Latest news with #RobertPtaszynski
Zawya
12-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
KPMG and Edarat launch strategic partnership to accelerate AI adoption in Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: KPMG, a leading global professional services firm has teamed up with Edarat, the largest independent data center provider in the Middle East and North Africa region, to drive AI adoption across the Kingdom. The partnership was sealed with an MoU signed in the sidelines of LEAP in Riyadh, the premier technology conference in the region, and marks a significant step toward achieving Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 by positioning it as a global leader in AI innovation. KPMG in recent years has double-downed on its Digital and Innovation advisory services portfolio, particularly in the domain of AI. Its latest venture, Project Emerald AI is a cutting-edge private cloud infrastructure designed to make AI deployment easier and more cost-effective for organizations based in Saudi Arabia. The tool is built to ensure full compliance with local regulations while providing scalability and security, making it an ideal solution for Saudi businesses looking to embrace AI without significant upfront costs. Edarat serves as one of the largest independent data center providers in the MENA region. With a focus on delivering reliable IT infrastructure, Edarat supports critical operations across various industries, ensuring high availability and security for clients' digital needs. KPMG and Edarat are collaborating to address key challenges in AI adoption, by eliminating data residency, cybersecurity, and scalable infrastructure concerns. This partnership aims to accelerate the implementation of AI technologies in the Kingdom while ensuring compliance with the National Data Management Office and other regulators in a low cost and efficient way. 'KPMG is committed to empowering Saudi Arabia with the latest AI technologies to drive economic growth, societal transformation, and turbo-charge the regions intelligent economies. This collaboration with Edarat showcases our joint commitment and considerable investment to scale the AI infrastructure necessary in the Kingdom. With Mazhar Hussain, our AI leader for the region, at the helm of this priority mandate, I am confident this initiative will provide a unique value proposition for our clients, our people and pave the way for an AI-ready future," said Robert Ptaszynski, Partner and Head of Digital and Innovation at KPMG Middle East. From Edarat, Jihad Nehme, Chief Business Development Officer commented: 'We are excited to partner with KPMG in this transformative journey towards AI adoption in Saudi Arabia. At Edarat, we believe that our robust data center facilities and cloud infrastructure is crucial in enabling businesses to harness the power of AI effectively and securely. This collaboration not only strengthens our commitment to providing reliable IT solutions but also aligns with our vision of supporting the Kingdom's ambitions under Vision 2030. Together, we aim to pave the way for a vibrant, innovative future that accelerates economic growth and enhances industry efficiency."
Arab News
09-02-2025
- Business
- Arab News
KPMG highlights Kingdom's progress in digital transformation
KPMG has released its latest annual technology report, 'Beyond the Hype: Balancing Speed, Security, and Value,' providing insights into the Kingdom's digital transformation. Based on a global survey with 2,450 global technology executives — including 70 based in Saudi Arabia — the report explores how organizations adapt to fast-changing technologies, optimize investments, and tackle challenges like technical debt and cybersecurity. A key theme is the fear of missing out, which drives some organizations to adopt emerging technologies rapidly. While urgency is understandable, it carries risks if not guided by evidence-based approaches. 'This year's findings underscore the tremendous progress Saudi Arabia is making in its digital transformation journey, driven by a strategic focus on balancing innovation with resilience. As organizations prioritize emerging technologies like AI and everything-as-a-service, or XaaS, it is clear that evidence-based decision-making and addressing foundational challenges such as technical debt are critical to unlocking long-term value,' said Robert Ptaszynski, partner, head of digital and innovation at KPMG. Organizations in the Kingdom are advancing digital transformation, with 75 percent reporting increased profitability from tech investments in the past 24 months, commonly between 11 percent and 15 percent. This success stems from evidence-based decisions, with 74 percent of leaders calculating tech initiative value before investing. Despite progress, 87 percent of executives are concerned about the pace of technological change, and 93 percent cite leadership risk aversion as a barrier to tech adoption. In 2024, Saudi executives are prioritizing third-party guidance (99 percent) and in-house trials (83 percent) over competitor benchmarking. This reflects a growing focus on emerging technologies like AI, XaaS, and data analytics. XaaS technologies were identified as a top investment priority by 94 percent of respondents, citing agility and cost reduction, while 59 percent highlighted AI, automation, and data analytics. Interest in Web3 technologies is also growing, with 69 percent expressing enthusiasm for innovation. Technical debt remains a critical barrier, with 66 percent of organizations reporting weekly disruptions due to foundational IT flaws. High-performing organizations proactively address technical debt, enabling smoother adoption of emerging technologies. The report warns against fear of missing out, distorting judgment, with 77 percent of executives pursuing technologies like virtual and augmented reality to stay competitive. Encouragingly, more leaders are prioritizing proofs of concept and ROI projections over following the herd. Saudi Arabia leads globally in AI maturity, with 71 percent of respondents seeing productivity improvements from AI investments. However, scaling AI remains a challenge, with only 39 percent successfully deploying AI use cases at scale. Transparency concerns persist, with 87 percent identifying the AI 'black box' as a workforce anxiety factor. Organizations are adopting democratized approaches, with 53 percent encouraging experimentation within structured guardrails. Many plan to centralize AI efforts to ensure efficiency and manage risks. Data maturity has improved significantly, with 77 percent embedding data practices into daily operations. Nearly all respondents (97 percent) view data and analytics as integral to their strategies. Future priorities include leveraging data for competitive advantage, educating employees, and strengthening data management frameworks. KPMG emphasizes that aligning tech investments with strategic objectives, addressing technical debt, embedding cybersecurity, and fostering a data-driven culture are essential for sustainable progress. High-performing organizations globally and in Saudi Arabia are advancing digital transformation by strategically evaluating tech portfolios, optimizing decision-making, and managing risks. As Saudi Arabia embraces the next phase of digital transformation, the KPMG report highlights the importance of balancing speed, security, and value. By aligning tech investments with strategic goals and fostering resilience, Saudi businesses can achieve sustainable growth and keep pace with global innovation.
Arab News
09-02-2025
- Business
- Arab News
KPMG report shows how Saudi Arabia balances innovation, risk in digital transformation
KPMG has released its latest annual technology report, 'Beyond the Hype: Balancing Speed, Security, and Value,' providing insights into the Kingdom's digital transformation. Based on a global survey with 2,450 global technology executives — including 70 based in Saudi Arabia — the report explores how organizations adapt to fast-changing technologies, optimize investments, and tackle challenges like technical debt and cybersecurity. A key theme is the fear of missing out, which drives some organizations to adopt emerging technologies rapidly. While urgency is understandable, it carries risks if not guided by evidence-based approaches. 'This year's findings underscore the tremendous progress Saudi Arabia is making in its digital transformation journey, driven by a strategic focus on balancing innovation with resilience. As organizations prioritize emerging technologies like AI and everything-as-a-service, it is clear that evidence-based decision-making and addressing foundational challenges such as technical debt are critical to unlocking long-term value,' said Robert Ptaszynski, partner, head of digital and innovation at KPMG. Organizations in the Kingdom are advancing digital transformation, with 75 percent reporting increased profitability from tech investments in the past 24 months, commonly between 11 percent and 15 percent. This success stems from evidence-based decisions, with 74 percent of leaders calculating tech initiative value before investing. Despite progress, 87 percent of executives are concerned about the pace of technological change, and 93 percent cite leadership risk aversion as a barrier to tech adoption. In 2024, Saudi executives are prioritizing third-party guidance (99 percent) and in-house trials (83 percent) over competitor benchmarking. This reflects a growing focus on emerging technologies like AI, XaaS, and data analytics. XaaS technologies were identified as a top investment priority by 94 percent of respondents, citing agility and cost reduction, while 59 percent highlighted AI, automation, and data analytics. Interest in Web3 technologies is also growing, with 69 percent expressing enthusiasm for innovation. Technical debt remains a critical barrier, with 66 percent of organizations reporting weekly disruptions due to foundational IT flaws. High-performing organizations proactively address technical debt, enabling smoother adoption of emerging technologies. The report warns against FOMO distorting judgment, with 77 percent of executives pursuing technologies like virtual and augmented reality to stay competitive. Encouragingly, more leaders are prioritizing proofs of concept and ROI projections over following the herd. Saudi Arabia leads globally in AI maturity, with 71 percent of respondents seeing productivity improvements from AI investments. However, scaling AI remains a challenge, with only 39 percent successfully deploying AI use cases at scale. Transparency concerns persist, with 87 percent identifying the AI 'black box' as a workforce anxiety factor. Organizations are adopting democratized approaches, with 53 percent encouraging experimentation within structured guardrails. Many plan to centralize AI efforts to ensure efficiency and manage risks. Data maturity has improved significantly, with 77 percent embedding data practices into daily operations. Nearly all respondents (97 percent) view data and analytics as integral to their strategies. Future priorities include leveraging data for competitive advantage, educating employees, and strengthening data management frameworks. KPMG emphasizes that aligning tech investments with strategic objectives, addressing technical debt, embedding cybersecurity, and fostering a data-driven culture are essential for sustainable progress. High-performing organizations globally and in Saudi Arabia are advancing digital transformation by strategically evaluating tech portfolios, optimizing decision-making, and managing risks. As Saudi Arabia embraces the next phase of digital transformation, the KPMG report highlights the importance of balancing speed, security, and value. By aligning tech investments with strategic goals and fostering resilience, Saudi businesses can achieve sustainable growth and keep pace with global innovation.
