In an exclusive interview with Telecom Review, Alberto Delgado, CEO of e& enterprise IoT & AI, shared insights centered around the impact of AI on the region's businesses and the overall economy.
How has the IoT and AI business created value in the past year for the overall business?
IoT and AI are one of the main components of our digital solutions, empowering organizations to extract valuable insights from their data, automate processes, and make informed, data-driven decisions. We harness the power of IoT and AI to analyse and identify patterns, predict outcomes, and optimize operations. This seamless integration of IoT and AI enables smarter urban development, safer cities, enhanced healthcare delivery, modernized government services, and more.
For example, our IoT technologies in smart cities monitor energy consumption, water usage, and traffic patterns, providing city authorities with actionable insights to make informed decisions regarding resource allocation, infrastructure improvements, and traffic management. Similarly, in the healthcare sector, our AI-driven solutions can predict disease outbreaks by analysing health data and historical trends, facilitating early interventions and the efficient allocation of healthcare resources.
We also leverage AI to develop advanced conversational AI solutions that enhance customer support and automate routine tasks, improving customer interactions, reducing response times, and achieving higher customer satisfaction.
IoT and AI synergize to empower our clients to extract maximum value from their data, make informed decisions, streamline operations, and achieve their goals more efficiently. This seamless integration of cutting-edge technologies is the key to unlocking the full potential of digital transformation and enabling organizations to thrive in the modern digital landscape.
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What were your key achievements this past year? How have they contributed to the vision of the company?
In the past year, technologies like AI have left a profound impact and are also transforming industries, which will only grow in the coming years. Thanks to the UAE’s leadership’s vision, this has also supported us in charting out our ambitious plans for AI. In the last year, the country has rolled out multiple digital strategies to establish itself as a global AI powerhouse by 2031 that align seamlessly with the UAE Centennial 2071 vision of fostering a robust knowledge-driven economy.
The impact of AI on the region's economic augmentation is monumental. Projections show that by 2030, AI will infuse a staggering USD 320 billion into the Middle East and North Africa region, predominantly through industrial automation savings. On a global scale, AI's economic contribution is anticipated to hit a massive USD 15.7 trillion.
At a group level, the partnership with Microsoft allowed the exploration and integration of the technology into our services, becoming a powerful tool for improving customer experience and helping businesses provide more personalized customer support. The Engage Converse-AI is another ground-breaking ChatGPT-powered solution that is reshaping customer support and chat interactions.
5G has also supported the growth of technologies like AI and IoT that are expected to have a major impact on the global economy in the coming years. According to a report by McKinsey, IoT could generate up to USD 11.1 trillion in economic value each year by 2025. The Middle East is also expected to see significant growth in the IoT market in the coming years. According to recent reports and studies, the IoT market in the Middle East is expected to grow to USD 42.8 billion by 2028.
The emphasis on IoT by e& enterprise aids governments and businesses in intensifying their endeavours, propelling them toward becoming data-driven and highly automated organizations. By investing in IoT technologies, businesses can improve their efficiency, productivity and profitability. Governments can use IoT to improve the quality of life for their citizens by developing smart cities and smart infrastructure.
Also read: A Leader in MEA: e& Hailed as Fastest-Growing Tech Brand, Most Valuable Brand
A great example is the recent collaboration with Emirates Health Services (EHS) and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) to develop and advance technologies and initiatives to improve the overall customer experience in healthcare and manufacturing. EHS will work with e& enterprise to explore cloud-based enterprise systems and platforms for community health programs, specifically focused on healthcare seekers in the Northern Emirates. Together with e& enterprise, they developed the ‘Digital Clinic’; the aim was to improve access and quality of care through the integration of digital technologies into clinical workflows, evidence-based care and shared decision-making in a sustainable and scalable way.
With ADDED, they will look at Industry 4.0 and sustainable manufacturing as part of efforts to achieve the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy's (ADIS) objectives by adopting technologies like cloud computing, cybersecurity, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to empower manufacturing enterprises in Abu Dhabi.
We are also taking the lead in Industry 4.0, helping manufacturers thrive in the digital age. Our partnership with Maxbyte combines our IoT, AI, and data management expertise with Maxbyte's Industry 4.0 solutions to craft intelligent manufacturing processes that optimize efficiency, reduce waste, and minimize environmental impact.
This collaborative effort aligns with the UAE's Fourth Industrial Revolution Programme, accelerating the manufacturing sector's adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies. We provide our clients with a comprehensive suite of Industry 4.0 solutions that enhance operational efficiency, drive innovation, and shape a smarter, more sustainable future for manufacturing.
Our approach to Industry 4.0 involves developing autonomous solutions that can be readily deployed in manufacturing environments. These solutions encompass IoT sensors, AI-driven analytics, and automation. By collaborating with Maxbyte, we are making Industry 4.0 accessible and practical for manufacturers, allowing them to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.
We empower manufacturers with IoT solutions that connect machines, devices, and systems, enabling real-time data collection and analysis. This data-driven approach enhances visibility into production processes, reduces downtime, and allows for predictive maintenance.
Our contributions to Industry 4.0 encompass IoT and AI solutions that enable data-driven decision-making, automation, predictive maintenance, and sustainability, all of which are vital components of the transformative wave in manufacturing and digitalization.
All these technologies are transforming our lives and making a major impact regionally and globally in the coming years. At e&, we are in a unique position— we can contribute to the future of the region by investing in these technologies and developing new products and services (that leverage them), while creating a more sustainable and greener future.
