NWC
Altitude Software, the leading independent global contact center solutions vendor, presented a “Customer Service Excellence” Award to National Water Company (NWC), a Saudi joint stock company fully owned by the government which was established to provide water and wastewater services in accordance with the latest international standards. Mohammed H. Alhamidi, NWC customer service senior manager, received the award at the Altitude MENA Forum 2010 that took place in Dubai on Oct. 10, 2010. Altitude Software’s “Customer Service Excellence” Award aims to encourage and reward organizations that deliver great service and outstanding business performances through business model improvement and technology-based innovation on top of Altitude Software solutions in the MENA region. Commenting on this award, Mohammed H. Alhamidi said: “Receiving this award is a great honor for NWC. It is well-earned tribute to our hard working team and further recognition of our track record for success in providing the highest levels of customer service and water quality.”
EMC
Efficiencies of up to 40 percent in data center costs, reductions of over 70 percent in IT deployment time, effort and cost and expanded access to information and applications are just some of the business benefits enterprises can reap from the adoption of private cloud technologies according to EMC Corporation, the world leader in information infrastructure solutions. Titled “the Journey to the Private Cloud Starts Now,” the road show in Riyadh, provided attendees with the strategic context required to transform IT infrastructures from cost centers into new business and revenue generating growth engines. “Private cloud is a new and better way to organize and manage information technology resources and services and a new and better way for a business to consume them and put them to work. Instead of filling predefined and limited roles, IT resources form a flexible pool that business people and processes can draw upon precisely when and as needed,” Mohammed Amin, EMC vice president and general manager, EMC Turkey, Emerging Africa and Middle East Region said. During the road show, EMC experts and its technology partners said that the challenge for organizations making the shift to private cloud is the alignment of the transformational process with the business objectives of the corporation.
STC
STC has launched SAWA International as part of its efforts to provide the best services and special offers that meet the various demands of its customers, and fulfill their aspirations in receiving the lowest prices for international calls in the Kingdom. “SAWA International” service offers the lowest fare per minute for international calls to the customer’s current and new favorite numbers without restrictions, conditions, or subscription fees. STC’s new service allows making international calls to Egypt, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh at 55 halalas per minute, and will give the opportunity to enjoy 3 months of cheap calls from the date of application for the service. However, the fare will return to its original price of 65 halalas after the end of three months. Meanwhile, STC has released its “most unique and strongest” offer for 2010 through “Win with SAWA” campaign, which will continue for four straight weeks. The campaign is targeting SAWA and LANA customers, and subscribers to *8 service and SAWA visit, which doubles the chances of winning hundreds of gifts including luxury cars, gold and mobile devices. STC has announced the second batch of weekly winners through the “Win with SAWA” offer, where the first prizewinner won a luxurious car, while many others won gold and mobile devices. The second draw resulted in announcing 51 SAWA customers winning valuable prizes, with 50 of them winning the latest mobile devices from Nokia and pure gold coins, and a luxury car.
ALJ
Abdul Latif Jameel Company (ALJ) organized the second draw for 50 winners for its “Win FREE lifetime maintenance from Toyota service ... Yes I want” campaign 2010, recently. ALJ’s Managing Director of Guest Service Operations Lup Hang Wong and Ahmed Mahmoud Farag, senior GM of service marketing, and Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry officials were among those present. The first draw for the first 50 winners was held earlier. The campaign was launched on Aug. 7 and ended on Sept. 30. The campaign gave the opportunity to all service guests who have visited or booked a service appointment with any ALJ service center Kingdomwide to enter in the draw. The two grand prize winners of the campaign got “Free Lifetime Periodic Maintenance Service” for their vehicle.
Ericsson
The growing need for bandwidth and uninterrupted connectivity have unleashed a demand for the adoption of mobile broadband which, in effect, deploys a win-win strategy for all stakeholders. This forecast came out during the sixth annual Telecoms World Middle East forum that serves as a vehicle to explore the latest mobile broadband trends in the telecommunication industry. “Mobile broadband and high-bandwidth connectivity are at the core of revenue generation and telecommunication growth globally. Competition, on the other hand, is the most significant factor that drives growth,” said Anders Lindblad, Ericsson’s president and head of Middle East. Lindblad said: “Increased competition goes hand in hand with meeting the demand for innovative services, high-bandwidth connectivity and the creation of new streams of revenue.” Ericsson was awarded the “Best Network Infrastructure Vendor” — recognition award given to the organization that has shown the greatest foresight in developing innovative and reliable network infrastructure technology. New broadband applications leverage next generation networks or the new IP-based infrastructures. Also, new revenue-generating offerings that focus on entertainment will be the key for the future and, with the rich services that vendors offer operators will be able to focus on growth, expansion and launching new services at lower costs. At the event, Ericsson was awarded the “Best Network Infrastructure Vendor” — recognition award given to the organization that has shown the greatest foresight in developing innovative and reliable network infrastructure technology.
GO
Etihad Atheeb Telecom Co. (GO), described as the first Cloud Telecom in the region, has announced registering and assigning the Arabic domain name for the company’s website. Arabic speaking Internet users can visit the site directly using their native language without using English characters or search engines. Raed Kayal, acting chief executive of GO, said: “The registration of Arabic domain names is the first practical step toward ending the monopoly of English domain names, and a crowning achievement to the efforts of Arab countries claiming the right of users to access the Internet in their native language. “As a Saudi operator, we believe in the importance of preserving the Arabic language and our Arabic identity. Thus, GO has registered two domain names to facilitate access to our website and enable users to take advantage of our various services in Arabic language, which contributes to supporting the spread of Arab culture and content over the Internet, and most importantly, remove all obstacles and the language barriers facing Arab users,” he added. GO is keen to provide Domains using both official company and commercial names in addition to all website features. Users can access the website and subscribe to broadband Internet and voice services directly via the website and home delivery service.
Saudi Customs
Saudi Customs ended the Second Arab Consumer and Brand Protection Forum for the protection of consumers from commercial fraud and counterfeit, as well as the protection of intellectual properties rights, and its accompanying exhibition, the First Arab Forum for Consumer Awareness on Genuine Products where a number of selected private sector companies participated. “We are proud and satisfied of the vital role that we have played over the last decades, as well as its contribution to the establishment of infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia. Such role has imposed a national duty and commitment toward maintaining and securing these national achievements to preserve them in the best possible way that befit the position of the Kingdom in the region in particular and the world in general,” said a representative of Arabian Bemco Contracting Company, which was among a number of selected private firms that participated. He added that Arabian Bemco Contracting Company has been in the forefront the private sector to support the efforts of Saudi Customs and all concerned governmental bodies to fight commercial fraud in all of its forms, levels, and to protect intellectual property in order to protect the consumers and to preserve the excellence and success that our lovely country deserves. He said the company was among those supporting the Kingdom’s development efforts.
Ford Edge
Ford returns to GITEX Technology Week as official automotive partner for the third year straight, featuring yet another “industry-first” technology, MyFord Touch. The latest driver connect technology from Ford debuts on the new 2011 Edge, the GITEX Technology Week official car, which makes its Middle Eastern debut at the show that runs from Oct. 17-21 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center. Powered by SYNC, MyFord Touch redefines how drivers interact with their vehicles, replacing many of the traditional vehicle buttons, knobs and gauges with clear, colorful LCD screens and five-way buttons. The screens can be personalized to display information relevant to each individual driver using a simple button click, voice command or touch screen tap. “Once again, we are presenting a new innovation from Ford that promises a smarter, safer and simpler way to connect drivers with in-car technologies and their digital lives, and GITEX is the perfect platform to debut the latest MyFord Touch technology,” said Theo Benson, Ford Middle East’s regional marketing and product director. “MyFord Touch will pioneer the next-generation vehicle experience for customers around the region as it addresses the infotainment explosion, launching vehicle interiors into the realm of popular personal electronics, such as laptop computers, mobile phones, digital cameras and MP3 players,” added Benson.
KAIA
The continuous training and capabilities development program implemented by the General Authority of Civil Aviation and King Abdulaziz International Airport together with Fraport, the management service provider at KAIA, have reached another milestone. Fraport’s senior customer service expert, Angela Salcines from Frankfurt Airport in Germany, is currently in Jeddah for several weeks to conduct a training program for professional customer service. A total of 60 staff from the North, South, VIP and Royal terminals are taking part in this important training. Three-day courses, taught in small individual groups, cover customer service as well as communication competence and intercultural business skills. Fraport’s expert is utilizing state-of-the-art training methods that have been applied with great success at airports managed by Fraport all over the world. Mazen Khashoggi, director general of KAIA said: “Training of this caliber is of great importance in our determination to upskill our staff and raise the service to the highest level.” Alwalid Al-Ahmari, one of the trainees, said: “We are all proud to be part of the team that is working to raise the bar at our airport. We are grateful to GACA, KAIA and Fraport for giving us this opportunity to improve our skills and capabilities.” By the end of this year, more than 500 KAIA employees will have attended courses in Jeddah on a variety of subjects, while others have been sent for training with Fraport at Frankfurt Airport.
