Deepika ChauhanSitecore the global leader in digital experience management software, announced, ahead of Gitex Technology Week, that 88% of IT decision-makers in the Middle East and North Africa have fundamentally changed their customer experiences in response to the pandemic. The research, conducted by YouGov MENA, surveyed more than 650 IT decision-makers across 12 countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Levant, and Egypt.
Furthermore, with the rise in e-commerce, 91% of customers in MENA have become digital converts since the pandemic and want to keep buying everything online. Supporting the Middle East’s customer experience and e-commerce markets, Sitecore will hold its first standalone participation at Gitex under the theme of delivering memorable experiences.
Sitecore will emphasise the rollout of its $1.2 Billion global investment plan and the recent acquisitions of Boxever and Four51 and Moosend. Sitecore will also highlight the integration of the Sitecore Experience Platform and Sitecore artificial intelligence solutions with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotic process automation across websites, apps, and social media.
Overall, the YouGov survey shows that 83% of MENA organisations advanced their marketing technology stack more in 2020 than in the three previous years. Among the top three technologies seeing the strongest take up to improve the customer shopping experience are apps or websites 63%, remembering customers’ shopping history 39%, and giving preferential offers or invitations 35%.
“Middle East brands have accelerated their digital transformation since the pandemic, fueling a turning point in customer experiences, and aligning in-store and digital retail experiences,” said Mohammed Alkhotani, Area Vice President – Middle East and Africa, Sitecore. “Sitecore’s first standalone participation at Gitex presents a vital platform to drive new business, share Middle East innovations with a global audience, get closer to our customers and partners, and exchange best practices with industry thought leaders.”
“Middle East organisations have driven a reinvention of their marketing stack over the past year, and understand the importance of using real-time technologies to personalise customer experiences,” added Mohammed Alkhotani. “With Middle East customers shifting to e-commerce and hybrid retail models, brands that personalise digital marketing campaigns can drive new levels of business competitiveness.”
