Driving change through disruptive technologies and digital transformation

Frost & Sullivan recognises renowned companies in Logistics and Supply Chain among other sectors at a special awards gala ceremony

The Frost & Sullivan initiated and inspired ‘2018 Middle East Best Practices Awards’, the fourth in the continuing series, were recently presented at a glittering ceremony and gala dinner reception hosted at The Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai. In attendance at this by-invitation only occasion were the crème de la crème industry elites, top government officials and professionals.

The annual Awards programme provided a fitting tribute to recognise and honour companies driven by visionary growth, innovation, and leadership, the essential and critical catalysts transforming industries in the future.

This year, a total of 31 Awards were presented including eight in the ‘Transportation & Logistics’ category and the remainder across five other important industry sectors.

These Awards followed a rigorous measurement-based methodology to select recipients in each category. These companies showcased exceptional accomplishments and demonstrated superior performance in areas of leadership, technological innovation, customer service, strategic product development and other parameters.

Official media partner and LogisticsGulf.com (LG) conducted an exclusive interview on the sidelines of this effervescent event with Aroop Zutshi, Global President & Managing Partner, Frost & Sullivan Inc., USA, who especially flew down for this ceremony. The following are excerpts from that interview.

LG: Now in the fourth year since its inception, the Frost & Sullivan initiated and spearheaded ‘Middle East Best Practices Awards’ have become a benchmark for performance by companies in key industry sectors. Briefly, what are the thinking digits (the why) behind the institution of these flagship awards in the first place?

Aroop Zutshi: One of the core and key strengths of Frost & Sullivan is research and as a global corporate institution we put a lot of emphasis on this very vital activity. Research and analyses are our prized assets. From our vantage position we continually examine and monitor megatrends, emerging and disruptive technologies, new business trends, industry convergence, thought leadership and other micro and macro developments across several geographies including the Middle East.

Internationally we harness the services of over 800 trained and competent analysts and experts to track markets and trends and identify the most promising research, innovations, solutions and best practices in a variety of industry sectors and portfolios. More specifically, the ‘Middle East Best Practices Awards’ have been instituted to note, call out and recognise the most prominent service providers, both corporate and individual, of solutions and exemplary performance.

LG: What were the parameters, benchmarks considered when awarding these prestigious awards?

AZ: Our vetting process is very rigourous, intensive and exhaustive. Integrity is our hallmark. We have adequate checks and balances and every entry is carefully sieved and examined. Our in-house, internal experts and analysts go to extraordinary lengths to study and scrutinise every entry and recommendation involved. We then invite a carefully and especially constituted external independent and impartial jury comprising experienced experts and go-to professionals for their observations and analyses and eventual sign-off for the winners.

LG: How meticulous were the procedures, controls, adherence to standards and methodology in the judging process?

AZ: Our methodology is both holistic and thorough. Our processes are clearly defined and have to meet the exacting standards and criteria. The efforts are both individual and composite and we ensure nothing slips through the net. As I mentioned earlier, our work is inspected and ratified by an external jury panel so there is reinforcement of values and principles.

LG: Provide us a snapshot of the 2018 Jury Panel that constituted the ‘think-tank’ for deciding the Awards?

 AZ: The jury we empanelled comprised 11 eminent professionals and individuals with integrity and roots in the industrial community and experts in their respective fields. These typically were thought leaders with vast exposure to the industry and influencers and harbingers of change.

LG: Briefly, what do the Awards mean for the recipients? Beyond the professional recognition and encouragement, what implications do the Awards entail for the awardees?

AZ: By acknowledging and awarding these companies and awardees our purpose is threefold. By recognizing their input, we are making their peers and the wider industry and the community at large aware of their stellar professional contribution and this serves as a considerable boost to their work and reputation.

Secondly, it helps acquire capital and resource to inventors and initiators for their projects especially if there is funding involved thanks to the credibility our awards carry. Finally, it is also a tremendous morale booster to these outstanding winners at a personal level and to their families who can be legitimately proud of their accomplishments.

LG: What do the Awards say about Frost & Sullivan’s involvement in the region and how is the company driving change and sentiment in the region?

AZ: The awards spell trustworthiness and prestige. We have been in the region for a long time and work closely with our constituents to drive change and catapult them to a higher level. We are the drivers of that change through our expertise, experience and keen insights. We are in the region for the long haul.

LG: Specifically with regard to the Automotive-Transportation & Logistics sectors, how does the Middle East stack up vis-à-vis the rest of the world?

 AZ: The Middle East is high up on the totem pole and in many instances on par with the finest in the world as far as automotive, logistics and transportation infrastructure and technology is concerned. Leaders in the region have put their weight behind changes for good through ambitious and radically progressive individual ‘National Visions’ and governments have been at the helm earmarking and allocating enormous budgets to remedy, steer and make the much needed changes happen.

LG: How is the region adapting and adopting new trends and technologies in the automotive, transportation, logistics and supply chain arenas?

AZ: Like several other trade verticals, the logistics and supply chain industry is undergoing a tremendous transformation and all for the better. Sweeping and numerous changes are occurring that is changing the face and landscape of the transportation and mobility segment.

The old system was fraught with inefficiencies and operations at the macro level that can best be characterised as unwieldy. The old school sought to transport goods and make a single operator responsible for deliveries from source to recipient. That is clearly changing now. The composite value chain has been broken into smaller segments, more manageable processes that can be more efficiently operated and easily monitored.

I like to use the phrase ‘death by a 1000 cuts’. This implies that we breakdown the entire process into fractions to allow players leverage technologies and proven, developed efficiencies play their part. This cheaper-better-faster model, when appropriately applied, is a boon to the transportation, logistics and transportation industry.

Take the last-mile-delivery (LMD) as a case in point. No one single operator can today effectively manage the entire transportation on its own. This function can now be outsourced to more nimble, localised players more familiar with neighbourhood locations, indigenous strengths and adequate logistics prowess.

 LG: What opportunities and potential await and what challenges confront the region in this industry segment?

AZ: I foresee multiple opportunities and good potential in this region and internationally as long as the ecosystem, and by that I mean the political ambience, remains stable. As long as we have stability and steadiness and no major uprisings and upheavals, there is promise and profit for the future. That way we can help corporate to offer wise counsel and help our clients grow their business, survive and even thrive.

The challenge is to ensure that there are no big social or political shakeups or disorder. When law and order is maintained, it will lead to progress and growth for all participants.

LG: What are Frost & Sullivan’s vision-goals-objectives for the wider Middle East as an agent and enabler of transformation?

AZ: In the Middle East as with the rest of the world, our corporate philosophy in a nutshell is to have a big impact on planet Earth. So, to this end we work very closely with regional governments, corporate, financial institutions, partners and other multiple stakeholders to deliver value to every customer and citizen through sustainability, conservation as appropriate, an improved lifestyle and thereby the quality of life. That continues to remain our long-term objective.

For the short-term, we continue to work with our constituents, preparing and grooming them for the future. We seek to empower, enable and encourage. I must emphasize, digital transformation is the key, the way forward.

I am happy to report that an increasing number, an overwhelming 90% plus of our customers and corporate clientele and partners are bracing for and embracing the technological and disruptive changes and that is the path to the future. Technologies are being competently harnessed to usher positive and beneficial changes, efficiencies and professionalism. In my opinion, this bodes well for the future in the region.

(Click HERE for the full presentation report and coverage)