Latest news with #governmentservices
The National
24-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Abu Dhabi super app Tamm aims for global expansion
While countries are defining what AI-powered government services could look like, Abu Dhabi has already built it. At the heart of the transformation is Tamm, an AI-powered super app that is setting the global standard for smart, seamless and citizen-first governance. From renewing your car registration to accessing more than 1,000 public and private services with just a few taps, Tamm, led by the Department of Government Enablement -Abu Dhabi, acts as a one-stop shop for government services, including transport, health care, housing and police services. Dr Mohamed Al Askar, director general of Tamm, said the app caters to 3.2 million Abu Dhabi citizens, residents and businesses, who made more than 12.7 million transactions annually, ranging from paying traffic fines to getting marriage licences. "This experience is unique, we would love not just to bring it to the US, we would love to bring it to the whole world." Dr Al Askar told The National. His comments come following praise the app received in the US Senate from Brad Smith, vice chairman and president of Microsoft. "Remember when you had a fender bender in a car and you had to fill out all these forms to get insurance coverage," Mr Smith told a US Senate commerce, science and transport committee hearing. "Now you can do it all, with one AI system, you can use your phone - and by the way, you can do this today in Abu Dhabi. We need to bring it to America," Mr Smith enthused. The word Tamm in Arabic means 'consider it done'. 'Tamm is a mobile application and gateway to more than 1,000 services. It offers one unified and unique customer experience,' Dr Al Askar told The National. Some of Tamm's popular features include certificate attestation, car licence and registration renewal, EID renewal, and utility bill payments, in partnership with companies such as Du, e& and Salik. 'We want to be ahead of the game in the digital age if we consider ourselves as a benchmark of the world. It is simple idea that government is here to serve people and this is the vision of our leadership,' Dr Al Askar added. With Tamm's AI assistant, finding answers to even the most complex government processes has become effortless for customers. The AI assistant, a voice-enabled, intelligent concierge, handles 77 per cent of requests instantly. More than 700,000 users have interacted with the AI-assistant since its launch in October 2024. It learns from user behaviour and scored a 92 per cent customer satisfaction rate as of April. 'It is a unique experience that is not available globally. It is a lifestyle app with time assistant. You can ask questions and interact, finish the service with AI assistant at your fingertips,' Dr Al Askar said. For example, car renewal used to take days, but with Tamm there is no waiting in lines, other than the inspection of the car. The system recommends the right type of insurance policy and synchronises it with registration. The main feature of the app is the pay for all button, meaning you can pay for all bills in just one click. 'This is convenience to the customer that was difficult to do this in the past,' Dr Al Askar said. Ruba Al Hassan, director general of strategic affairs and future foresight, said Tamm has one advanced feature called snap and report, that allows people to report issues across Abu Dhabi. 'People can use the feature to report potholes, traffic light malfunction or road damage by taking a photo and letting the AI assistant in the app handle the rest,' Ms Al Hassan said.
Khaleej Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Paying fines, getting licence in Abu Dhabi: How Tamm simplifies online services
At the heart of Abu Dhabi, the Tamm Factory is revolutionising how over 1,000 public and private services are delivered — conveniently accessible through a single app. As the headquarters of the emirate's unified government services platform, Tamm is redefining the way citizens and residents interact with government. Stepping inside, the layout is anything but conventional. Teams are gathered in circular clusters around their screens, while huge digital dashboards display real-time metrics on user behaviour, technical performance, and customer satisfaction. The atmosphere is alive with energy, just like that of a busy beehive. 'It's kind of like a honey hive,' said Dr Mohamed Al Askar, Director-General of Tamm. 'Each section has its own team, responsible for a core function. This setup lets us be proactive and act quickly —fixing issues in real time and ensuring our customers are not just satisfied, but delighted.' This emphasis on delight over mere satisfaction is central to Tamm's philosophy, noted Ruba Al Hassan, Director General of Strategic Affairs and Future Foresight. Thanks to real-time monitoring, the team can spot and resolve issues before users even report them. That the team does not wait for complaints. "We are more proactive, more integrated with the entire system," Ruba said. 'It's like monitoring a patient with connected medical devices — the doctor sees the data and can take immediate action.' Seamless government services Tamm's journey began in 2005, when UAE President Sheikh Mohamed initiated the first government service centre in Al Dhafra. The goal: spare residents a 250km trip to Abu Dhabi for routine paperwork. Initially a physical one-stop shop, Tamm transitioned to a digital platform following the launch of the emirate's e-government strategy in 2006. What distinguishes Tamm today is the seamless integration of government services, a design philosophy deeply embedded into its tech-driven infrastructure. 'Tamm is all about destroying the barrier between different government entities to provide a seamless experience that is effortless for our customers,' described Dr Al Askar. The workspace itself mirrors this openness — there are no closed doors, only open spaces that encourage collaboration and speed. 'Everybody can talk with each other; you can walk up to anybody here, ask him for something, and things move faster.' AI at the heart of service At the centre of the facility lies an oval-shaped hub: Tamm's AI team, deliberately placed at the heart of operations. 'It was kind of symbolic for us,' said Dr Al Askar. 'We want to emphasise that AI is at the heart (of everything). We design every service from the beginning with AI in mind.' This commitment to AI has attracted international interest. In January, Microsoft President Brad Smith toured the facility. Weeks later, he mentioned Tamm during a US Senate hearing, citing it as a model for tech-powered governance. A Touch of Humanity But for all its technological sophistication, it's the human element that truly sets TAMM apart. One flight up, in a sleek, circular glass room, sits the TAMM Care and Advocacy Team — described by Ruba as 'the soul of the operation.' Unlike conventional call centres, this team acts proactively. 'We created the team about a year and a half ago,' said Dr. Al Askar. 'They reach out before you even ask for help.' Meanwhile, Ruba Al Hassan shared a personal experience that perfectly illustrated Tamm's proactive approach. 'One morning, my husband mentioned I had received a radar ticket,' she recalled. 'Just minutes later, someone from the Tamm Care and Advocacy Team called to inform me that the radar in question appeared to be issuing an unusually high number of tickets. They offered to file an appeal on my behalf." That unexpected act of support, she said, embodied what Tamm strives for: not just meeting expectations, but creating moments of customer delight — a core principle that defines the platform's culture. Intuitive design, inclusive access User experience is another key pillar of Tamm's success. The platform is designed to be visually appealing yet highly intuitive, whether you're tech-savvy or using it for the first time. To report an issue, users simply need to shake their phones. A screenshot is instantly created and submitted. Tamm's AI-powered chatbot, activated via a falcon icon, can answer queries or perform tasks directly. Users always have the option to connect with a human agent. Special care is given to senior citizens and people of determination, who receive priority access and enhanced support. International recognition on the horizon TAMM's innovations have not gone unnoticed. The platform is currently competing for a prestigious United Nations award, standing alongside some of the world's most advanced tech systems. Reflecting on TAMM's evolution, Ruba shared, 'It's taken nearly 20 years to get here, and yet we still feel like we're just beginning.'
Free Malaysia Today
16-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Gobind hopes Sarawak will back state-level data sharing law
Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg with visiting digital minister Gobind Singh Deo at the Tegas digital village in Kuching today. (Ukas pic) PETALING JAYA : Digital minister Gobind Singh Deo is optimistic that Sarawak will back efforts to prepare state laws in line with the newly enforced Data Sharing Act. Gobind said he had discussed the matter with the premier, Abang Johari Openg, and expects a positive outcome soon, The Borneo Post reported. 'However, the premier must first examine the proposal thoroughly,' Gobind said after a visit to Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd. Gobind said he would also speak with other menteris besar and chief ministers to push for similar efforts in their states. He said data sharing between federal and state governments was critical to Putrajaya's goal of integrating all government services under a planned initiative called Malaysia Digital. 'In the past few weeks, I have visited Penang, Selangor and this time Sarawak to see for myself the readiness of the states to implement digital transformation. 'We see that many states have successfully digitised their respective services. Therefore, we now want to establish cooperation so that there is no need to repeat the same process at the central level,' Bernama quoted him as saying.
The National
08-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Microsoft president wants to see US replicate Abu Dhabi's AI efforts
Microsoft's president and vice chairman Brad Smith on Thursday praised Abu Dhabi's AI initiatives and apps, which he said empower residents. "We need to bring it to America," he told a US Senate commerce, science and transport committee hearing, referring to the need for apps that simplify the process of renewing driver licences, reporting potholes, obtaining various forms and other services. "You can do all these things with your phone, by the way and you can do this today in Abu Dhabi." Mr Smith did not specify what app he was referring to, but in February at a UAE event, Charles Lamanna, Microsoft's corporate vice president of business and industry, witnessed how the company's AI products were being used in various UAE-made apps. At one point, he was shown Abu Dhabi's TAMM government services AI assistant, which acts as a one-stop shop for government services including transport, health care, housing and police services. 'We are moving away from large language models to large action models,' Wael AbuRizq, AI and advanced analytics adviser with the Department of Government Enablement, said at the demonstration of the app, which uses Microsoft technology. Mr Lamanna told The National that TAMM's demonstration was among some of the most impressive he had seen in his travels throughout the world. Microsoft has been a proponent of the UAE's AI aspirations in recent years. The company made a $1.5 billion investment in UAE AI and cloud company G42 in 2024, and later announced that it would open its research-based 'AI for Good Lab' in Abu Dhabi, a first in the Middle East. Mr Smith was joined at the Senate hearing by OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, Advanced Micro Devices chief Lisa Su and CoreWeave boss Michael Intrator. US President Donald Trump is preparing to visit the UAE during a trip to the Gulf. On Wednesday, he told reporters that his administration might soon change a controversial chip export policy that some say could stifle AI aspirations in the UAE and other countries in the region. "We might be doing that, and it'll be announced soon," Mr Trump said in the Oval Office. The policy, referred to as the AI diffusion rule, was drafted during the final months of former president Joe Biden's administration as it sought to protect the US lead on AI development by preventing highly powerful central processing units and graphic processing units from being obtained by rival countries, such as China. Under the chip export rules countries would be split into tiers that would determine how many powerful chips and GPUs they could buy. Falling into the first tier and unaffected by the rules are Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan and the UK. Other countries, such as Switzerland, Poland, Greece, Singapore, India, Indonesia, Israel, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, would fall into a second-tier category, making it more difficult – although not impossible – to obtain the chips needed for AI research and development. Microsoft has openly criticised the proposed policy. 'Left unchanged, the Biden rule will give China a strategic advantage in spreading over time its own AI technology, echoing its rapid ascent in 5G telecoms a decade ago,' Mr Smith said in February. 'This tier-two status is undermining one of the essential requirements needed for a business to succeed – namely, confidence by our customers that they will be able to buy from us the AI computing capacity that they will need in the future."
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bristow Group Inc (VTOL) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Challenges with Strategic ...
The offshore energy services segment in Europe experienced a revenue decrease of $4.5 million due to lower utilization in the UK. Working capital uses of $56.4 million were primarily due to increased accounts receivables and costs related to new government services contracts. Revenues decreased by $3 million due to lower utilization in the Fixed Wing operations in Australia and unfavorable foreign exchange rate impacts. US tariffs on steel and aluminum imports have introduced incremental costs and complexity into the supply chain, affecting repairs and maintenance costs. Bristow maintains a strong balance sheet and liquidity position, with available liquidity of approximately $254 million as of March 31, 2025. The government services segment showed increased revenues due to new contracts, such as the Irish Coast Guard contract. The company reported strong financial results for the first quarter and reaffirmed its financial guidance for 2025 and 2026. Bristow Group Inc ( NYSE:VTOL ) achieved its target of zero air accidents in Q1 2025, highlighting its commitment to safety. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript . Cash Flow: Cash used in operating activities was $0.6 million; working capital uses of $56.4 million due to increased accounts receivables and inventory. Revenue: Decreased by $3 million due to lower utilization in Fixed Wing operations in Australia, partially offset by new contracts and government services. Story Continues Q & A Highlights Q: Given the uncertainty in the broader market, why is Bristow Group reaffirming its guidance for 2025 and 2026? A: Christopher Bradshaw, President and CEO, explained that despite macroeconomic challenges, Bristow Group is confident in its guidance due to stable cash flows from government services, the stability of production support activities in offshore energy, and the geographic diversity of its markets. Q: Can you expand on the benefits of the new long-term S-92 agreement with Sikorsky? A: Christopher Bradshaw stated that the agreement provides price visibility and stability for Bristow's global fleet of S-92 helicopters, which supports both search and rescue and offshore energy operations, ensuring better business management. Q: Are there any updates on the advanced air mobility opportunity in Norway? A: Christopher Bradshaw shared that Bristow is part of a project with Avinor and the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority to establish Norway as a test arena for zero and low emission aircraft. Demonstration flights will begin with cargo using Beta Technologies' aircraft, with Bristow as the operator. Q: What is the potential cost exposure in a higher tariff environment for Bristow, given its international operations? A: Christopher Bradshaw noted that while most revenues are generated outside the US, there is some exposure to tariffs on imported aircraft parts. However, this is not expected to materially impact Bristow's financial results. Q: Have there been any changes or improvements in supply chain challenges recently? A: Christopher Bradshaw mentioned that there have been incremental improvements, particularly with the S-92 fleet, although some delays persist across various helicopter components, impacting the broader aviation industry. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
