As industries rethink how they use technology, the challenge for many companies lies not just in adopting new tools but in ensuring they create real value.
Andrew Hanna, CEO of ZainTech
Andrew Hanna, CEO of ZainTech – the integrated digital solutions provider of Zain Group – offers a unique perspective on this balancing act.
In an interview, with The Fintech Times’ Mark Walker at Gitex Dubai 2024, Hanna discussed how ZainTech is moving beyond its telecommunications roots, focusing on helping clients maximise their technology investments.
As the world grappled with the profound impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, ZainTECH found itself at the forefront of a transformative shift, transitioning from a traditional telco to a technology-driven powerhouse.
Hanna, who joined ZainTECH in March 2021, shared his insights on the company‘s evolution, outlining the importance of adaptability in the face of unprecedented change.
“We had an idea to diversify, to move away from being a telco,” he explained. “But I don’t think anyone had an idea how much of an impact Covid-19 was going to have on businesses and the transformation.”
The pandemic, Hanna noted, accelerated the pace of change, compressing five years’ worth of transformation into just six months. “It gave acceptance to things like remote work, which became normal,” he said, highlighting the crucial role of security and modernisation in navigating this new landscape.
Investments
At the heart of ZainTECH’s mission is the pursuit of value extraction from technology investments. Hanna articulated the company’s proposition: “Technology is everywhere, but value is not. How do we work with you as a customer to extract value from the technology investments you have made, or want to make, or are making at the moment?”
This focus on delivering tangible value sets ZainTECH apart, as Hanna touched on the need to break down complex tasks into manageable steps and work closely with customers to achieve their goals. “We have to look into your infrastructure, your legacy, what you want to do, how you want to do it, where you want to go, and start figuring out, how do we eat the elephant one piece at a time?”
The challenge of cloud adoption is one area where ZainTECH’s expertise shines. Hanna acknowledged the common misconception that simply moving data to the cloud equates to digital transformation. “Just putting a good engine on bad tires, is not going to get you anywhere. And vice versa,” he said, underscoring the importance of modernising applications and aligning cloud strategies with business objectives.
Recognising the diverse needs of customers, ZainTECH has embraced a multi-cloud, hybrid approach, accommodating different security and regulatory requirements across various countries and industries. “Customers today are looking into very much a multi-cloud, hybrid, environment where the workloads are not all the same, security is not all the same, and criticality is not all the same,” Hanna explained.
Collaboration
Partnerships and ecosystem building are integral to ZainTECH’s success. The company positions itself as a skilled orchestrator, working with carefully selected partners to deliver tailored solutions. “We put our own IP and our own system integration layer on top of that,” Hanna said. “Work hand in hand to take those solutions and bring the rest of the picture to the customer.”
In the financial services sector, ZainTECH has established a strategic partnership with FICO, a move that Hanna is particularly proud of. “We have a strategic partnership with FICO. Obviously, that is very much BFSI focused.”
The partnership aims to leverage predictive analytics and AI use cases to deliver value to banks and financial institutions. As Hanna explained: “It’s B to B. So working with the banks and our financial services institutions to say, okay, here is how we will bring you the AI use cases that are relevant to you on our infrastructure or your infrastructure once we modernise it.”
Looking to the future, Hanna addressed the importance of staying true to ZainTECH’s core purpose and not getting distracted by hype. “If my DNA is to bring value out of technology, then let’s not get distracted by hype. Let’s sift through the hype and decide consciously, I want to play here and I don’t want to play there.”
The post From Telco to Tech Leader: ZainTECH’s Journey of Reinvention and Customer-Centric Innovation appeared first on The Fintech Times.
