Toshiba optimistic on 2010

Toshiba Gulf Computer Systems Division is optimistic that the PC business will thrive in FY 2010, especially for the Middle East market. “Several market indicators signal that the notebook business will see stronger growth this year. Having seen a marginal increase in sales from the previous period, the Middle East PC industry is expected to grow over 25 percent across the region for this year,” said Toshiba’s Regional GM Santosh Varghese. Toshiba believes that new products and Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system will drive sales. New PC form factors coming to the market include smartbooks — a class of mobile device that combines the features of both a smartphone and netbook, and ultra low voltage (ULV) thin and light notebooks. “The new form factor of laptops from 13.3” to 16” is figured to become in demand for the mobile computing-driven market in the Gulf,” Varghese pointed out. For Toshiba, sustained growth and profitability are fundamental in keeping the business sound during current market conditions. Toshiba has over 22 percent market share in the consumer segment across the region, and has seen over 15 percent growth in regional sales.

Emerging markets big tech buyers

According to IDC, the world’s emerging markets are set to spearhead a recovery in global IT expenditure in the coming years, with the Middle East and Africa (MEA) leading the way. IDC’s research shows that IT spending in emerging markets is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3 percent through 2012, compared to just 2.5 percent for the world’s developed markets. The Middle East and Africa (MEA) will be the top region, with IDC forecasting year-on-year IT spending growth for the region of 11 percent in 2010. While the region accounted for only six percent of global ICT expenditure in 2009, it will be responsible for 17 percent of the world’s net new expenditure over the coming two years. “The UAE stands out as a key hub in the Middle Eastern and Africa region,” said Jyoti Lalchandani, VP and regional managing director, IDC Middle East, Africa, and Turkey. The UAE leads all the Middle Eastern and African countries with $983 in IT spending per capita. It is forecast to spend $4.79bn on IT this year, an increase of 12.4 per cent on last year. IDC also sees that significant IT spending will take place in Saudi Arabia and Qatar as well. As a result of the global credit crisis, regional spending fell last year by about 5 percent to $44bn, Lalchandani advised. But with rising consumer sentiment and demand for new public-sector infrastructure projects emerging in the fourth quarter of last year, technology spending appears to be on the rebound.

Saudi Post reducing operating costs

Saudi Post has opted for the Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF) to improve business efficiency and lower overall operating costs. The MOF is currently being used for service desk improvements and the operation of Saudi Post’s Data Center/Network Operations Center (NOC) which enables enhanced communication between Saudi Post and its customers. Additionally, the MOF framework helped Saudi Post increase productivity by 25 percent, and improve first line incident resolution rates from 23 percent to over 60 percent. “MOF helped us create the right team structure, clear roles and responsibilities for every team member, the right mission for the NOC and the right processes for systems and applications for the production environment. Furthermore, we envision proactivly preventing 80 percent of major IT service failures and resolving any issues within 24 hours, if they happen,” said Majed Al-Esmail, CIO, Saudi Post. “A primary benefit gained was that we were able to use our existing tools and resources to implement MOF best practices and achieve our service level targets,” added Abdullah Alqushaish, GM, IT Department, Saudi Post. “The NOC continual service improvement plan (SIP) was designed in such a way that allows Saudi Post culture to gradually absorb these service and measurement culture changes,” said Khalid Hakim, IT Operations Consulting Lead, Microsoft Saudi Arabia. “The SIP program has made a positive impact on the most tangible business services of Saudi Post. This includes higher reliability and availability of IT services that support Saudi Post business processes and cost reduction due to streamlined operations and more efficient staff utilization.”