IT Managed Services & Cloud Adoption Trends in GCC Countries

IT Managed Services & Cloud Adoption Trends in GCC Countries

Today, we delve into the dynamic landscape of IT Managed Services and Cloud Adoption in the GCC countries, backed by concrete statistics that underscore the evolving technological narrative.

Introduction

The GCC region, encompassing economic powerhouses such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, has emerged as a crucible for innovation in recent years. Fueled by a confluence of factors including a robust economy, visionary leadership, and a burgeoning tech-savvy population, the GCC has become a hotbed for growth in the IT sector. At the heart of this expansion is the relentless adoption of cloud technologies and the pursuit of digital transformation initiatives. The GCC countries’ strategic investments in technology infrastructure and a supportive regulatory environment have paved the way for remarkable developments in the IT sector.

Statistics

According to a report by Market Research Future, the GCC Cloud Computing market, valued at $5.65 billion in 2020, is projected to grow at a commendable CAGR of 14.3% from 2021 to 2028, highlighting the region’s commitment to embracing cutting-edge technologies.

1. IT Managed Services Trends:

Elevating Operational Resilience! Recent studies reveal a compelling 55% reduction in IT-related downtime for businesses leveraging Managed Services in GCC countries. This strategic shift not only fortifies system stability but significantly augments overall operational continuity.

2. Cloud Adoption in GCC Countries:

Over 70% of businesses in these countries have migrated a significant portion of their operations to the cloud. This robust adoption ensures heightened data accessibility and fortified security frameworks.

3. Strategic Imperatives:

Strategic alignment yields tangible benefits – a 35% surge in overall operational efficiency and a notable 45% improvement in interdepartmental collaboration. Beyond technology, it’s about cultivating an environment conducive to heightened workflow efficacy.

4. Implementation Strategies:

For those poised for advancement, initiation begins with an exploration of Managed Services to mitigate technological disruptions. Subsequently, orchestrating a seamless transition to the cloud fosters real-time collaboration and secure data storage. These measures, as evidenced by numerical insights, constitute a transformative imperative.

Conclusion

The GCC region is undergoing a Dynamic Transformation in IT Managed Services landscape, with cloud adoption emerging as a pivotal force driving transformation initiatives. To assist Organizations in adopting these trends, ECS offers comprehensive Managed Services Offerings across Oracle (EBS & Fusion) and Salesforce domains.

Understanding the Differences Between the Order-to-Cash and Procure-to-Pay Cycles

In the world of business operations, two essential processes ensure the smooth flow of goods and services: the Order-to-Cash (O2C) cycle and the Procure-to-Pay (P2P) cycle. While they might seem similar at first glance, they serve distinct functions and are vital for different aspects of business transactions. Let’s break down the key differences between these two cycles in a simple and professional manner.

The Order-to-Cash (O2C) Cycle

The Order-to-Cash cycle refers to the complete process of receiving and fulfilling customer orders. Here’s a step-by-step overview of the O2C cycle:

  1. Order Management
  2. Credit Management
  3. Order Fulfillment
  4. Invoicing
  5. Accounts Receivable
  6. Payment Collection
  7. Reporting and Analysis
Procure-to-Pay (P2P) Cycle

The Procure-to-Pay (P2P) Cycle

The Procure-to-Pay cycle, on the other hand, covers the entire process of acquiring and paying for goods and services needed by a business. Here’s a step-by-step overview of the P2P cycle:

  1. Need Identification
  2. Supplier Selection
  3. Purchase Order Creation
  4. Order Receipt
  5. Invoice Verification
  6. Accounts Payable
  7. Payment Processing
  8. Reporting and Analysis

Key Differences Between O2C and P2P

  • Focus:

O2C: Focuses on managing and fulfilling customer orders to generate revenue, i.e. Money is received

P2P: Focuses on procuring goods and services required by the business and managing expenditures, i.e. Money is paid

  • Process Flow:

O2C: Starts with a customer order and ends with payment collection.

P2P: Starts with identifying a business need and ends with payment made to supplier.

  • Departments Involved:

O2C: Sales, Accounts Receivables

P2P: Procurement, Accounts Payables

  • Objective:

O2C: Aims to maximize revenue and ensure customer satisfaction.

P2P: Aims to optimize purchasing costs and ensure timely and accurate payments.

Conclusion

Understanding the differences between the Order-to-Cash and Procure-to-Pay cycles is crucial for efficient business operations. The O2C cycle is centered around generating revenue by managing customer orders, while the P2P cycle is focused on optimizing the procurement process and managing company expenditures. By effectively managing both cycles, businesses can enhance their financial performance, improve customer and supplier relationships, and achieve operational excellence.

IT Managed Services Trends and Cloud Adoption in GCC Countries

IT Managed Services Trends and Cloud Adoption in GCC Countries

Today, we delve into the dynamic landscape of IT Managed Services and Cloud Adoption in the GCC countries, backed by concrete statistics that underscore the evolving technological narrative.

Introduction

The GCC region, encompassing economic powerhouses such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, has emerged as a crucible for innovation in recent years. Fueled by a confluence of factors including a robust economy, visionary leadership, and a burgeoning tech-savvy population, the GCC has become a hotbed for growth in the IT sector. At the heart of this expansion is the relentless adoption of cloud technologies and the pursuit of digital transformation initiatives. The GCC countries’ strategic investments in technology infrastructure and a supportive regulatory environment have paved the way for remarkable developments in the IT sector.

Statistics

According to a report by Market Research Future, the GCC cloud computing market, valued at $5.65 billion in 2020, is projected to grow at a commendable CAGR of 14.3% from 2021 to 2028, highlighting the region’s commitment to embracing cutting-edge technologies.

1. IT Managed Services Trends:

Elevating Operational Resilience! Recent studies reveal a compelling 55% reduction in IT-related downtime for businesses leveraging Managed Services in GCC countries. This strategic shift not only fortifies system stability but significantly augments overall operational continuity.

2. Cloud Adoption in GCC Countries:

Over 70% of businesses in these countries have migrated a significant portion of their operations to the cloud. This robust adoption ensures heightened data accessibility and fortified security frameworks.

3. Strategic Imperatives:

Strategic alignment yields tangible benefits – a 35% surge in overall operational efficiency and a notable 45% improvement in interdepartmental collaboration. Beyond technology, it’s about cultivating an environment conducive to heightened workflow efficacy.

4. Implementation Strategies:

For those poised for advancement, initiation begins with an exploration of Managed Services to mitigate technological disruptions. Subsequently, orchestrating a seamless transition to the cloud fosters real-time collaboration and secure data storage. These measures, as evidenced by numerical insights, constitute a transformative imperative.

Conclusion

The GCC region is undergoing a Dynamic Transformation in IT Managed Services landscape, with cloud adoption emerging as a pivotal force driving transformation initiatives. To assist Organizations in adopting these trends, ECS offers comprehensive Managed Services Offerings across Oracle (EBS & Fusion) and Salesforce domains. For more details on our Services, check here.

cloud migration steps

The Benefits and Limitations of Lift and Shift Cloud Migration

Did you know that you can move your Enterprise Applications to the cloud, keeping them as-is, the way you know, own, have customized and integrated – all while taking advantage of the operational and cost benefits of the cloud.

This is precisely known as the Lift and Shift Cloud Migration – a strategy for moving applications, workloads, and data from on-premises infrastructure to the cloud with minimal changes. For those who are keen on Cloud Adoption, but skeptical on taking the first step, this might be just the right approach that will give you the first hang of cloud operations; while maximizing Application performance, Scalability, Security and minimizing Infrastructure overhead and maintenance costs.

cloud migration steps

Migration Process

1. Assessment: Evaluate current applications, workloads, and infrastructure to identify dependencies and potential migration challenges. Run a comparison of the total cost of ownership (TCO) for running applications in the cloud vs on-premises.

2. Planning: Develop a detailed migration strategy, including timelines, roles, responsibilities, and resources. Identify tools and services needed and establish a communication plan for stakeholders.

3. Replication: Create an exact copy of applications, data, and configurations in the cloud. Ensure data is synchronized to maintain consistency.

4. Migration: Transfer applications and data to the cloud using appropriate tools and services. Monitor the process to address any issues quickly.

5. Testing: Conduct thorough testing, including performance, security, and integration, to ensure applications function correctly in the cloud. Perform user acceptance testing (UAT) to validate functionality and performance.

6. Optimization: Fine-tune applications and infrastructure to leverage cloud capabilities, improving scalability, reliability, and performance.

As we dive deeper into understanding the Lift and Shift Migration approach, it is essential to understand why it could work for you.

Benefits of Lift and Shift Cloud Migration

1. Speed of Migration: Enables rapid deployment, minimizing disruption and allowing quick access to cloud benefits.

2. Cost Savings: All cloud services offer a flexible pay-as-you-Go model which gives you a true sense of optimized and scalable costs and reduces the need for physical hardware; operational expenses.

3. Reduced Risk: Minimizes downtime and failures by migrating applications without significant changes.

4. Immediate Cloud Benefits: With your applications, you can get scalability, availability, and access to cloud-based tools and services, like add-ons.

5. Enhanced Disaster Recovery: Cloud providers offer robust disaster recovery solutions, improving application resilience.

6. Flexibility and Futureproofing: Lays the groundwork for future modernization, allowing scalable and gradual innovation and evolution.

Conclusion

Lift and Shift cloud migration is ideal for organizations with legacy applications that are difficult to modify but need to be moved to the cloud. It’s also beneficial for companies with tight migration timelines or those looking to decommission their data centers quickly. This approach provides a low-risk transition to the cloud, maintaining operational continuity and offering immediate cloud advantages.

For a seamless migration, get in touch with us at [email protected]. We will schedule a discovery call and demonstrate how this could work for you.

Unlocking the Power of AI: A Dive into Oracle's Product Portfolio

Unlocking the Power of AI: A Dive into Oracle’s Product Portfolio

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as the driving force behind innovation in the technology sector, revolutionizing how businesses operate and interact with their customers. Among the trailblazers in AI integration is Oracle, a global technology giant renowned for its diverse product portfolio. In this article, we’ll explore how Oracle has embraced AI and incorporated it into its wide range of products, reshaping the landscape of enterprise technology.

Oracle Autonomous Database: Pioneering AI in Database Management

  • Oracle’s Autonomous Database represents a paradigm shift in database management.
  • Fueled by AI and machine learning, this groundbreaking solution automates routine database tasks, eliminating the need for manual intervention. 
  • It continuously fine-tunes performance, enhances security, and reduces downtime, making it an indispensable tool for businesses relying on data-driven insights.

AI-Infused Oracle Cloud Applications

  • Oracle has strategically embedded AI into its suite of cloud applications, including Oracle Cloud ERP, HCM, and CX.
  • AI augments these applications by automating mundane tasks, enhancing user experiences, and providing predictive analytics.
  • AI-powered chatbots facilitate personalized customer interactions, while analytics-driven insights empower businesses to make data-informed decisions.

Oracle Adaptive Intelligent Apps: Transforming Business Operations

  • Oracle Adaptive Intelligent Apps have brought AI to the forefront of enterprise operations.
  • Seamlessly integrated with Oracle Cloud Applications, these apps offer intelligent capabilities, such as predicting customer behaviors, optimizing supply chain operations, and automating marketing campaigns.
  • By analyzing vast datasets, Oracle’s AI-driven apps empower organizations to proactively respond to market dynamics and customer demands.
Oracle Adaptive Intelligent Apps

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): AI-Driven Cloud Solutions

  • AI is deeply ingrained in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).
  • AI algorithms monitor network traffic to identify and respond to security threats in real-time, ensuring the highest level of security.
  • Additionally, autonomous systems powered by AI optimize resource allocation, delivering cost-efficiency and high availability for organizations operating in the cloud.
AI Services

Oracle AI Platform: Empowering Innovation

  • Oracle’s AI Platform provides data scientists and developers with a robust environment to build, train, and deploy machine learning models.
  • It offers a suite of tools, libraries, and frameworks for creating AI-driven applications tailored to specific business needs.
  • By democratizing AI development, Oracle fosters innovation and empowers organizations to gain a competitive edge.

In conclusion, Oracle has fully embraced AI, seamlessly integrating it into its extensive product portfolio. From revolutionizing database management with the Autonomous Database to infusing AI into cloud applications and empowering innovation through the AI Platform, Oracle is at the forefront of AI adoption.

For more in-depth information, explore the Oracle AI Resources to stay updated on the latest AI developments and offerings from Oracle.

Managed vs Outsourcing Services

Managed vs Outsourcing Services

In today’s business landscape, selecting the right approach to optimise operations is crucial. When considering managed services or outsourcing, it’s essential to understand their distinctions.

This guide will explore the factors to consider, empowering you to make an informed choice that aligns with your business needs. Let’s discover the ideal solution to drive your business forward.

WHAT ARE OUTSOURCING AND MANAGED SERVICES?

Outsourcing means hiring someone from outside the company to do certain tasks or jobs. It’s usually for specific things and focuses on saving money. Managed services, on the other hand, involve hiring someone to take care of a whole area of the company’s operations. It’s a long term partnership where the service provider actively manages and supports that area.

WHICH OPTION IS RIGHT FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

Managed Services and Outsourcing are the key considerations for optimising your business operations. While they share many similarities, there are distinct differences between the two approaches. We’ll explore these differences, helping you make an informed decision to suit your needs.


MANAGED SERVICES

  • SCOPE – Ongoing management and maintenance of specific functions
  • APPROACH – Proactive, focusing on prevention and continuous improvement
  • FOCUS – On core business functions
  • RELATIONSHIP – Long-term partnership

OUTSOURCING SERVICES

  • SCOPE – Contracting out specific tasks or functions
  • APPROACH – Reactive, performing assigned tasks based on client instructions
  • FOCUS – On core competencies
  • RELATIONSHIP – Project-based or short-term engagement

WHAT SERVICES DOES ECS OFFER?

ECS, a global IT consulting company has an extensive covering Managed services, Professional services and Outsourcing. – Our domain expertise pans across verticals such as Oracle, Salesforce, Microsoft and Infrastructure. – With a head count of over 200, our Centre of Excellence (CoE) based in Hyderabad, India can cater to clients all across the globe mainly EMEA, APAC, USCAN. – We provide 100% customisable and flexible solutions on our Managed Services Offerings. You can choose the support model that suits you the best- OFFSHORE, ONSITE or a mix of both. The entire team can be tailored to your needs (Resource Mix, Skill Mix, Duration) the way you need it. Do reach out to know more about our Value Adds provided at no extra cost.

ECS MANAGED SERVICES

INFRASTRUCTURE – ORACLE & MICROSOFT, DATABASE, APEX & LINUX, MIDDLEWARE, ENGINEERED SYSTEMS

ORACLE – ERP, HCM & SCM, FINANCIALS, EPM, CX & TALEO, EBS, JDEDWARDS, FLEXCUBE

MICROSOFT – MICROSOFT .NET, SHAREPOINT

SALESFORCE – SALESFORCE COMMERCE, PARDOT, LIGHTNING

Navigating the Benefits of Oracle Database Managed Services for your Business

Reduced Costs –

Cost is often the main driver behind opting the Managed Services approach. Managing Database footprint through Managed Services providers like ECS, saves an average of 40-70% in IT costs, which could in turn boost your business’ competitiveness.

Gain access to premier DBA expertise –

Ordinarily, companies have 1 DBA, but with ECS onboard you’ll have a whole team of DBA experts. If your database has an issue, it is quite probable that our DBAs has solved the same problem before.

Improved Reliability & Business Continuity –

With a team of DBAs monitoring your environment, you’ll never have to worry about sick leaves, holiday or emergency cover, which will allow you to focus on innovation and the growth of your business.

Proactive Maintenance for Continuous Security –

Database Managed Services can include health checks which automatically run depending on business requirements (weekly, monthly or quarterly, etc.). This can boost your business’s security as it means your database environment is regularly checked and always optimized.

Versatile Deployment Choices –

We understand that every business has its own unique requirements. With Database Managed Services, you have the option to select from offshore, onsite, or hybrid models, customized to fit your budget and operational demands seamlessly.

Unlocking the Power of AI: A Dive into Oracle’s Product Portfolio

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as the driving force behind innovation in the Technology sector, revolutionizing how businesses operate and interact with their Customers. Among the trailblazers in AI integration is Oracle, a Global Technology giant renowned for its diverse product portfolio. In this article, we’ll explore how Oracle has embraced AI and incorporated it into its wide range of products, reshaping the landscape of enterprise technology.

Oracle Autonomous Database: Pioneering AI in Database Management

  • Oracle’s Autonomous Database represents a paradigm shift in database management.
  • Fueled by AI and machine learning, this groundbreaking solution automates routine database tasks, eliminating the need for manual intervention.
  • It continuously fine-tunes performance, enhances security, and reduces downtime, making it an indispensable tool for businesses relying on data-driven insights.

AI-Infused Oracle Cloud Applications

•   Oracle has strategically embedded AI into its suite of cloud applications, including Oracle Cloud ERP, HCM, and CX.

•   AI augments these applications by automating mundane tasks, enhancing user experiences, and providing predictive analytics.

•   AI-powered chatbots facilitate personalized customer interactions, while analytics-driven insights empower businesses to make data-informed decisions.

Oracle Adaptive Intelligent Apps: Transforming Business Operations

•   Oracle Adaptive Intelligent Apps have brought AI to the forefront of enterprise operations.

•   Seamlessly integrated with Oracle Cloud Applications, these apps offer intelligent capabilities, such as predicting customer behaviors, optimizing supply chain operations, and automating marketing campaigns.

•   By analyzing vast datasets, Oracle’s AI-driven apps empower organizations to proactively respond to market dynamics and customer demands.

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI): AI-Driven Cloud Solutions

•   AI is deeply ingrained in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).

•   AI algorithms monitor network traffic to identify and respond to security threats in real-time, ensuring the highest level of security.

•   Additionally, autonomous systems powered by AI optimize resource allocation, delivering cost-efficiency and high availability for organizations operating in the cloud.

Oracle AI Platform: Empowering Innovation

•   Oracle’s AI Platform provides data scientists and developers with a robust environment to build, train, and deploy machine learning models.

•   It offers a suite of tools, libraries, and frameworks for creating AI-driven applications tailored to specific business needs.

•   By democratizing AI development, Oracle fosters innovation and empowers organizations to gain a competitive edge.

In conclusion, Oracle has fully embraced AI, seamlessly integrating it into its extensive product portfolio. From revolutionizing database management with the Autonomous Database to infusing AI into cloud applications and empowering innovation through the AI Platform, Oracle is at the forefront of AI adoption.