IoT To Drive Middle East’s USD 70Bn Digital Economy

Internet of Things (IoT) will catalyze the Middle East’s USD 70 billion digital contribution to GDP, according to SAP. As per McKinsey, the UAE contribution to that figure is USD 15 billion.

Governments across the Middle East, North Africa, and Southwest Asia are increasingly driving innovative government digital transformation visions to transform lives, from the UAE and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to Kuwait and Egypt, and Pakistan. This is powering the Middle East and Africa’s Internet of Things spend, which is set to grow 20 percent to USD 8 billion in 2017, says IDC.

Across the Middle East, the IoT is already delivering innovative benefits to people’s day-to-day lives. At Gitex, SAP will showcase the ‘Smart Hajj’ concept, which it claims can enhance the journey experience for millions of pilgrims. Organizers can use real-time analytics based on monitoring bracelets, bus GPS locations, and video and environmental data to ensure pilgrims have a seamless end-to-end experience, from the airport to the holy sites.

“According to the new SAP and Oxford Economics Digital Transformation Executive Study, 76 percent of digital transformation leaders invest in the IoT, 70 percent derive significant value – four times higher than non-leaders — and 71 percent better develop talent,” commented Steve Tzikakis, Regional President South Europe, Middle East, and Africa, SAP, the event’s Business Transformation Partner.

“World class digital business competitiveness demands collaboration and co-innovation across all industries. Gitex Technology Week is both an exciting and strategic platform for SAP to showcase transformational cloud business models and exchange innovative IoT best practices with the goal of positively altering citizen experiences and enabling Smart Cities across the entire region,” added Mr Tzikakis.

SAP has also signed a co-innovation IoT partnership with a specialist technology partner, Spectrum, to develop a comprehensive and seamless Digital Hospitality Platform. “With mega-events fever in full swing and all of UAE gearing up towards the realization of the same, our partnership with SAP is a well-timed and extremely exciting one. The core vision of our relationship is to develop a high-end futuristic and particularly interactive Customer Experience Platform, within the next year or two, wherein customers are subject to unique, fun-filled, and seamless experiences on their visit to the United Arab Emirates,” said Ajay Singh Chauhan, Owner, Spectrum Group.

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