In an exclusive interview with Telecom Review, Saud Al Riyami, Chief Business and Wholesale Officer, Ooredoo Oman, shared the company’s multifaceted approach to customer experience, cybersecurity and sustainable economic growth in Oman.
Ooredoo Oman and byanat recently announced a strategic partnership to spearhead digital transformation in Oman. How will this collaboration help enterprise customers inject innovation into their offerings?
Our partnership with byanat aims to empower utility and energy businesses with advanced analytics by leveraging the technical expertise of both parties to deliver meaningful data insights.
By working together, we are solidifying our contribution to, and position within, the utilities and energy sectors, through the strategic use of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and big data. The collaboration promises to revolutionize how these industries approach data-driven decision making.
The benefits, however, extend beyond the utility and energy companies themselves. The consumers who rely on these services will also experience a positive impact. Real-time data on usage will mean that they can make informed decisions about their consumption habits.
Additionally, timely notifications about disruptions will minimize inconvenience and allow for better preparation. This transparency and improved communication will foster a stronger relationship between providers and their customers.
It is an exciting partnership which is ultimately all about driving efficiency, enhancing customer experiences, and fostering a culture of innovation within Omani enterprises.
Also Read: Ooredoo Oman’s Latest Achievement: 5.5G Sets New Fastest Network Speed
How is Ooredoo Oman helping its customers integrate digital experience technologies into their services? Could you cite an example of such projects?
We are dedicated to enabling our customers to seamlessly integrate digital experience technologies into their business operations. By providing comprehensive solutions that include cloud services and IoT applications, we can help them leverage cutting edge tech to personalize customer interactions, streamline operations, and significantly boost sales, thereby enhancing the overall customer experience.
Indeed, we have been a key player in enabling the Internet of Things (IoT) in Oman since 2016. Starting out by partnering with Nama Holding to implement Automated Meter Reading (AMR) using IoT technology, leading to accurate meter readings and eliminating estimated bills for utilities. We also collaborated with the National Energy Center (NEC) and Oman Water and Wastewater Services Company (Diam Hayya) and have installed 450,000+ smart water meters to date, covering Diam's customers.
Ooredoo Group also recently joined the Internet of Things World Alliance—the world's largest mobile network operator (MNO) cooperative—to take connectivity to the next level. After all, the ever-growing world of the Internet of Things (IoT) is all about smart devices other than our phones, which are connected to the internet to add value to our daily lives. These include the water meters mentioned above as well as smartwatches, self-driving and connected vehicles and many more technologies.
Ooredoo became the first telecommunications operator in Oman and the GCC region to join the IoT World Alliance. This follows our entrance into the LoRa Alliance in 2018; a non-profit association that believes the IoT era is now—and so do we.
How is Ooredoo Oman's B2B e-marketplace and business plan supporting impactful business interactions within the SMEs market in Oman?
Our B2B e-marketplace is a game-changer for SMEs in Oman. We have a dedicated eShop for business customers, allowing them to sign up to plans, build their own plans, order devices and more.
Furthermore, we have a dedicated B2B App, which provides a dynamic platform where businesses can conduct transactions and fully manage their accounts easily and efficiently. SMEs benefit from access to a wide range of products, enhanced visibility of their suite of services, and ever expanding functionality to help them thrive in a competitive environment. By fostering a fully connected, digital online business community, we are helping SMEs to grow, innovate, and contribute more robustly to the national economy.
Our business services provide a range of digital services and touchpoints, which helps business to adapt to (and adopt) digital channels for their own transactions, business management and processes. This, alongside our 5G infrastructure to support their connectivity, along with a strong focus on customer experience, means that we are truly ahead of the game when it comes to helping SOHOs and SMEs thrive.
Also Read: Harnessing Technology for National Growth: Ooredoo Oman's 2024 Ambition
As an integrated telecom provider, how does Ooredoo Oman’s support of the digital transformation of business sectors in Oman fall in line with Vision 2040?
We are at the forefront of driving digital transformation in line with Oman Vision 2040. We are investing heavily in state-of-the-art infrastructure and adopting a digital-first approach. Telecoms is the great enabler of any digitally-driven, technologically-advanced society and we are all about innovation.
We have also invested in 5G and fiber to ensure robust and reliable connectivity across the nation, which, in turn, allows us to develop and offer tailored digital solutions that help various sectors, from healthcare to education.
Our initiatives aim to enhance operational efficiencies, foster innovation, and support sustainable economic growth, aligning with the strategic goals of Vision 2040.
Please tell us about Ooredoo Oman's partnership strategy and the benefits it brings to business customers.
We believe in smart partnerships to bring real value to our B2B customers. It’s not only about products, services and connectivity; we must focus on areas such as cybersecurity and data protection, while enhancing national capabilities in these areas. This is particularly pertinent for our business customers and partners.
The expansion of our cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) venture (which supports businesses) has been top of mind. We have also entered a partnership with Trend Micro, a global leader in the field, through which we offer advanced cybersecurity services, which can be seamlessly integrated into Ooredoo's core offerings, ensuring our B2B customers have access to top-tier security solutions.
We have also enhanced our ICT offerings by partnering with leading providers such as Huawei, CISCO and Dell; and, alongside these, a host of indirect sales channel partners to provide value-added services to SMEs. Such partners provide smart solutions to customers who want top-notch technology and services, and also support in digitizing and optimizing certain aspects of their own operations.
Also Read: Ooredoo Oman: Approaching the Customer Experience Journey with a Digital-First Mindset
