Latest news with #DataAI
Zawya
6 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
For big tech, the future in Saudi Arabia lies in nurturing local expertise
Saudi Arabia's accelerated transformation under Vision 2030 is rewriting the rules of business in the Kingdom. In this generational shift, IT is not just an enabler but a cornerstone of progress, at the heart of which lies the powerful nexus of Data & AI, Cloud, and public sector modernisation, fuelled by privatisation and unprecedented government investment. For global technology firms, the opportunity is vast. Yet too many still follow sales-driven playbooks, doing little to build long-term value. Over the past two decades, the trajectory of multinational tech in Saudi Arabia has evolved in phases. Initially, the Kingdom was serviced remotely via regional or global hubs. Following government mandates, companies began establishing physical offices to meet rising demand for IT Services. But today, the stakes have changed. As the Kingdom advances towards Vision 2030, the scale and sophistication of its ambitions demand a deeper, more meaningful commitment. It's one that centres on people and talent. Mamdouh Alolayan, Managing Director for Saudi Arabia at DXC Technology, a leading Fortune 500 global technology services provider, believes the firms that thrive in this next phase will be those that embed themselves in the local fabric. 'Saudi Arabia's workforce is its greatest asset,' Alolayan said. 'Saudi nationals understand the culture, the ambitions, and they're here for the long run. For global tech leaders like DXC that see the Kingdom as a key market, embracing Saudization goes beyond mere compliance, it's a competitive advantage.' DXC advocates a deliberate, three-pronged strategy. The first, and arguably most critical, is to see Saudization as an opportunity to harness the deep knowledge and commitment of local professionals. The company credits its success in the country to a workforce that is nearly 50% Saudi, with females making up 40% of that number. It aims to increase overall Saudization to 60% in the next three years, with a continued emphasis on gender inclusion. 'The leadership of the Kingdom has been very clear that unlocking the potential of Saudi women is key to driving the economy,' Alolayan added. 'Diversity and inclusion is built into our hiring and development strategy, and it helps us to attract and retain the industry's brightest talent.' Another hallmark of companies making an impact in the Kingdom is how they approach the next generation of talent. 'The Kingdom's vision spans decades, so tech firms can't ignore the importance of building generational talent pipelines,' Alolayan said. Graduate programmes and internships have always been part of the playbook, but the most effective ones go beyond basic training and menial tasks. 'We recognise the immense potential of young professionals,' he added. 'And we work to unlock it by aligning their skills to real projects, giving them structured development plans, and pairing them with mentors. Within two months, they're already working on live projects.' DXC's graduate program, for example, has a retention rate of nearly 80%, evidence of how a meaningful first step into the workforce can lead to sustained development and growth. The company also partners with universities such as the University of Business and Technology (UBT) and Taibah Valley to create clear pathways for students, from education to employment, something Alolayan believes all multinationals should prioritise if they want to sustain a strong pipeline of Saudi talent. The third area that still tends to be overlooked by some firms is social impact. Too often, the focus stays narrowly on contracts and delivery, without much thought for how a company can engage with and enrich the wider community. But Vision 2030 is about more than economic KPIs — it's also about improving quality of life for everyone. 'Technology is only as good as the lives it improves,' Alolayan pointed out. 'At DXC, this ethos comes to life in partnerships with organizations such as Saut: The Voice of Down Syndrome Society and Ekhaa, a charitable foundation for Saudi orphans. 'Our commitment to making a meaningful social impact keeps us connected to the communities in which we work and live, and it reminds our people why what we do matters,' he said. For Saudi professionals, this is a moment of unparalleled opportunity. DXC itself is currently looking to hire over 150 Saudi professionals as it expands its presence across the Kingdom. Such investments by Big Tech that align with the government's ambitions to lead global efforts across emerging domains like AI, cloud, and cybersecurity are creating meaningful, high-impact careers. But there's also a note of caution. 'Young Saudis should look carefully at the organisations they choose to join,' Alolayan advised. 'Some still see Saudization as a box to tick, rather than a genuine opportunity to invest in the development of individuals. If you want to grow, seek out a company that will mentor you, develop your skills, and treat you as part of their long-term vision. That's how you build a globally competitive career while contributing to the Kingdom's success story.' For those who join companies with a more rounded, people-centred approach, the payoff is clear. 'As Saudi Arabia's transformation gathers pace,' Alolayan said, 'these professionals will not only witness the Kingdom's transformation, but will also be active contributors in shaping its future.' © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Accenture plc (ACN) and Palantir (PLTR) Partner to Deliver AI Solutions
Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) is one of the 10 Best Dip Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires. On June 30, Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) announced its partnership with Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) to deliver advanced AI-powered solutions to US federal government agencies. As part of the partnership, Accenture Federal Services, which is a subsidiary of Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN), has been named Palantir's preferred implementation partner for deploying its AI platforms to federal customers. Accenture Federal will train and certify 1,000 of its Data & AI professionals on Palantir's Foundry and Artificial Intelligence Platform. The company will also build a large-scale joint delivery team focused on AI automation in government. A team of data experts gathered around a computer monitor analyzing customer data. Some of the initial joint offerings by both companies include Enterprise-to-Edge data fusion, predictive supply chain orchestration, and operationalized financial intelligence. Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) is a leading international professional services company that helps organizations improve their performance. The company operates through key areas including Strategy and Consulting, Technology, Operations, and Industry X. While we acknowledge the potential of ACN as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Accenture plc (ACN) and Palantir (PLTR) Partner to Deliver AI Solutions
Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) is one of the 10 Best Dip Stocks to Buy According to Billionaires. On June 30, Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) announced its partnership with Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) to deliver advanced AI-powered solutions to US federal government agencies. As part of the partnership, Accenture Federal Services, which is a subsidiary of Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN), has been named Palantir's preferred implementation partner for deploying its AI platforms to federal customers. Accenture Federal will train and certify 1,000 of its Data & AI professionals on Palantir's Foundry and Artificial Intelligence Platform. The company will also build a large-scale joint delivery team focused on AI automation in government. A team of data experts gathered around a computer monitor analyzing customer data. Some of the initial joint offerings by both companies include Enterprise-to-Edge data fusion, predictive supply chain orchestration, and operationalized financial intelligence. Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) is a leading international professional services company that helps organizations improve their performance. The company operates through key areas including Strategy and Consulting, Technology, Operations, and Industry X. While we acknowledge the potential of ACN as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money. Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Accenture (ACN) and Palantir (PLTR) Partner to Modernize U.S. Government With AI
Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN) is one of the . On June 30, Palantir, a leading provider of AI systems, and Accenture Federal Services, a U.S. federal technology company and subsidiary of Accenture LLP (NYSE: ACN), announced a landmark strategic partnership to help federal government agencies revolutionize their operations with artificial intelligence. Under the partnership, Accenture Federal has been named a Palantir preferred implementation partner for U.S. federal government customers. The two companies will team up to deploy commercial-grade, AI-powered solutions to US government agencies. Their goal is to improve key operations, make better decisions, and increase operational resilience. The collaboration also includes a partnership between Accenture Federal Services and Palantir to train and certify Accenture Federal's Data & AI team of 1,000 professionals on Palantir Foundry and Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP). This will be done to deliver top-quality automation solutions for the federal government. 'What makes this partnership so uniquely powerful is Accenture's expertise working with the federal government and our ability to bring commercial capabilities to government solutions, combined with Palantir's deep experience in government software. Together, we will harness the ever-growing power of AI to help the federal government succeed in its critical mission to modernize and reinvent its operations—with stronger data flows, transparency and resilience—to better serve warfighters, citizens and all its stakeholders.' -Julie Sweet, chair and CEO of Accenture. While we acknowledge the potential of ACN as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 AI Stocks in the Spotlight and Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Skift
26-06-2025
- Business
- Skift
3 Travel Startup Investors Warn Founders Not to Fall for AI Hype
AI may provide new tools to help solve problems, but that doesn't change what travel tech investors are looking for in startup founders. What do travel investors really think about AI, startups, and the future of travel? In this unscripted Ask Me Anything session, three venture experts answer audience questions – no slides, no pitches, just sharp takes and presumably honest insights. Skift Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit moderated the conversation with Cara Whitehill (vice president, Thayer Investment Partners), Gilad Berenstein (founder, Brook Bay Capital), and Max Niederhofer (partner, Heartcore Capital) at the Skift Data+AI Summit earlier this month. Below are four takeaways from the conversation. Listen to This Podcast Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS 1. Avoid AI Hype. Focus on Solving Real Problems Investors are turned off by pitches that focus too much on AI but lack technical depth or market understanding. Founders need to demonstrate clear insight about the problem, and AI alone is rarely going to solve it. 'It's a tool; it's not a solution,' Whitehill said. 'The things that I look for are founder-market fit,' Whitehill said. 'I want to know that this person is obsessed with the problem — but not necessarily the solution. Because you might have an idea of a particular way to approach this market problem, but once you get into it, you find it's not quite right. They need to be willing to shift gears a little bit to find the right solution.' 2. There Is No 'AI War' Rather than a 'winner-takes-all' AI war, the panel expects multiple players to emerge across niches in travel. Besides large travel players, Berenstein thinks AI creates an opportunity for specialized travel sellers to establish 'clubs' with loyal members. Berenstein: 'I'm really bullish on travel clubs that really understand a specific audience and can put together complete experiences that are passion-based. Maybe the first discovery will go through Google or whatever. But people will become members of these clubs. And then you will have a direct relationship with them.' 3. Potential for Fundamental Change AI has the potential to monumentally change the way the travel industry operates. In the meantime, companies should focus on collecting thorough, clean data. Niederhofer: 'I think there's a chance to change the way this industry works at the infrastructure level. I really would love to see a way where we make the whole industry better, and its underpinnings. There might be a moment where in 10 years we might look back on right now and there's a startup in this room … that actually is rethinking some of the assumptions that we're making about the incumbents, and I include Google in that.' 4. Today's Household Names May Become Obsolete The biggest winners in prior industry-transforming tech revolutions often came onto the scene later in the process, building upon knowledge from the first waves of new companies. Startups based on the future of agentic AI could disintermediate search engines like Google or online travel agencies — if they offer real value to travelers and suppliers. That's assuming that online travel agencies don't reimagine themselves with the times, which they aim to do. Berenstein: 'The key value of the OTA is that you don't have to go to 37 websites to look at all the hotel websites. But if your AI assistant is willing to go to 37 websites for you, then all of a sudden the value of the OTA goes away. The commission can be used to reduce my price, to give me a benefit, to increase the margin for the hotel.'
