Anita Joseph caught up with Walid Yehia, Managing Director – UAE at Dell Technologies, to learn more about the challenges faced by enterprises in the region today, especially concerning technology & innovation and how the company is stepping in to offer a fully integrated experience.
What are the main takeaways from the Dell Technologies Forum held last month?
At the Dell Technologies Forum, we showcased our latest, diverse array of products and services. While the level of technical details behind these solutions is extensive, we made a deliberate effort to simplify the information for our audience. This solution exhibition was fueled by the cutting-edge technology that Dell is innovating.
Dell has strategically embraced a wide portfolio as part of its innovation strategy, distinguishing itself from others who opted to streamline their offerings in pursuit of greater focus. This deliberate choice to maintain a diverse range of products has proven beneficial, fostering collaborative innovation across various elements in our portfolio. The market has affirmed that this approach accelerates innovation in a more effective, cost-efficient, and efficient manner, enhancing our relevance. Dell’s commitment to offering choices to customers has been integral to its strategy from the beginning. Recognizing that no single company can provide everything, we aim to be the essential infrastructure provider, a strategy that has yielded positive results. As organizations seek a fully integrated experience, Dell stands out as the sole on-premise infrastructure provider, offering comprehensive solutions, including storage, compute, networking, services, and client workstations. This all-encompassing approach has positioned Dell as the go-to one-stop-shop for AI, whether on-premise or in the cloud.
What are the real challenges faced by enterprises in the region today, especially concerning technology and innovation?
With over 50% of the population below 35 years of age, the challenges, both on the IT and business fronts, are distinctive. On the IT side, the focus is on achieving greater agility and unlocking the value of data within organizations. Talent acquisition poses another hurdle, with a need to address skill set gaps that are pervasive in the IT landscape. While innovation within IT is thriving, there’s a simultaneous need to strengthen the interlock with the business. The challenge lies in driving business innovation by co-innovating, understanding business needs, priorities, and fostering a collaborative approach. Finding the right balance between IT as a cost center and an innovation hub demands a shift in perspectives. This shift also extends to defining a customer-centric strategy, ensuring financial investment in innovation, and embracing a culture that aligns with the evolving landscape. In navigating these challenges, visionary leadership plays a crucial role in reshaping mindsets. These leaders contribute to the strength and resilience needed for success.
Reflecting on the Dell Technologies Forum, how did it contribute to addressing these challenges?
The customer panel at the forum showcased advanced thinking and generative AI use cases, particularly in healthcare, government, and policing. The collaboration among different organizations on stage was remarkable, highlighting the early phases of generative AI adoption and the need for shared learning. The event emphasized the criticality of staying abreast of technological transformations, and the collaboration showcased the trend of different yet related organizations working together to achieve breakthroughs.
Looking ahead to 2024, what opportunities and advancements can we expect from Dell Technologies?
Technology is capable of going much further than where we are today. But what I’m really looking forward to is more engagement from our customers where they share their business strategies and their objectives with us. A lot of customers think Dell is a technology company, which we are, but we’re also are a technology company that a company that truly understands the value of a business vision and strategy. And our mission is to align technology with the business, not the other way around. So, I would really ask our partners and customers share more insights about your business.
