization make smarter, faster decisions on the ground. Monetizing Digital with Subscriptions and Scalable Services Doyle and his team have also developed new ways to monetize Ecolab's digital assets. 'We really built a strategy around not only our connected devices but the applications and the services that we're deploying,' he said. This includes subscription-based offerings that integrate software, hardware and support services, creating a new revenue stream for the company. The model goes beyond device installation to include consumption-based pricing and value-based outcomes. 'Much like our cloud providers charge us for the amount of compute that we use, we're doing similar things for our customers,' Doyle said. The approach reinforces Ecolab's commitment to delivering measurable impact, whether through water conservation, energy efficiency or operational downtime. '[We are] coming to them in a different way through insights than maybe in the historic sense of purely chemicals or equipment,' he added. Digitizing the Supply Chain and Harnessing AI Ecolab's internal operations have also been transformed through digitization, particularly in the supply chain. Doyle's team is rethinking how ERP, transportation and quality systems can be enhanced with data and artificial intelligence. 'We're doing design sessions at the operations levels to understand processes that we might improve quality through vision control or vision AI,' he said. The company applies many of the same innovations it develops for customers to its own facilities. 'A lot of those things that we're delivering for customers are custom applications that we're developing based on the hundred years of experience that Ecolab has,' Doyle underscored with pride. From predictive maintenance to real-time plant optimization, the internal digitization strategy mirrors the external, allowing Ecolab to 'validate the offering is going to create the value we expect' before going to market. Innovation as a Collaborative Cross-Functional Engine At the heart of Ecolab's innovation strategy is a highly collaborative model. Doyle's team brings together engineers, developers, AI specialists and user-experience designers with subject matter experts from across the business. 'Bring me someone from R&D, from the field, from marketing, from finance,' Doyle said. 'Then generally we use some form of design thinking process or session where we're getting a cross-functional group together, collaborating in a highly engaging, highly energized environment.' The group operates in pods that rapidly prototype new solutions. 'You can't PowerPoint people to death in the digital space,' Doyle emphasized. 'A lot of people can create pretty PowerPoints, but can you turn that into technology that's going to be valuable?' With the help of generative and agentic AI, Doyle's team now launches apps in days instead of months. 'Our innovation program is really about how do we leverage AI, how do we take the data and insights, what problems are we trying to solve for customers,' he said. 'And then we do a rapid iteration.' This blend of heritage and agility, leveraging a century of domain expertise while adopting cutting-edge technology, defines Doyle's digital playbook. In his hands, innovation is not just about novelty but about continuously renewing how Ecolab serves its customers and employees in a fast-changing world. Peter High is President of Metis Strategy, a business and IT advisory firm. He has written three bestselling books, including his latest Getting to Nimble. He also moderates the Technovation podcast series and speaks at conferences around the world. Follow him on Twitter @PeterAHigh.
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Zain KSA among the first in the Middle East to activate 600 MHz band
Zain KSA has launched the first phase of its commercial deployment of 5G Standalone (5G-SA) over the 600 MHz band. Full-scale commercial rollout in Riyadh and Jeddah is scheduled during the fourth quarter of 2025, to be followed by a phased expansion extending high-quality internet services across major cities, secondary cities, and the roads connecting them. The commercial deployment of 5G-SA services using low-band spectrum sets a new standard for enhancing nationwide coverage and enabling next-generation connectivity. Zain KSA had acquired 30MHz in the 600MHz band in the Communication, Space, and Technology Commission (CST) spectrum auction of November 2024. Eng. Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Al Nujaidi, Zain KSA Chief Technology Officer, commented on the milestone: 'Activating our 5G SA network on the low-band spectrum marks a major leap forward for the Kingdom's digital ambitions. This deployment significantly extends our 5G coverage, ensuring our customers enjoy uninterrupted, high-performance connectivity. With this ever-evolving, future-ready infrastructure, Zain KSA reinforces its role as an enabler of innovation, empowering businesses and communities to continue to thrive.' Through the low-band 5G-SA, Zain KSA supports broader adoption of advanced digital services and innovative user experiences, from HD video calls and cloud applications to ultra-responsive mobile gaming and IoT innovation. This strategic deployment lays the foundation for advanced 5G-SA capabilities, including Voice over New Radio (VoNR), RedCap device support, and Network Slicing, unlocking new investment opportunities in the business and consumer sectors. These advancements strengthen Zain KSA's 5G ecosystem as an enabler of nationwide innovation and a catalyst of the Kingdom's digital transformation, contributing to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
#YouthMonth: Pretty Kubyane, bridging tech and agriculture to empower Africa's farmers
Pretty Kubyane grew up surrounded by entrepreneurship — from her father's car repair workshop to a wood-cutting business that trained local women and youth. Those early lessons in resilience and community impact stayed with her, even as she pursued a career in technology. Today, as co-founder and tech lead of the eFama App, Kubyane is using digital innovation to solve some of Africa's toughest agricultural challenges. Pretty Kubyane, co-founder, eFama App Through eFama, she's helping connect over 5,000 farmers to verified buyers, improving market access, income security, and food traceability across the continent. In this Youth Month feature, Kubyane shares her journey from farm girl to multi-certified tech leader, the barriers she's had to overcome as a young woman in agri-tech, and her mission to change the narrative about farming for Africa's youth. Can you share your journey into the agri-tech space and what inspired you to co-found the eFama App? Both my co-founder and I were raised by hard-working farmers. We grew up seeing firsthand the challenges our parents faced, especially the constant struggle to access reliable markets. Back then, I never imagined I'd work in agriculture. I was drawn to engineering and technology. Years later, life came full circle. We had the opportunity to work with a leading American tech company and the world's largest retailer to design a supply chain traceability platform. The goal was to digitise 14,000 smallholder farmers and ensure food safety and compliance through technology. It was an intense and rewarding project, one that gave us international exposure and deep experience in digitising informal supply chains. Initially, we planned to apply those lessons to the beauty industry. But everything shifted when a Switzerland-based foundation offered us a grant to build a traceability solution for a group of farmers they were supporting. That pilot was a turning point. It worked. The farmers loved it. And more than that, we saw just how urgent and widespread the need was. That gave us the confidence to bring our international experience home, to tackle the very same access-to-market problems our parents and millions of African farmers still face today. That's how eFama was born: a platform designed for African realities, built to connect farmers directly to buyers and unlock fairer, faster trade. What challenges have you faced as a young woman leading digital innovation in agriculture, and how have you overcome them? Leading digital innovation in agriculture as a young woman comes with layers of challenges. The sector remains largely male-dominated, both in the boardroom and on the farm, and when you add 'tech' into the mix, the scepticism often doubles. I've walked into rooms where people assumed I was the assistant, not the co-founder or tech lead. There were moments I had to prove myself three times, first for being young, again for being a woman and for being a black woman. I won't pretend it's been easy, but I did have an unusual head start. My father owned a car repair workshop, and from the age of six, I was often the only girl in male-dominated spaces. That experience shaped me early on, and I learned that I belonged, even in rooms where no one looked like me. What's been more difficult is witnessing the internal battles many women face: growing up with messages that they must serve, respect, and even worship men, leading to deep-rooted self-doubt. I've sadly experienced moments where that pain was projected onto me by other women, and it breaks my heart because I know they've also been treated unfairly by the system. My approach has been to focus on self-development. Every year, I commit to earning at least 20 certifications across cloud, blockchain, AI, and cybersecurity, not just to build credibility, but to stay sharp and to remind myself that I'm qualified to lead. I also lead with empathy. Most of the farmers I work with remind me of my parents and siblings, so I never approach them like a software engineer trying to sell a product, I relate, I listen, and I respect. That's how we've built trust and opened doors: not just through technology, but through real, human connection. How does the eFama App empower young farmers and youth entrepreneurs across Africa? eFama empowers young farmers and youth entrepreneurs by removing the barriers that have historically locked them out of formal markets. Most young people entering agriculture are full of passion but face a system that's not designed for them: informal trading, delayed payments, and zero visibility beyond their immediate community. eFama changes that. Our app connects them directly to vetted buyers, restaurants, retailers, NGOs, and gives them access to real-time pricing, logistics support, and traceability tools that build trust with buyers. But beyond tech, it's about a mindset shift. We show young farmers that they're not just hustling to survive, they are business owners, part of a formal supply chain, with the right to demand fair value. Many of our users are first-generation digital entrepreneurs in their families, and seeing their confidence grow, getting repeat orders, scaling operations, and learning to manage their finances is the most powerful return on investment we could ask for. What role do you believe technology plays in transforming Africa's agricultural sector and creating opportunities for youth? I grew up on a farm, raised by farmers, and like many young people, I thought agriculture was all hard labour, low profit, and very little reward. I didn't see the full supply chain, the value-add, or the tech, just the physical work. So I completely understand why so many youth turn away from it. But that perception is changing, and I'm living proof of what's possible. Technology has the power to transform Africa's agricultural sector not just by making it more efficient, but by opening doors for young people to participate meaningfully. With the right digital tools, farming becomes scalable, bankable, and traceable. You can trade smarter, access new markets, and manage your farm like a real business. Careers in agri-tech today include data science, drone mapping, software engineering, cold chain logistics, IoT integration, and AI-powered market forecasting roles that are intellectually stimulating and financially rewarding, far from the traditional image of farming. That's what we're building at eFama: a digital platform that connects farmers directly to buyers and brings the 'cool factor' back into agriculture. We want youth to see farming not as a fallback plan, but as a future. One where they can build wealth, run smart operations, and take pride in contributing to food security, not just in Africa, but globally. As a multi-award-winning innovator, what advice would you give to young people who want to start their ventures in tech or agriculture? You don't have to choose between tech and agriculture today; you can do both. Tech pays well, opens doors globally, and gives you the tools to solve real problems faced by millions. I'm a multi-award-winning technology leader, but I'm also a full-on farm girl, and I always will be. My advice? Own your roots, learn the tools, and build boldly. There's space for you at the top. How do you balance the demands of leading a tech startup while advocating for greater diversity and inclusion in STEM fields? For me, it's not about choosing between building and advocating; it's the same mission. Every time I show up as a black woman leading a tech startup in agriculture, I'm already challenging the status quo. The key is to lead by example. I stay focused on delivering results at eFama, but I also make time to mentor, speak, and support women and girls entering STEM. Representation matters; you can't be what you can't see. Over the past two years, 40% of our team has been made up of young women. One of my favourite stories is of a young woman who joined us as an intern. We invested in her, and helped her upskill, and by the time she moved on to a larger company, she was earning double and was the most qualified in her team, more so than peers who had started earlier. That's what inclusion looks like: giving people the tools, exposure, and confidence to rise. I also build inclusion into the way we hire, partner, and design our tech. Balancing it all takes discipline, but when your purpose is clear, it becomes part of your rhythm not an extra task. What impact has support from partners like Visa and Standard Chartered Bank had on scaling eFama's solutions? Support from partners like Visa and Standard Chartered Bank has been instrumental in helping us scale eFama's solutions. These partnerships didn't just bring visibility; they brought credibility, which opened doors to new networks, funders, and market opportunities. Through Visa's She's Next programme, we were given a platform to tell our story, showcase our impact, and learn from other women-led ventures across the continent. Standard Chartered, through its Women in Tech accelerator, provided mentorship and resources that helped us sharpen our business model and think bigger. These partners believed in the potential of African-led innovation, and their support has helped us move faster and scale smarter. It's a reminder that when global players back local solutions, real impact follows. Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of agriculture and technology for South Africa's youth? What excites me most is how agriculture is expanding, not replacing the way we've always done things. Traditional farmers' markets, often led by older generations, have played a vital role in feeding communities and sustaining livelihoods for decades. But they have physical limits, limited trading hours, geographic boundaries, and often only a few participants at a time. Digital marketplaces like eFama build on that foundation and take it further. With technology, we can connect hundreds of millions of farmers and buyers across borders, instantly, transparently, and at scale, something no physical market can do. This evolution creates entirely new opportunities for young people. You don't need land or a tractor to be in agriculture anymore. You can code your way in, analyse data, manage logistics, or run precision farming systems from your laptop. And these aren't low-paying roles; tech in agriculture brings globally competitive, high-value careers. For someone like me, who grew up in a village where farming looked like survival, it's inspiring to now be part of a future where farming looks like strategy, innovation, and growth. The future of agriculture includes both tradition and transformation, and the door is wide open for South Africa's youth.
Arabian Business
3 days ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
Sharjah Police processes 1.3mn transactions in 2024
Sharjah Police Headquarters recorded a 97.8 per cent customer happiness rate in 2024 across traffic, criminal, and community services. This milestone reflects the department's ongoing efforts to enhance policing methods and improve the quality of life for residents. Over the course of the year, more than 1.3 million transactions were completed. Customer Happiness Centres maintained efficient service delivery, averaging 59 seconds per transaction with wait times below 33 seconds, demonstrating a strong commitment to responsiveness. View this post on Instagram A post shared by شرطة الشارقة (@shjpolice) 'We are proud of the achievements made during 2024. Statistics show a 12.69 per cent increase in the use of digital channels compared to 2023, reaching 84.37 per cent. This improvement reflects the success of digitising the entire range of services and offering an integrated smart security system available around the clock. The system is designed to be easily accessible and user-friendly, removing the need to visit service centres. This contributes to enhanced performance efficiency and provides an outstanding customer experience that meets societal expectations,' Colonel Dr. Sameh Khamis Al Hilyan, Director of the Strategy and Institutional Excellence Department, said in a statement. These results underscore Sharjah Police's integrated approach, combining digital innovation with effective teamwork to deliver seamless, high-quality services. Continued investment in modern technology remains central to this strategy, supporting the goal of fast, accessible police support for the community.
