MOBILY reiterated Tuesday its belief that cloud computing can prove transformational for Saudi businesses, and warned that those slow to adapt could risk losing out. “Cloud computing has immense transformational potential for businesses in Saudi Arabia,” said Taher Al Dabbagh, Executive General Manager Alliance Develop & Implementation at Mobily. “Applied with strategy and vision, the benefits of de-coupling from traditional infrastructural constraints and embracing more scalable, flexible and nimble ways of working cannot be underestimated. From SMEs to huge corporations, cloud will clearly inspire new levels of innovation, competitiveness and profitability in the coming years. Late adopters could risk losing out, so it is up to companies like Mobily to raise awareness and help implement the solutions that can really make a difference.” Al Dabbagh's comments follow IDC's recent prediction that spending on cloud services in the Kingdom is expected to increase by 52.9% during 2014. In the MENA region, meanwhile, Gartner estimates that from 2013 to the end of 2017, $3.8bn will be spent on cloud services. According to another report by Cisco Global Cloud Index, the Middle East and Africa region is set to post the world's-strongest cloud traffic growth rate from 17 exabytes in 2012 to 157 exabytes in 2017. MENA's growing receptivity to the benefits of cloud computing is also echoed by the recent uptake of SAP's cloud offerings. Between 2012 and 2013, SAP's cloud deals in the region increased by over 300 per cent Mobily is currently collaborating with SAP to increase business pick-up of cloud solutions across the Kingdom. An agreement signed last year established a framework for Mobily to introduce a host of cutting-edge SAP innovations to its end-users. Key offerings will include SAP BusinessOne in the Cloud (integrated enterprise resource planning for small and medium-sized businesses), SAP HANA in the Cloud (a ground-breaking in-memory computing platform), SAP Managed Mobility as a Service (cloud-based mobility management solutions for the enterprise), SAP Business Application in the Cloud (migration packages to the Mobily Cloud) and Analytics and Database as service (rapidly deployable, easy to integrate business analytical solutions). Earlier this year, Mobily also became one of the first companies in the GCC to achieve certification to host and provide SAP Cloud solutions. The company can now delivers cloud-hosting services across the entire lifecycle of SAP Business Suite applications, including test, development, quality assurance, staging and production. Additionally, Mobily provides enterprise-class cloud services, including assessments, on-boarding, operations and embedded backup and disaster recovery services. “Cloud computing is very much moving from hype to reality in Saudi Arabia,” said Mazen Jabri, Head of Channel and General Business at SAP Saudi Arabia. — SG
