< Previous50 edge_november 2023 T he energy accessibility, security and affordability challenges are of critical urgency. The UN predicts that the world population will hit 9.7 billion in 2050, up from 8 billion. This growing population, and along with it a growing middle class, is driving the growth trajectory for products and resources and is largely responsible for the 50 per cent increase in global energy demand by 2050, and the 75 percent increase in electricity demand, that is predicted by the World Energy Outlook Report published by IEA. The collective economic power of countries in the Middle East is expanding, placing strain on infrastructure, resources, and power grids, making it trickier to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and in turn ramping up energy and power demand. At the same time, the Middle East is uniquely positioned to attain a global leadership position in decarbonisation and an orderly energy transition. The manufacturing industry, as a core provider of these critical resources, plays a key role in meeting these requirements sustainably. The role of the sector is becoming ever more important as pressures increase for more aggressive targets to reduce and eliminate CO2 emissions, being called for notably by the UN IPCC in its “Global Stocktake” statement in September 2023. The transition of electricity supply, from renewables and other low-carbon options is a key part of global sustainability strategies. However, to support expanded electrical generation, an estimated investment of over $1 trillion a year in grid capacity By Ron Beck Senior Director, AspenTech Digitalise to decarbonise The global energy demands through sustainable manufacturing and electrification in the Middle East SUSTAINABILITY and capability, distributed renewable generating capacity, transmission and decentralised distribution will be needed. Low carbon intensity of Middle East energy The geology and geography of the Middle East makes Gulf region hydrocarbons the lowest carbon intensity oil and gas globally. In the region, energy opinionedge_november 2023 51 opinion players are enhancing their competitive advantage by employing a combination of strategies, including the electrification of hydrocarbon production and processing, the efficient integration of solar power, and the fusion of solar energy with natural gas, positioning themselves as leaders in low-carbon hydrogen production on a global scale. Additionally, they leverage their competitive edge in solar power and subsurface resources to establish a world-leading position in direct air capture. Digitalisation will be a key strategic tool in achieving best-in-class integration of renewables with hydrogen and electrified assets, and in measuring and providing auditability of the low carbon intensity of Middle East products. This will be crucial in participating in the emerging global carbon markets, with audited and therefore monetised renewables certificates, and in marketing low-carbon and zero-carbon manufactured products, from green steel and green fertilizers to green-end consumer products. An electric future For organisations across sectors including chemicals, mining, conventional and green energy, the lithium battery lifecycle, plus power generation and distribution the move towards electrification is opportunistic. Some of the challenges facing them, however, include the fact that grids must be both expanded and modernised, enabled to rapidly evolve to support distributed (renewable) power and power storage, and become more resilient in the face of cyber threats. More manufacturing and commercial organisations are now decarbonising assets to achieve carbon abatement pledges and utilising electrification (switching steam-driven and hydraulic power to electric wherever possible) as part of that strategy, putting even more pressure on the system. Powerful, flexible and digitalised intelligent grids will connect renewables in an optimised and profitable way to manufacturing power consumers. Sophisticated digitally driven microgrids become a key ingredient, enabling control of critical power needs in localised hubs to ensure vital assets do not suffer unexpected or intermittent shutdowns or brownouts, and to dynamically switch to lowest cost power. Tracing the use of green electricity Many manufacturers globally are implementing digitalisation initiatives to assure traceability and auditability so that they can track the use of renewable power green power and feedstocks content through their value chain and manage, report, audit and communicate the impact on carbon intensity of products. In particular, this is crucial to gaining more access to capital for decarbonisation investment in economically developing regions and auditing results. Investments in renewables and intelligent grids go hand-in-hand with carbon trading and also financial reporting, to monetise decarbonisation efforts. Digital solutions are essential for accurately tracing carbon emissions from renewable sources to industrial end use, calculating and tracking the carbon intensity of finished products produced with renewable energy, and issuing green certificates for low carbon natural gas, hydrogen, and green ammonia. Making the right strategic moves Flexibility and resiliency are the keys to strategic choices. Manufacturers and grid operators have a number of strategic options to invest for advantaged reliability, green content and cost of electricity. Again, advanced digitalised strategy planning solutions, such as the digital solution being collaboratively developed by Saudi Aramco and AspenTech, will be even more important across the region. “The transition of electricity supply, from renewables and other low-carbon options is a key part of global sustainability strategies” Manufacturers embrace sustainability Organisations worldwide adopt digitalisation for renewable power, green content tracking, and carbon impact management52 edge_november 2023 opinion G artner predicted that by 2025, carbon emissions will be a pivotal factor in cloud purchasing decisions, placing significant pressure on hyperscale cloud giants to ensure that their data centres operate in an environmentally responsible manner. As this wave of sustainability sweeps across the globe, two Middle Eastern nations, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, are leading the charge, hosting COP28 and actively engaging in green initiatives. Sustainability is a fundamental element of our future, and the implementation of sustainable cybersecurity practices plays a vital role in preserving the digital ecosystem’s integrity. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have outlined ambitious visions, such as COP28 and the Saudi Green Initiative for sustainability, aiming to reduce carbon emissions, promote renewable energy sources, and embrace a circular economy. These nations understand that sustainable practices are not just about environmental conservation but are essential for long-term economic growth and social well-being. By investing in sustainable technologies, they aspire to become global leaders in sustainable development. One of the fundamental aspects of sustainability is cyber protection. By safeguarding digital assets and preventing cyber threats, organisations can ensure By Ziad Nasr General Manager – Middle East, Acronis The green imperative In the tech sector, it is vital for organisations to develop innovative strategies to address mounting demands and promote sustainability in their operations SUSTAINABILITY the continuity of their operations while minimising the environmental impact caused by cyber incidents. Cyber-attacks have the potential to disrupt critical infrastructures, compromise sensitive data, and result in substantial financial losses. As the technology industry, renowned for its rapid innovation and global influence, strives to establish sustainable operations, it becomes imperative for companies to formulate forward- thinking strategies that can effectively tackle the escalating demands while fostering sustainability. Acronis has adopted a holistic approach, covering all aspects of operations and actively contributing to the overarching goal of sustainability within the technology sector with: • Cyber cloud data centres: We continue to expand our global data centre network, providing partners and customers with a choice of where to store their data in order to ensure regulatory compliance and meet connectivity requirements they may have. With more than 50 data centres in operation, Acronis examines each data centre vendor for energy efficiency and security standards. • Technology consolidation: There are multi-faceted challenges MSPs face to keep their clients’ data secure. With that in mind, we built a platform that unifies multiple solutions, including security, backup, disaster recovery, and endpoint management, to give partners one comprehensive cyber protection solution without the complexity. This approach enables partners to reduce the number of deployed solutions protecting devices, and as a result, improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption. Cybsersecurity is sustainable Securing digital assets limits the environmental impact of cyber incidentsedge_november 2023 53 • MSP academy training: We offer different training and certification programmes to help individuals and MSPs enhance their cybersecurity skills and knowledge, which is essential for protecting and sustaining the modern digital world. In addition to that, Acronis holds regular training courses for employees, children, and community members. • Supplier sustainability: Recognising the importance of sustainability throughout our supply chain, we assess suppliers using a rigorous questionnaire that focuses on ESG aspects. These assessments are aimed at ensuring that moving forward, all vendors would return a respectable score of at least 70 percent. • Promoting sustainable merchandise: Commitment to sustainable merchandise was a pivotal aspect of Acronis’ ESG strategy. When available, Acronis choose to use recyclable materials in its merchandise. This initiative alone saved the environment from the equivalent of 1,826,000 plastic bottles or 21,000 kg (46,000 pounds) of plastic in 2022 alone, reflecting a steadfast dedication to environmental preservation. • Empowering renewable energy: Through the Acronis Cyber Foundation Programme, Acronis actively supports its partners, particularly those in developing countries, in accessing affordable and sustainable energy sources. An exemplary instance of this commitment was the successful installation of solar panels at partner offices in Nigeria. In addition to our environmental initiatives, we are also committed to ethical governance and social responsibility. Acronis places a high emphasis on keeping its employees well-trained and compliant with company policies and ethical guidelines. Acronis also demonstrates its commitment to social responsibility through its numerous initiatives and achievements. For example, we provide humanitarian aid to those in need, supports educational initiatives, and promotes diversity and inclusion within its workforce. Looking ahead, companies are becoming increasingly conscious of their environmental impact when selecting cloud service providers. They are scrutinising factors such as energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, carbon footprint reduction, waste management, and a commitment to ESG principles. Sustainability and technology are now inseparable. Tech companies have a critical role to play in advancing sustainability goals. By establishing and advocating for sustainable operations, caring for the environment, and providing opportunities for staff members, these organisations are poised to make a significant impact. As the world moves towards a more sustainable future, the tech industry has the potential to be a driving force in creating positive change. “Sustainability and technology are now inseparable. Tech companies have a critical role to play in advancing sustainability goals” opinion Prioritising sustainability In the dynamic tech sector, green strategies have become a business imperative54 edge_november 2023 M any innovations in recent history have caused disruptions and revolutionised the way businesses deal with technology. For example, 5G ushered an unprecedented era of connectivity, while the Metaverse introduced VR and AR to many organisations. Increasingly, AI technology has also been disrupting various industries. The Middle East is no stranger to embracing innovations. According to PWC, the Middle East is expected to accrue two percent of the total global benefits of AI in 2030, equivalent to $320 billion. The UAE has already established a national strategy for AI and aims to be a global leader in the sector by 2031. As big believers of embracing new technologies and implementing them in their service offerings, PFU’s scanners utilise Optical Character Recognition (OCR), which has fundamentally transformed how businesses handle documents. By enabling the use of AI to advance technologies, companies will see great growth and a wider implementation of their offerings. AI’s impact on document management today AI has already revolutionised document management. By combining advanced machine learning algorithms and OCR, data capture software interprets text and visual elements within scanned documents. This automation streamlines document handling, reducing the need for manual data entry and enhancing accuracy. The benefits of these innovations are tangible, with organisations experiencing increased efficiency and decreased human errors. Moreover, AI-powered algorithms can analyse By Christophe Laurence EMEA Business Development Director, PFU RICOH How AI is reshaping document management Artificial intelligence has the capability to convert unprocessed data from documents into dynamic visual representations, thereby elevating the comprehension and analysis of data AI content, facilitating document classification and categorisation based on content. This functionality substantially improves document organisation and accessibility, leading to more efficient information retrieval. For example, AI plays a pivotal role in streamlining accounts payable processes by accurately extracting and categorising vital information from invoices, such as supplier details, invoice numbers, dates, and item descriptions. This automation not only enhances efficiency but also reduces errors, demonstrating AI’s power in driving digital transformation and productivity. The future of document management with AI AI’s potential to reshape the future of document management is vast. PFU recognises the importance of utilising AI and is pursuing strategic partnerships with ISVs who hold significant influence in AI and DMS. These partnerships would help accelerate AI integration and can significantly improve workflows. Over the next two to three years, AI is poised to play a significant role in automating content analysis and sentiment processing through workflows. Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a key advancement in this regard. NLP algorithms will enable businesses to categorise documents more efficiently, facilitating enhanced organisational capabilities. This development is crucial for further analysis and data-driven decision-making. Sentiment Analysis, another promising area, allows AI to determine whether textual content expresses a opinionedge_november 2023 55 opinion positive, negative, or neutral sentiment. This capability is particularly valuable for understanding customer feedback, reviews, and social media mentions, allowing businesses to gauge public perception of their products or services. These AI-driven insights will seamlessly integrate into existing business workflows, improving efficiency and responsiveness. As an example, when AI detects negative sentiment in customer emails, the workflow can automatically prioritise and route them to the customer service team for immediate attention. AI’s benefits extend to content analysis and visualisation. It will offer the ability to generate concise summaries from lengthy documents, making it easier for users to grasp key points quickly. This capability will have broad applications across industries, such as condensing complex contracts in the legal field, simplifying patient records in healthcare, and streamlining news articles in the media sector. AI can also transform raw data from documents into interactive visualisations, enhancing data understanding and analysis. Financial analysts can expect simplified financial reports, while marketers will benefit from consumer data simplification. Academics will also find value in AI’s ability to present research findings through visual representations, ultimately empowering better decision-making across sectors. Predictive analysis will also emerge as a valuable asset; by analysing historical document data, AI can forecast trends and insights that inform decision- making processes. Examples include forecasting market trends in finance, predicting disease outbreaks in healthcare, and optimising supply chain management by analysing inventory levels and demand. These applications enable businesses to anticipate trends and make informed decisions, thereby enhancing efficiency and competitiveness. AI is poised to revolutionise document management systems in profound ways. Through the automation of labour-intensive tasks, increased precision, and improved efficiency, AI-driven DMS offers businesses heightened productivity, reduced costs, and enhanced competitiveness. This aligns with PFU’s strategic vision towards elevating organisation productivity through smart, efficient solutions such as PFU’s ScanSnap technologies. As organisations continue to grapple with the challenges of managing extensive data volumes, AI is becoming pivotal in shaping the future of document management systems. By closely monitoring these trends and forecasts, organisations of all sizes can enhance their operational efficiency, productivity, and security, positioning themselves to effectively anticipate and adapt to future challenges. Embracing these AI advancements in document management will keep businesses at the forefront of innovation in the digital age. “Over the next two to three years, AI is poised to play a significant role in automating content analysis and sentiment processing through workflows” Smart customer service AI can detect negative sentiments in emails and route them56 edge_november 2023 brand view By Alain Penel Vice President, Middle East, Turkey & CIS, Fortinet Underscoring AI’s role in cybersecurity, the link between cybersecurity and sustainability, and the growing importance of OT security in an evolving landscape CYBERSECURITY IT trends that will impact the Middle East in 2024edge_november 2023 57 brand view W e recognise the profound impact that cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning will have on enhancing cybersecurity strategies. With the ever-evolving threat landscape, AI-powered technologies are helping us not only predict and prevent cyberattacks but also respond to them in real-time. New developments in AI such as generative engines for example show a lot of promise to various applications in cybersecurity. AI technologies will help organisations to significantly improve productivity, and we believe they can also be scaled to customers in areas such as malware detection, threat hunting, event correlation and automation, as well as assisting networking design and troubleshooting. While it’s been getting more attention recently, Fortinet has been at the forefront of these cutting- edge technologies for years. Our commitment to integrating AI into our Security Fabric empowers organisations to pre-emptively safeguard their networks, data, and critical assets, establishing a robust defence against even the most sophisticated cyber adversaries. In addition to the potential held by AI, we believe there will be an increased link between cybersecurity and sustainability. Living in a digitised world where nearly all critical infrastructure and services are connected to the internet, cybersecurity has become a fundamental element to the sustainability of our society. For instance, attacks such as ransomware and malware targeting organisations don’t just cause severe damage to businesses, affecting financial viability, brand and reputation, and consumer trust; they also impact the customers and consumers who rely on those organisations. Given this potential impact, cybersecurity, alongside issues such as diversity and business ethics, should form part of every business’s sustainability initiative, with the proper measures, processes, tools, and governance in place to ensure that the digital world we all rely on is safe and sustainable. We also expect to see increased convergence of IT and Operational Technology (OT) environments. Undertaking these changes safely and managing the new risks that come alongside them will be a very important focus for organisations in the coming months and years. According to a recent OT survey, 70 percent of OT organisations plan to roll OT security under the CISO in the next year (only nine percent of CISOs oversee it currently), and 62 percent of OT security budgets are being increased. Meanwhile, Westlands Advisory expect the OT market to grow to $33 billion by 2030. It is a highly competitive and fast-growing area as OT systems are increasingly targeted by cyber-attacks. “In addition to the potential held by AI, we believe there will be an increased link between cybersecurity and sustainability” AI in cybersecurity Advanced technologies can help predict, prevent and respond to cyber-attacks in real-time58 edge_november 2023 New cloud on the block G enesys, a global provider of cloud-based and AI-powered experience orchestration, has announced the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as its latest full-service Genesys Cloud CX region. The launch means local businesses facing regulatory compliance and data residency obligations in the UAE and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will be able to keep their sensitive customer data located in-region while moving their contact centres to the cloud. Through its use of the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Middle East (UAE) region, Genesys can soon help local and broader GCC businesses of all sizes and industries leverage the latest AI and Genesys brings improved customer and employee experiences to the UAE and the broader Gulf Cooperation Council CLOUD digital innovations from Genesys Cloud CX. This will allow organisations to deliver faster, smarter, more personalised experiences for customers and employees without compromising security, compliance, and service level needs. An in-country core region comes with the added advantage of being able to remove many of the data residency and latency obstacles that prevent premises-based installations from moving to the cloud. The Genesys full-service cloud region is particularly important to UAE businesses in highly regulated industries such as the public sector, healthcare, telecoms, and financial services, where data residency requirements are stringent. 19 The number of regions offered by Genesys Cloud CX brand viewedge_november 2023 59 brand view By having multiple layers of data safeguards and controls in place, the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of customer data can be maintained. Foreign companies operating in the UAE face a complicated data protection landscape and rigid compliance requirements. The country has both onshore federal and offshore data protection laws, which are specific to the ‘free zones’ such as the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), and Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC). These free zones operate under their own legal frameworks with specific data privacy and security regulations. With ever- multiplying laws, regulations and government policies that require digital information to be stored in a specific country, the location of data centres is increasingly critical. With the company’s use of the Amazon Web Services UAE Region, Genesys Cloud CX will offer 19 regions, including the recently announced Osaka and Singapore regions. This extensive global availability is helping to drive adoption by organisations around the world, demonstrated by over 50 per cent year-over- year revenue growth for the Genesys Cloud CX platform during the second quarter of the company’s fiscal year (May 1- July 31, 2023), compared to the same period in the prior year. Similarly, in the UAE, the Genesys Cloud CX platform has experienced nearly 70 per cent revenue growth over the same period, highlighted by momentum in industries including business services, retail and travel. Much of the company’s success in the UAE stems from a combination of its consultative approach and the power of its all-in-one customer experience solution that combines voice, digital and workforce engagement in one, easy-to-use platform. The platform’s native cloud infrastructure with open APIs allows for rapid innovation, continuous upgrades, and maximum flexibility for organisations to tailor the solution to their industry, customers and business. Genesys maintains a comprehensive set of compliance certifications and attestations aligned with industry best practices, international standards and, where applicable, national legislation. Global and country-specific standards include ISO 27001, SOC 2, AGID, C5, IRAP, FedRAMP, Cyber Essentials, GDPR and more. “As a key player in the international trade arena and a champion of data protection standards, Dubai relies heavily on technology providers to make sure its businesses stay in touch with evolving global security considerations. Genesys Cloud CX helps solve those concerns while orchestrating differentiated customer and employee experiences that exceed the expectations of today’s consumer,” said Olivier Jouve, Chief Product Officer, Genesys. “We have many high-profile UAE and GCC customers as well as numerous exciting opportunities for growth in the region, and our expanded cloud capability marks another major step forward in our continued investment in the region.” Olivier Jouve, Chief Product Officer, Genesys Foreign companies operating in the UAE face a complicated data protection landscape and rigid compliance requirementsNext >