As we bid farewell to another transformative year in the realm of technology, let’s rewind the digital tape and relive the moments that have shaped the corporate tech landscape in 2023. Woven with the threads of innovation, resilience, and strategic foresight, businesses navigated the dynamic currents of change to emerge not just unscathed but transformed.
In the maze of ones and zeros that defines digital age, 2023 witnessed the rise of technological trends that cast a profound impact on the way organisations operate and thrive. From the omnipresence of artificial intelligence to the sweeping advancements in sustainable tech, technology was integrated into the fabric of corporate strategies and operations.
A journey through the techscape is incomplete without acknowledging the triumphs and trials that shaped the narrative. We explore some of the initiatives, strategies, and innovations that led to victories in 2023.
Acer
The integration of AI into products like the Acer ebii and Predator Helios 300 SpatialLabs edition showcased the company’s commitment to innovation and enhanced user experiences. The year marked significant milestones for Acer, with a notable return to GITEX Global, showcasing a diverse range of products and expanding into e-mobility solutions, connectivity, purifiers, and power solutions.
Launches like the Enduro M3 router, eco-friendly air purifiers, and the Vero lineup of sustainable laptops highlighted Acer’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. Acer’s Vero concept, integrating post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic into products, showcased a dedication to minimising environmental impact across its portfolio.
Michele Montecchio, Country Manager at Acer Middle East said, “We recognised the increasing importance of sustainability, particularly amongst Generation Z consumers. Responding to this shift, Acer enhanced and widened its eco-friendly Vero line. These products are comprised of at least 30 percent post-consumer recycled materials (PCR).”
Acer’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility manifested in initiatives such as donations, health check-ups, and tree planting, aligning with its corporate values. The Earthion programme and participation in the RE100 initiative underscore Acer’s comprehensive approach to sustainability, aiming for Net Zero by 2050 and sourcing 100 percent renewable electricity by 2035.
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
In 2023, the strategic integration of AI, especially Generative AI (Gen AI), became a cornerstone of AWS’s offerings, empowering users in natural language processing, image generation, and predictive analytics. Emphasising accessibility and ethical use, AWS committed to making AI, including Gen AI, practical, secure, and cost-effective for businesses and the public sector.
Cloud computing witnessed a pivotal integration with AI, exemplified by services like Amazon SageMaker, which made machine learning more accessible, streamlined operations, and fuelled innovation across industries.
In response to evolving cybersecurity threats, AWS integrated AI into security services, enhancing the ability to predict, prevent, and respond to cyber threats. Furthermore, AWS played a crucial role in the commercialisation of space, providing infrastructure that overcame challenges in latency and bandwidth, allowing even smaller organisations to contribute to space missions.
The launch of services such as Amazon Bedrock and partnerships with industry leaders like Abdul Latif Jameel (ALJ) and Core42 highlighted AWS’s commitment to digital transformation. Collaborations with Emirates Airlines brought forth an immersive Extended Reality (iXR) platform, showcasing AWS’s ability to transform traditional industries through advanced cloud-based solutions. Expansion of cloud infrastructure in the Middle East, marked by new data centres in the UAE and Oman, reinforced AWS’s commitment to providing efficient, localised cloud services.
“Throughout 2023, we’ve made significant strides in renewable energy investments, working towards Amazon’s Climate Pledge with the goal of powering our operations with 100 percent renewable energy by 2025 and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement. Our commitment to sustainable energy solutions was a key part of this effort,” said Yasser Hassan, Managing Director of Commercial Sector for Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey (MENAT), AWS.
Ericsson
In 2023, Ericsson embraced the power of Generative AI within its Enterprise Automation and AI operations, focusing on implementing an intelligent assistant, a coding buddy for developers, and GenAI in intelligent search.
“Another one of our major highlights in 2023 is our work in industrialising Open RAN. We are at the forefront of driving the industry in all three areas of Open RAN architectures – cloudification, open management with automation, and open fronthaul. We have deployed over one million radios that are hardware-ready for the next generation of open fronthaul technology. Our support for open fronthaul across Cloud RAN and radio portfolios, set to begin in 2024, will aim to drive the benefits of cloud-based open network architecture across the industry,” said, Zoran Lazarevic, Chief Technology Officer, Ericsson Middle East and Africa.
Ericsson’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility shone through its Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions goal by 2040. The company targeted a 50 percent reduction in value chain emissions by 2030, emphasising energy efficiency, supply chain decarbonisation, and innovative sustainability efforts, including a green bond framework. The company’s diversity and inclusion was evident with a goal of achieving 30 percent women representation at all levels by 2030, backed by initiatives like leadership acceleration programmes. Collaborating with UNICEF to map global school connectivity underscored Ericsson’s commitment to shaping a positive future for school children.
Furthermore, Ericsson’s collaboration with Intel and Hewlett Packard Enterprise resulted in the first Cloud RAN call, accelerating advancements in network capacity, performance, and energy efficiency. The company also achieved a world record for downlink speed at 5.7Gbps and a 5G downlink speed exceeding 13Gbps in collaboration with etisalat by e&.
Logitech
This year, Logitech responded proactively to the evolving landscape of work, recognising the critical need for enhanced employee experience and equity in remote and hybrid environments. Amidst the challenges faced by companies lacking the technological infrastructure for flexible and supportive work arrangements, Logitech integrated its “New Logic of Work” approach. This initiative aimed to create a more productive work-from-anywhere experience, leveraging AI to foster meeting equity.
Logitech’s focus on expanding possibilities for hybrid work was exemplified by the introduction of new products. Rally Bar Huddle addressed the growing demand for video conferencing in collaborative huddle rooms, ensuring clear communication for up to six participants. The integration of AI video intelligence and 4K image quality marked commitment to providing an inclusive meeting experience, regardless of the work location. Logitech Sight, an AI-powered camera, complemented Rally Bar Huddle, offering a comprehensive solution to enhance meeting equity and replicate an in-person meeting experience for remote participants. Beyond the roll out of its latest products, Logitech also made significant strides in its sustainability initiatives.
“Our Social Impact programmes are a crucial element of our sustainability agenda and is founded on three key pillars: Culture, Community, and Customer. Last year, we migrated from Sustainability Reporting to Impact Reporting. This change in terminology and focus is intentional and reflects our commitment to being candid about our impact, as well as the challenges that lie ahead and the progress we are making,” said Loubna Imenchal – Head of Enterprise Business, Africa Middle East Turkey, and Central Asia, Logitech.
In line with this, the company demonstrated environmental responsibility with products like Rally Bar Huddle, which are designed with a minimum of 42 percent certified post-consumer recycled plastic.
Kaspersky
Kaspersky this year utilised the power of AI and human knowledge to effectively detect and counter emerging threats, placing a strong emphasis on ethical AI/ML development principles. The company’s commitment to innovation was underscored by the launch of several key products, including the Managed Detection and Response (MDR) solution in Saudi Arabia, hosted on Alibaba Cloud to comply with data localisation laws.
Significant milestones marked Kaspersky’s global transparency initiative, with the opening of its 10th Transparency Centre in Saudi Arabia and the inauguration of the 11th centre in Rwanda. The company also expanded its footprint in the Middle East through collaborations with educational institutions and cybersecurity councils, such as the Information Technology Institute in Egypt and the cybersecurity council in the UAE.
In response to shifting market demands, Kaspersky observed an increased demand for cybersecurity education and training. Rashed Al Momani, General Manager for Middle East, Kaspersky, said, “We have seen an uptake in cybersecurity education and training since it requires tools to educate employees and keep them ahead of threats. And because sustainable changes in behaviour take time, we’ve built a learning cycle with multiple components to maximise results. It includes motivation, engagement, assessments, learning, and consolidation.”
Oracle
Recognising the multifaceted application of AI in enterprise settings, Oracle developed a comprehensive strategy focusing on three modalities: robust AI infrastructure, user-friendly cloud services, and the integration of generative AI into everyday applications and workflows.
For AI infrastructure, Oracle leveraged its partnership with NVIDIA to provide superclusters, powered by GPUs, offering scalability and ultra-low-latency connectivity. Collaborating with Cohere, a generative AI company, Oracle introduced OCI Generative AI, enabling customers to seamlessly integrate generative AI capabilities into their applications.
Key milestones in 2023 include a $1.5 billion investment in Saudi Arabia. Nick Redshaw, SVP – Tech Cloud, MEA, and UAE Country Leader – Oracle, said, “In February of 2023, we announced an investment of $1.5 billion in Saudi Arabia to boost cloud capacity. Under this investment, we will open a third Oracle Cloud Region in Riyadh. This will join the existing Oracle Cloud Jeddah Region and the planned Oracle Cloud Region to be located in the futuristic city of NEOM. Combined, we will have five cloud regions in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with three already live in Jeddah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi. This is one of the fastest expansions by any major cloud provider in the region.”
With a firm commitment to sustainability, Oracle embedded eco-friendly practices throughout its organisation and value chain. The company’s 2025 sustainability goals include achieving 100 percent renewable energy use, implementing environmental programmes across key suppliers, and reducing water and waste to landfill.
