GEC NEWS WIREDo you call yourself a digital organization? If yes, why?
Yes and No. If you ask me the question when my work here is done it will be a definite yes, but at the moment we are still working on our Digital Transformation. As we have multiple business activities, such as road transport, warehousing, fuel farms, turnkey fuel supply operations, shipping owning and chartering, it is obviously a large undertaking to spread this across all business units. What we have done is focused on those business segments that have problems that are best solved through the use of innovative technologies.
What are your top projects for the next 6 months?
I can’t go in to details or specifics as we want to maintain our competitive advantage but having already launched one Blockchain supply chain platform in late 2017 we are already working on two other Blockchain projects – but I am unable to speak further on these at the moment. Other key projects revolve around automated data collection to aid decision making.
What are the key technologies challenges faced by your sector?
I think the biggest issue right now is the pace of change. In the past, you could give your board a 3 to 5 year roadmap for technology. That whole thing has been ripped up. In 6 months from now an innovative technology will appear that we need to make use of that we might not have on our radar today. IT in all sectors has to be completely adaptable to change in a way that was never the case in the past.
What kind of vendor/solution provider engagement do you look forward to in 2018?
I have an open-door policy when it comes to vendors. It is important to have a wide range of vendors to reach out to when problems need solving. On an average week I would have a minimum of 10 meetings with vendors (both existing and new), and even if we are not able to work together in the short term, it is always good to keep a comma, not a full stop to our relationships – in one memorable case I’ve worked with a vendor on Disaster Recovery 4 years after first contact.
To do list for 2018:
My current to do list always hovers between 55 to 65 items. My key item on the to do list is learn to better shut off from work when off duty.
