Regional businesses must balance automation with human insight: Al Ghurair CEO
John Iossifidis, who has led Al Ghurair as Group CEO since 2020, argued that while autonomous technologies offer speed and scalability, successful businesses require human judgment and creativity, particularly during crises.
'Resilience is not built on automation alone. It is shaped by the judgment, creativity, and empathy of people – traits that are still irreplaceable, especially in moments of crisis,' Iossifidis sais.
The executive's remarks come as regional businesses tussle with supply chain disruptions and economic headwinds, including fallout from recent Middle East conflicts.
Al Ghurair has committed over Dh1 billion ($272 million) to three advanced food processing projects at KEZAD, including what the company says is the region's first starch facility and a large-scale poultry production plant integrated into the Abu Dhabi Food Hub. The AI-enabled sites support the UAE's National Food Security Strategy 2051.
The conglomerate, which operates across foods, development, mobility, infrastructure and property management, has also developed a proprietary app called Buddy's that provides real-time insights to drivers at its Kabi taxi service, formerly known as Cars Taxi.
'Autonomous operations provide the flexibility to scale, pivot, and adapt instantly – but only when guided by human oversight,' Iossifidis said, adding that autonomous solutions should empower workers rather than replace them.
The CEO cited examples of regional leaders successfully implementing technology-human partnerships, including DP World's automation at Jebel Ali Port and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority's smart grid systems.
Iossifidis referenced Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's view that 'Our industry does not respect tradition – it only respects innovation,' and emphasized the need for businesses to embrace this mindset to remain competitive.
Al Ghurair has established Executive and Advanced Leadership Development Programmes to equip employees with skills to adapt to technological changes.
'We are not replacing roles – we are redefining them,' Iossifidis said.
The executive stressed the importance of preparing the region's young workforce for an increasingly automated future, calling it 'an economic imperative.'
Citing leadership expert Simon Sinek, Iossifidis said: 'Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.'
He concluded by referencing author Mark Twain's observation that 'The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why,' emphasizing the need for purpose-driven leadership.
'The organisations that thrive in this uncertain era will be those that embed automation where it enhances performance and invest in people where it matters most,' Iossifidis said.
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