THIS ARTICLE IS POWERED BY
-B Swaminathan
As AI is creating a FOMO among the organizations, many tech decision makers are confused on how to use AI for the real world. However, one major concern that is going in the minds of the tech solution providers is that many companies do not understand the need for AI but want a solution.
It is critical to first define the pain point—what exactly needs to be fixed or improved? Without identifying a specific need (e.g., improving customer satisfaction, speeding up processes, or adding market value), selecting the right technology is impossible. Just as a doctor cannot prescribe the correct medicine without knowing the patient’s pain, a company cannot select the right solution without transparently identifying its specific problem. Adopting technology for the sake of technology is no longer a viable strategy. Some of the leading tech solution providers in Gitex 2025 in Dubai share their views on usage of AI, predictions and more.
Muneer Alkubaisi, Founder and CEO, TForce, KSA
When undertaking a major project, such as implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, many companies rely too heavily on their internal IT departments alone. This is often problematic because the IT team may lack the necessary business competency or knowledge of the best market solutions for their industry. To make the correct purchase, companies should engage external experts or consultants who can guide them to the optimal ERP or technology solution that precisely fits the organization’s unique requirements.
For general IT operations, it is often more efficient to separate the core business staff from IT execution. Instead of building large internal IT teams, organizations should treat IT functions as a managed service provided by external vendors. Internal staff can then be restructured to focus on crucial roles like quality management and vendor oversight, ensuring the services meet expectations without unnecessarily increasing operational expenses in non-core areas.
A crucial change is needed among decision-makers and stakeholders: technology must be viewed as an investment and a business enabler, not just an operational expense or a cost center. They must see the long-term strategic value that technology brings to the company’s future.
Measuring ROI and the Digital Journey
The Return on Investment (ROI) for digital transformation is often difficult to calculate purely in financial figures. However, the value is clear when viewing technology as a new business model. Digitalization is not a single project with a finish line; it is a continuous journey requiring a change in mindset across the entire organization.
For example, transitioning from conventional sales to online sales fundamentally alters the business model. This transformation is impossible without digital enablement (e.g., e-commerce platforms), which ultimately leads to reduced operational costs, streamlined support, and increased customer satisfaction. I anticipate two major technology areas driving growth over the next five years:
Artificial Intelligence (AI): For widespread automation across business processes.
Cybersecurity: As the benefits of technology increase, so do the risks. Robust cybersecurity measures will be essential to protect against the challenges of this technology revolution.
A significant challenge I encounter is that many companies adopt new technologies, such as AI, solely due to peer pressure from competitors, without a clear understanding of their own business needs. Adopting technology for the sake of technology is no longer a viable strategy.
Mokhtar Malas, Director [ Sales] , Jawraa
I can tell you that our clients in Saudi Arabia are no longer interested in simply following global trends. There is a decisive focus on customized solutions that directly serve their unique business needs. These must be high-end solutions, leveraging the absolute latest technology. Crucially, the size of the vendor is irrelevant; whether it’s a “Big Five” firm or a niche provider, the only metric that matters is the output. Every project must be delivered and either meet expectations 100% or, ideally, overachieve them.
This brings us to Artificial Intelligence. While AI is clearly the engine of the future, the biggest mistake I see companies make is treating it as a 100% dependency. Over-relying on AI without the necessary human oversight and strategic context will not yield the required project results.
Therefore, for any customer planning to adopt AI, I offer three key suggestions:
Select the Best Fit: Focus on identifying the most suitable solution in the market that solves a precise business problem.
Learn from Experience: Study and learn deeply from previous successful use cases that have been implemented globally.
Maintain Balance: Recognize AI as a powerful enabler, but never depend on it as a total solution.
Looking ahead, my prediction for the next major trend is the powerful convergence of AI with Robotics solutions. That is the combination I expect to see driving innovation next year.
Mohammad Nafe Khalil, eSol Manager, Naseej
Looking at the future of digital transformation, our strategic focus is unequivocally on Artificial Intelligence. We are actively building solutions and continuously enhancing our products to inject powerful AI capabilities directly into them. The demand from our customers is clear: there is a significant appetite to adapt and integrate AI solutions into their day-to-day business operations.
Based on our experience, the early adopters of this AI revolution are the Education and Culture sectors. This is particularly true in Saudi Arabia, where there is immense national focus on cultural heritage and leveraging technology to preserve and enhance it.
However, companies must avoid one major mistake during implementation: lacking a clear vision and well-defined use cases. Most organizations want to adapt AI, but they haven’t clarified what specific pain points the technology should address. This lack of clarity is, in my view, the single biggest challenge today.
While this clarity is currently developing, I remain optimistic. If we look back at the beginning of the initial IT revolution, the needs for software were equally unclear. With time, the market matured and became stronger. I believe the journey with AI will follow a similar path.
