GEC NEWS WIREWhen we hear the word Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) images of exhibitions, busy halls, countless footprints of exhibitors and visitors flash across our minds. It is not every day that you have a candid talk with a master management mind behind all the synchronized operations of the world class exhibitions and events. Anushree Dixit of EC MEA in conversation with Farid Farouq, Head of IT at Dubai World Trade Centre on his role as the charioteer of IT operations at an organization that stands as an epitome of trade and commerce.
“Our definition of smart enterprise is— ensuring the utmost satisfaction of our exhibitors and visitors”
Farid Farouq, Head of IT Dubai World Trade Centre
You have been commanding the regime of IT for over 2 decades now. How do you perceive the evolution?
IT once used to be an altogether different componentof an organisation. IT used to get involved in developing key applications; you had your own data centre to host your data and everything was hosted internally. It was not only an IT house but a development centre as well. Flash forward to the present day— the scenario has changed radically. Today we see a lot of reliance on ready-made applications and a gradual shift from internal development. The evolution has beenfurther fuelled by the ‘Cloud’—you no more need tohostyour applications and it has also minimised the toil that goes into implementation. The expertise that the IT department needs today is very different from the expertise needed 20 years ago.
How has the relationship between CIOs and technology/solution providers evolved with this change?
CIOs are getting closer and closer to technology vendors as we are relying on their solutions;key mission critical applications are also outsourced from external vendors. So we look forward to work with vendors with whom we can establish partnerships as well rather than making it a one or two transactions or anopen and shut deal. The concept of partnership has evolved; it is not just an agreement on a piece of paper or a mere contract anymore.
What is your definition of smart enterprise at DWTC?
Our definition of smart enterprise is ensuring the utmost satisfaction forour exhibitors and visitors. We host a great number of mega events annually such as GITEX Technology Week, Gulf food etc…. welcoming over 2.45 million visitors a year. All the exhibitors use some or the other smart technology to exhibit their products or to make demonstrations, regardless of the event being IT or non-IT. Our responsibility is to ensure that exhibitors achieve the standards that they expect from us and ensure smooth demonstrations. We provide them the connectivity and support to put up a great show all year round. Technology also penetrates in various other areas where we need to guide visitors to their respective exhibition areas or halls. In line with the expectations of the exhibitors, visitors and the technology we are improving greatly YoY.
Playing host to such mega events round the year is an uphill task—especially in terms of ensuring security. In the wave of IoT, how is DWTC fortifying its security gates?
When people used PCs mounted on a stand, the risk was minimum. As technology advances, so does the risk. Our exhibitors and visitors come with a large number of smart devices that are connected to our networks. At this moment, our prime concern is to ensure their security. First we understand the various applications that the exhibitors or visitors use, browse or connect to and then we make sure we have the right solutions in place to protect them. Security is always listed on the top in our strategic projects here at DWTC and we take it very seriously.
And does DWTC have its own BYOD policy in place?
All visitors and exhibitors bring their own device. We don’t have a choice there. But yes, we do have set policies for that as well. No matter how many people connect to our system— our network would not be hampered.
What are your views on cloud adoption? Public, private orhybrid—which one do you vouch for and why?
For me, cloud is a gatewayto achieve my organisations objectives. We are in an era where our choices are numerous butbefore making the choice, one must understand the objective of the business and what the business needs. As IT heads, wescrutinize which of the available solutions will add value to the business. If cloud gives value to my business, I will go for it. It all depends on the nature ofdata I am hosting on it. There is no one- size- fits- all solution for that. The way data is treated depends onthe organisation’sbusiness model, mind-set and management.
How open are you to the idea of entrusting parts of your operations to a third party service provider under the managed services model?
Entrusting your business to a third party is always an option that can be considered. Again, it depends on whether it would add value to my business. We don’t look at it just as a cost saving strategy. It is about adding value to the organisation. Against the widespread belief of the CIOs existence being at stake, I am of the belief that our existence is ALWAYS at stake …but we have to evolve ourselves. We will be able to protect ourselves onlyby evolving. Change is happening around us;we either reject or accept it. Evolution is the key to success.
What’s your strategy of choosing your technology providers or partners? Is it big brands all the way? What determines your selection- brand legacy or innovative technology (irrespective of where it comes from)?
While choosing partners, we look for an organisation that will support usin achieving ourbusiness objectives and one that will provide long term sustainability. Many big brands are our partners, but it is not only big brands all the way. Sometimes, some big brands don’t evolve with time but for small companies—evolutionis the key to sustenance. We are open to and work with smaller organisations as well. Innovation is the most important criteria for us in today’s time. Risks are involved in every partnership but that doesn’t stop us from venturing into them.
What has been your approach to digital transformation? What would you call yourself as- digital resistor, digital explorer, digital player, digital transformer or digital disruptor?
I think our exhibitors should answer this (He smiles). I believe that being an IT head; you don’t fit into any one terminology. Whenever there is a new technology, you have to be an explorer; whenever change is needed you have to be a transformer. Your role changes with the circumstances; but the journey towards a smarter world stays constant.
