Vela Systems Signs Pact With CMCS

Vela Systems, a supplier of mobile software for the Architectural Services Industry in the US, has signed a distribution agreement with Collaboration Management and Control Solutions (CMCS) for its Vela Software Suite. CMCS will introduce a better way of managing construction projects by offering Vela Software Suite across all its distribution points in the Middle East.

Vela Systems mobile software streamlines and accelerates the field administration processes in construction, capital projects and capital equipment management. Vela fundamentally changes the work flow and activities on construction sites — replacing pencil and paper and tubes of drawings with tablet-based work flow and drawing mark-up applications.

“Vela’s construction software suite is an ideal business software for this fast growing Middle East market,” said Bassam Samman, CEO of CMCS. “While this robust software improves the productivity of mobile employees and project efficiency, it also provides a smart and innovative solution to enhance client service level by instantly updating them at every project step. With this partnership we hope to develop the quality standards of the region’s booming construction industry.”

HP Names New Head for HP Middle East

HP has appointed John Hoonhout as managing director and Technology Solutions Group head of HP Middle East with immediate effect. Hoonhout will report to Ken Willett, vice president and managing director, HP Middle East, Mediterranean, Africa (MEMA). He succeeds Joseph Hanania, who had decided to leave the company earlier this year.

Hoonhout has been acting Technology Solutions Group head since February 2007. Previously he was the Director of Services for HP Middle East and the company stated that he has been instrumental in accelerating HP’s profitable growth in the services business. Before moving to the Middle East region in 2005, Hoonhout held various HP Services business management roles in the South Pacific region.

Hoonhout is a national of New Zealand and holds a BS degree in Computer Science from Waikato University, New Zealand.

SEC at Microsoft Utility Forum

Yahya I. Abdulrahman, VP of ICT at the Saudi Electric Company, recently participated in the Microsoft Utility Forum in Rome. Invited to the forum were 25 large utility customers from across the EMEA region. The goal of the event was to share ideas and best practices based on Microsoft solutions.

The event illustrated how Microsoft IT solutions can be used to benefit utility companies, and ultimately benefit their customers. Effective IT applications are vital at all stages of electricity companies’ lifecycle — from generation, through transmission and to distribution of power. Just two examples discussed at the forum included early warning systems to detect and quickly repair power line outages; and improved customer service tools including online billing; ATM payment; and customer SMS notification.

Presenting at the forum, Abdulrahman explained how SEC’s mainframe IT systems and processes have been transformed from a fragmented to a standardized, uniform platform based on Microsoft and SAP, and how the company is aiming to align its procedures across all departments. He also highlighted SEC’s vision of creating a high-quality, reliable and cost efficient call center based on a Microsoft platform which will improve service for customers across the Kingdom.

“Our participation in the forum was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the IT challenges being faced by other major utility companies across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and to share best practices with these technology leaders,” Abdulrahman commented. “All the delegates exchanged contact details and we’ve created an online forum so that we can continue the conversation and exchange of ideas to help us better utilize Microsoft technologies and innovation in our networks to better serve our customers.”

The SEC vice president went on to speak about Bill Gates’ successful meeting with Ali Saleh Al-Barak, the CEO of Saudi Electric Company, in Riyadh last November and advised that the partnership between the two companies continues to thrive.

Dr. Khaled Al-Dhaher, GM, Microsoft Saudi Arabia, added, “We set up the forum for some of our largest utility customers across the EMEA region to cultivate a collaborative exchange of ideas. Mr. Abdulrahman’s presentation was one of the highlights of the forum, and a real success story for other delegates to see how quickly a large company’s entire IT infrastructure can be transformed for the better to provide an improved and simplified service for the end user.”