Latest news with #digital transformation
National Post
17 hours ago
- Business
- National Post
Andersen Consulting Expands Platform with Addition of HTP Group
Article content SAN FRANCISCO — Andersen Consulting continues to expand its consulting capabilities with the addition of collaborating firm Hoffman Talent Partners (HTP Group), an executive search and consulting firm headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. Article content HTP Group helps build impactful leaders for tomorrow's organizations. HTP provides permanent talent through executive search, interim placements, and as-a-service models, along with leadership and IT consulting services. HTP Group operates through three entities: Hightech Partners, which specializes in executive search and leadership consulting for companies active in the area of digital transformation; Hoffman & Associates, which focuses on executive search and interim management across sectors and functions at board and executive-levels; and Ataya & Partners, which focuses on digital governance and provides cybersecurity and data protection consulting. Article content 'Organizations undergoing change require leadership that can keep pace with innovation while maintaining strategic clarity,' said Partners Raffaele Jacovelli and Ineke Arts. 'We provide customized solutions that go beyond recruitment, including executive assessment, and advisory support. Collaborating with Andersen Consulting enables us to contribute to a broader platform focused on delivering high-impact results for clients facing complex transformation challenges in all sectors and industries.' Article content 'HTP Group brings a unique blend of executive search, leadership advisory and cybersecurity capabilities that deepens our ability to support clients navigating change,' said Mark L. Vorsatz, global chairman and CEO of Andersen. 'Their capabilities complement our broader consulting platform and further strengthen the solutions we provide to clients navigating organizational and digital evolution.' Article content Andersen Consulting Article content is a global consulting practice providing a comprehensive suite of services spanning corporate strategy, business, technology, and AI transformation, as well as human capital solutions. Andersen Consulting integrates with the multidimensional service model of Article content , delivering world-class consulting, tax, legal, valuation, global mobility, and advisory expertise on a global platform with more than 20,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 500 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms. Andersen Consulting Holdings LP is a limited partnership and provides consulting solutions through its member firms and collaborating firms around the world. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Gulf Business
a day ago
- Business
- Gulf Business
How Aramex, Sprinklr are reimagining customer experience with AI
Image: Supplied In a major step toward revolutionising digital customer service, Aramex recently expanded its strategic partnership with Sprinklr, the Unified-CXM platform for modern enterprises. The collaboration is designed to deliver AI-powered, seamless customer interactions across more than 65 countries, using advanced tools like Sprinklr's Case Management, Sprinklr Voice, and Conversational AI. Since 2022, Aramex has modernised its customer service framework with AI-driven automation and WhatsApp integration, automating 90 per centof cases and saving over a million agent hours annually. Here, Françoise Russo, chief digital and technology officer at Aramex, and Amjad Al Sabbah, group VP for the Middle East and Africa at Sprinklr, discuss how the partnership is transforming last-mile delivery, enhancing customer satisfaction, and redefining what great service looks like in the AI era. Amjad Al Sabbah, group VP MEA at Sprinklr How does Sprinklr's unified CXM platform uniquely enable global logistics players like Aramex to scale personalised, real-time customer support? Our Unified-CXM platform brings all communication channels and customer data into a single, integrated architecture. For global logistics players like Aramex, this means no more siloed systems — agents and AI bots alike operate from a unified console that handles everything from WhatsApp messages and social media queries to voice calls. Since What are some of the most impactful features of Sprinklr Voice and Conversational AI for enterprise clients? Sprinklr Voice is a cloud-based contact centre that, combined with our Conversational AI, offers smart, seamless customer engagement. For instance, our AI voice bots can carry out human-like, 24/7 conversations to answer common logistics queries — like 'Where is my order?'— without needing an agent. What sets us apart is Sprinklr AI+, which uses generative AI (powered by OpenAI's GPT models) to build intelligent chatbots in days. These bots understand intent, ask clarifying questions, and retrieve data instantly. For live calls or chats, AI assists agents in real time—suggesting next steps or drafting responses. Plus, features like real-time call transcription and sentiment analysis help supervisors intervene when needed, ensuring a higher level of service quality and agent productivity. How is Sprinklr evolving its product roadmap to meet rising expectations in logistics and e-commerce, especially in the Middle East? Today's customers demand real-time updates, proactive communication, and hyper-personalisation, especially in logistics. That's why we're investing heavily in We've also addressed data residency concerns by launching local data hosting in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which is critical for enterprise adoption in this region. Sprinklr is also embedding logistics-specific use cases directly into our platform. Our partnership with Aramex shows how breaking the wall between backend logistics and customer experience leads to stronger outcomes. It's where the industry is headed, and we're proud to be leading that charge. ————————————————————————————————————————— Francoise Russo, CTO at Aramex Aramex has automated 90 per cent of customer service cases and saved over a million agent hours. What impact has this had on customer satisfaction and delivery efficiency? One key example is our Sprinklr WhatsApp BOT, which allows customers to schedule deliveries via a channel that's secure, familiar, and always available. This self-service option lets customers share precise location data and preferred delivery times—dramatically improving first-time delivery success and overall satisfaction. Those million agent hours saved come from deflecting high-volume inquiries—like tracking requests—through AI. This frees up human agents to handle more complex issues with greater care. With AI now central to operations, how does Aramex maintain a human touch in its customer service? AI is here to complement, not replace, human agents. We use AI to summarise cases, suggest context-specific responses, and surface solution options so that agents are more informed and effective. But we also recognise not every case is complex. For simpler queries, the AI bot handles the interaction end-to-end. If escalation is needed, the handover is seamless, ensuring the customer feels understood and valued throughout. As e-commerce grows, what's next for Aramex in digital engagement and innovation? We're expanding AI use to streamline multi-shipment handling within a single conversation, so customers don't need to repeat themselves. Another area of focus is onboarding new customers through conversational AI, helping them access Aramex services with zero friction. We're also looking at enhancing predictive logistics—using AI to anticipate delays or issues and inform the customer proactively. Our goal is to evolve from being a responsive service provider to a predictive and proactive logistics partner.
The Australian
3 days ago
- Business
- The Australian
AI elephant in the boardroom: future workforce is here
There's an elephant in the boardroom. It's not politely waiting for your digital transformation strategy. It's already reshaping how work gets done, who does it, and what 'a job' even means. That elephant is artificial intelligence. While most leaders are fixated on generative tools and productivity boosts, few are confronting the deeper workforce transformation under way. AI is not just a technology shift. It's a workforce reckoning and for many leadership teams, it's still sitting in the too-hard basket. But the future has already arrived. The apprentice model is breaking Our traditional model of career development — learning by doing, gradually gaining experience and judgment — is under threat. Junior roles are often the first to be automated. In law, AI now summarises case law and drafts contracts, work previously done by graduates. In accounting and consulting, it automates reconciliations, analysis, and reporting. If AI does the 'doing,' how do emerging professionals learn? We continue to prepare workers for roles that may soon be obsolete, while under-investing in the capabilities humans will need most in an AI-enabled world: judgment, adaptability, ethical reasoning, creativity and critical thinking. These skills are essential to critique, shape and responsibly integrate AI into our world. Dr Kellie Nuttall is AI Institute Leader at Deloitte Australia Without redesign, we risk a generation of leaders who've never developed the judgment to lead. Doctors, for example, may become passive interpreters of AI diagnostics, unable to navigate the complex decisions patient care demands. This shift isn't limited to medicine or law. Even some of the world's leading AI companies are hiring fewer traditional tech grads. Why? Because the skillset that matters most in an agentic AI world isn't just code — it's systems thinking, strategic reasoning, and the ability to work across disciplines. It's many AIs per role — not one per person A single AI agent may not replace a human job, but a team of agents working together can come close. For example, a marketing co-ordinator role could be handled by five AI agents managing copywriting, campaign scheduling, data reporting, customer segmentation, and workflow orchestration. In finance, AI agents could process sales end-to-end — validating transactions, recording them in accounts, reconciling data, monitoring compliance, and generating reports. We might start the journey with one human worker replaced by a digital one, but behind that 'one' will be an ecosystem of agents. Suddenly, the whole notion of traditional organisational structures needs to be rethought entirely. 'New jobs will emerge' is not a strategy We often hear that, like the Industrial Revolution, new roles will appear. That may be true. But what are they? Who will be qualified for them? How will people be trained to do them? And what's our plan to ensure they're accessible beyond the digitally elite? This isn't just a technology conversation — it's a leadership one. The companies gaining ground aren't just investing in tools. They're empowering business leaders to challenge long-held assumptions, redesign jobs, and reimagine how value is created. If you're serious about leading through this transformation, start by scenario planning for radically different futures, including one where digital labour represents potentially more than 30 per cent of your workforce. The best way to assess your level of preparedness is to ask what your plan is if your current organisational design no longer serves you or what leadership and team structure looks like when AI agents are your middle managers. You might also think about how you could protect and enhance human judgment in the areas where it matters most and how your revenue model will adapt in this new landscape. Once that's accomplished you should look to build a human capability roadmap. Shift your focus from training people to compete with AI to helping them augment it. Invest in creativity, emotional intelligence, complex decision-making, systems thinking – the skills machines can't replicate. Simultaneously, to keep up with the pace of change, you need to go beyond using AI in fragmented ways. Don't just pilot tech — prototype the future of work. Embed AI agents into real workflows. Learn where they shine, where they fail, and what it takes to scale. And don't forget to use AI personally so you truly understand what you're dealing with. Learning by doing is the only way to stay ahead. The AI elephant isn't looming in the distance. It's already sitting at the boardroom table, quietly rewriting your workforce strategy. The organisations that thrive next won't be the ones who talk about AI. They'll be the ones who act with urgency, clarity and imagination. Because if you're not actively reshaping your workforce for this new reality, you're not leading into the future. You're watching it unfold without you. Dr Kellie Nuttall is AI Institute Leader at Deloitte Australia. Stephen Gustafson is CFO Program Leader at Deloitte Australia. - Disclaimer This publication contains general information only and Deloitte is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services. This publication is not a substitute for such professional advice or services, nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. Deloitte shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person who relies on this publication. About Deloitte Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ('DTTL'), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. Please see to learn more. Copyright © 2025 Deloitte Development LLC. All rights reserved. -
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
stc Bahrain lands first Bahraini submarine cable system
MANAMA - stc Bahrain has announced that the 2Africa cable system - Pearls, the world's longest submarine cable, has successfully landed in Bahrain, marking a significant milestone in global connectivity. With a US$205 million investment in 2Africa Pearls submarine cable system, this massive lift up in international connectivity towards Bahrain will reinforce the Kingdom as a powerful ICT hub, speeding up digital transformation across connected countries, attracting significant international investment opportunities, creating jobs and boosting innovation across sectors. Spanning 45,000 km with a massive 180 terabits per second design capacity, the 2Africa submarine cable will enable faster adoption of new technologies and digital solutions, according to the Bahrain News Agency. With the landing of 2Africa Pearls submarine cable system, the cable's massive capacity and low latency will serve as a catalyst for innovation and growth in emerging technologies like 5G, AI, and IoT, providing the essential infrastructure needed to support data-intensive applications and services.
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
HBMSU's Board of Trustees discusses updates to the organizational structure
Dubai, UAE: The Board of Trustees of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University held its fourth meeting for the 2024/2025 academic year, chaired by His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board, and attended by esteemed board members. During the meeting, the Board reviewed the progress of previous decisions and discussed the development of the tasks of its subcommittees to enhance the effectiveness of the Board's work. The proposed organizational structure was also reviewed, aiming to improve operational efficiency and align the administrative framework with the University's new strategic vision—reflecting its growth as a leading destination in smart learning and digital transformation. The Board also approved the final plan regarding the date and venue of the upcoming graduation ceremony. His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer emphasized the importance of keeping pace with rapid developments in smart education and reinforcing the University's position as a global leader in smart learning and innovation. He highlighted the need to adopt artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies within a fully integrated digital learning environment, and to strengthen international partnerships with leading universities and research institutions—enhancing the quality of academic programs and enabling learners to excel globally. He noted that the accelerated global transformations, particularly in the field of technology, require universities to adopt flexible operational models and structures that facilitate faster, data-driven decision-making. His Excellency added: 'This meeting marks an important milestone to assess progress, enhance academic excellence initiatives, and drive digital transformation in alignment with our wise leadership's aspirations for the future of education.' He also reaffirmed the Board's commitment to developing a flexible educational ecosystem powered by AI and advanced technologies, ensuring the sustainability of excellence and strengthening the University's reputation locally and internationally. For his part, His Excellency Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor of the University, stressed the importance of continuing to build effective strategic partnerships and adopting global best practices in higher education. He reaffirmed that innovation and quality remain the two main pillars driving the University's journey toward realizing its future vision.
