23 May, 2016

Sage ME to Host Luncheon Discussion on HR

 ‘Sage Advice HR Road Show’ will focus on HR best practices and Sage X3 People

Dubai, 23rdMay, 2016 - Sage, the market leader for integrated accounting, payroll and payment systems, will host a luncheon ‘Sage Advice HR Road Show’ at Sheraton Grand Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, on 02nd June 2016.
“The HR Road Show is a part of our outreach programme involving business organizations across the Middle East. We have embarked on the outreach programmes to provide business organizations with insights into our products and gain valuable feedback and information from our clients and prospective clients on the challenges they face and the attributes they would like included in software solutions,’’ noted Mr. Reggie Fernandes, Vice President –Sage X3 and Regional Director Sage Middle East.
The luncheon discussion will focus on current best practices in HR and how Sage X3 People can be optimized to help in the development of a company’s human capital. Sage X3 People, previously known as Sage HR Management (HRM) provides the best combination of functionality, technology, and value for mid-size businesses and enterprises.
The Sage X3 People product can handle the full suite of HR functionalities including, payroll, total payroll and budget forecasting, time and activity management, skills and competencies management, training management, appraisals and interviews, profit sharing, expenses management, analytics, reporting, dashboards, employee arrival and multi-contract and employee self service. Further, Sage X3 people is accessible online and on mobile devices and has a total effect of achieving more efficiency and control over organizations’ workforces with a powerful, simple and flexible human resource management solution.
The Sage X3 People solution combined with other Sage products and solutions gives organizations more accurate and exhaustive data over different departments, helping business organizations achieve business goals by giving more clarity on the current functioning of their businesses.


" ندوة نصائح سايج للموارد البشرية" ستركز على أفضل الممارسات وعلى نظام "سايج أكس 3 بيبول"
دبي- 23 مايو 2016 - "سايج" الشركة الرائدة في المحاسبة المتكامة، وأنظمة جدولة الرواتب والدفع، ستستضيف مأدبة غداء تحت عنوان ‏"درب سايج للموارد البشرية"، في فندق "شيراتون غراند"- شارع الشيخ زايد، دبي، في الثاني من يونيو 2016.
"ندوة ‏نصائح سايج للموارد البشرية" هي جزءٌ من برنامجنا للتوعية الذي تنخرط فيه منظمات وشركات أعمال على امتداد منطقة الشرق الأوسط. ولقد شرعنا في برامج التوعية لتزويد قطاع مؤسسات الأعمال بنظرةٍ معمّقة حول منتجاتنا، وللحصول على الآراء والمعلومات وردود الفعل القيّمة من عملائنا الحاليين والمستقبليين، حول التحديات التي تواجههم، والمواصفات التي يودون تضمينها في حلول البرمجيات"، يقول السيد ريجي فرنانديز، نائب الرئيس في "سايج أكس 3" والمدير الإقليمي في "سايج الشرق الأوسط".
سوف تركز المناقشات خلال مأدبة الغداء هذه على أفضل الممارسات الحالية في قطاع الموارد البشرية، وكيف يمكن لـ "سايج أكس 3 بيبل" توفير أفضل المطلوب للمساعدة في تطوير الرأس مال البشري للشركات.. فبرنامج "سايج أكس 3 بيبول"، المعروف سابقاً بـ "قطاع إدارة الموارد البشرية لدى سايج" HRM سيوفر الخبرة في الطريقة المثلى للجمع بين المفاهيم التشغيلية والتكنولوجيا والقيمة، للشركات والمشاريع المتوسطة الحجم.
يمكن لمنتج "سايج أس 3 بيبول" التعامل مع المجموعة الكاملة من أعمال الموارد البشرية، بما فيها جدول الرواتب، والجدولة العامة للرواتب، ورصد الميزانية، وإدارة الوقت والأنشطة، وإدارة المهارات والكفاءات، وإدارة التدريب، والتقييم وإجراء المقابلات، وتقاسم الأرباح، وإدارة المصاريف، والتحليل، والتقارير، ولوحات القيادة، ووصول الموظفين، والخدمة الذاتية للعقد المتعدد. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، يمكن الوصول إلى "سايج أكس 3 بيبل" عبر الإنترنت، ومن خلال تطبيقات الهواتف الذكية، وله القدرة الكاملة على تحقيق المزيد من الكفاءة وضبط القوى العاملة، من خلال حلٍّ فعال، بسيط ومرن لإدارة الموارد البشرية.
من خلال الجمع بين "سايج أكس 3 بيبل" والحلول والمنتجات الأخرى من "سايج"، يمكن منح الشركات المزيد من الدقّة والشمولية في بيانات مختلف الأقسام، ومساعدة المنظمات والشركات في إنجاز وتحقيق أهدافها، من خلال المزيد من الوضوح في رؤية وتحليل أداء أعمالهم الحالي.

62 Brands in the UAE to receive Superbrands title at Annual Tribute Event




Gala Event to announce ‘Brand of the Year’ award and unveil the 12th edition of the Superbrands book


Dubai, UAE - May 23 2016: Superbrands, the independent authority and arbiter of branding, announced it will host its annual tribute event to honour and recognize 62 of UAE’s strongest brands on May 30, 2016 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dubai Festival City. The highly awaited ‘Brand of the Year’ award will be announced at the event and the 12th edition of the much sought-after Superbrands book, which includes a two-page profile of each of the Superbrands will be unveiled.


In its 12th edition, the Superbrands tribute event is considered the ‘Oscars of Branding’ by the corporate world and speaking about the event, Mr. Mike English, Director, Superbrands Middle East, said, “This year has seen an unprecedented number of local brands making it to the Superbrands list with a few new entrants in the market, in addition to internationally recognized brands. Participation in the Superbrands book is by invitation only and acknowledges the inherent strength of the organisation and its brand value. This event is a true celebration of many of the country’s highest profile brands.”


After carefully filtering through the selection list set by the Superbrands Council, over 2,000 senior managers and marketing professionals were invited to vote for candidate brands. More than 2000 leading brands in the UAE were scored by the Superbrands Council members and through an online poll. The highest scoring brands have been chosen as Superbrands and only the brands that achieve the level of recognition set by the independent Superbrands Council are eligible for inclusion in the Superbrands UAE book, which traces the history and achievements of each of the brands.


Speaking on the stringent selection and voting process, Mr. English added, “A strong brand has to engage with its customers, make customers feel a sense of ownership and instill trust but above all it must always deliver on its promises, so getting onto the Superbrands list is both a prestigious accolade and an arduous task as all these criteria need to be met. The brands also have to be voted for by our distinguished brand council members as well as by marketing professionals, who have voted through an online poll and the brand which scores the highest points will be adjourned the top honour of ‘Brand of the Year’ which we will announce at the tribute event.”


The Superbrands Council comprises individuals who have shown exceptional aptitude in business and who have a thorough knowledge of the market and methods of business. To be voted a Superbrand is a powerful endorsement and is evidence for existing customers, potential customers, media, suppliers, investors and employees of each brand’s exceptional status.

The Superbrands tribute event will see the UAE’s crème de la crème corporate head honchos in attendance and promises to live up to its global reputation of being the ‘Oscars of Branding’.

62 علامة تجارية تحصل على لقب "سوبربراندز" ضمن فعاليتها السنوية في الإمارات

حفل متألق الإعلان عن العلامات الفائزة بلقب "أفضل علامة تجارية خلال العام" والكشف عن النسخة الثانية عشرة من كتاب "سوبربراندز
دبي، الإمارات العربية المتحدة، 23 مايو 2016: أعلنت "سوبربراندز"، الهيئة المستقلة المحكمة في العلامات التجارية، أنها ستقيم فعاليتها السنوية لتكريم 62 علامة كأقوى العلامات التجارية في الإمارات يوم 30 مايو 2016 في فندق إنتركونتيننتال في دبي فستيفال سيتي. كما تكشف "سوبربراندز" خلال الفعالية عن النسخة الثانية عشرة من كتاب "سوبربراندز" الذي يقدم لمحة موجزة في صفحتين عن كل علامة حاصلة على اللقب.

ومن الجدير بالذكر أن فعالية "سوبربراندز"، والتي تحتفل بعامها الثاني عشر، أصبحت تعتبر بمثابة جوائز الأوسكار للعلامات التجارية والشركات. وفي حديثه عن الحدث المنتظر قال السيد مايك إنغلش، مدير "سوبربراندز" الشرق الأوسط: "شهد العام الحالي مشاركة عدد غير مسبوق من العلامات التجارية المحلية المنضمّة إلى قائمة سوبربراندز، مع نخبة من القادمين الجدد في السوق ومجموعة من الأسماء المرموقة عالمياً. اما المشاركة في كتاب سوبربراندز فتقتصر على العلامات التي نقوم بدعوتها وتساهم في إبراز نقاط قوة المؤسسة وتعزيز قيمة علامتها التجارية. ولا شك في أن الفعالية ستكون احتفاءً حقيقياً بالعديد من العلامات البارزة في الدولة."  

وبعد أن وضع مجلس "سوبربراندز" قائمة العلامات التجارية المنتقاة بعناية بالغة، تمت دعوة أكثر من 2,000 من كبار المدراء وخبراء التسويق المدعوين للتصويت للعلامات المرشحة. وبهذا اختار أعضاء مجلس "سوبربراندز" ما يزيد على 2000 علامة تجارية تعمل في الإمارات العربية المتحدة، بمساعدة استطلاع إلكتروني، ليتم فيما بعد اختيار العلامات التي حققت أعلى الدرجات لتحمل لقب العلامات الاستثنائية "سوبربراندز" وتحصل على المستوى الفائق من التقدير الذي يقدمه مجلس المنظمة، فيما تتأهل للظهور في كتاب "سوبر براندز" الإمارات الذي يبرز تاريخ وإنجازات كل من تلك العلامات.

في حديثه عن الإجراءات الصارمة التي تحكم عملية الاختيار والتصويت قال السيد إنغلش: "يمثل الحصول على مكانة ضمن قائمة "سوبربراندز" تكريماً مرموقاً لكنه في الوقت ذاته مهمة شاقة، حيث يجب أن تحصل العلامة التجارية على تصويت أعضاء المجلس وخبراء التسويق الذين يدلون بأصواتهم عبر استطلاع إلكتروني. وفي نهاية المطاف تحوز العلامات التي تحصد أكبر عدد من النقاط على لقب "أفضل علامة خلال العام" ليتم الإعلان عنها في الفعالية السنوية المرتقبة".
يضم مجلس "سوبربراندز" أفراداً من ذوي الخبرات العريقة والإمكانات الاستثنائية في عالم الأعمال، يتمتعون بمعرفة شاملة بالأسواق وأساليب العمل. ويعتبر الحصول على لقب "سوبربراندز" مصادقة هامة وشهادة أكيدة على تميز العلامة التجارية أمام العملاء والإعلاميين والموردين والمستثمرين والموظفين.

وتشهد فعالية "سوبربراندز" حضور نخبة مجتمع الشركات وقادة الأعمال في الإمارات العربية المتحدة، لترتقي كعادتها إلى سمعتها العالمية ومكانتها المرموقة كـ "أوسكار العلامات التجارية".

18 May, 2016

Orange launches 6th edition of the Orange Social Venture Prize in Africa and the Middle East

The projects of 4 start-ups will be recognized during the awards ceremony with prizes of 25,000, 15,000 and 10,000, while 5,000 euros will go to the winner of the Special Cultural Content Prize
PARIS, France, May 18, 2016/ -- Orange (www.Orange.com) is launching a call for candidates for the 2016 Orange Social Venture Prize in Africa and the Middle East. The Orange Social Venture Prize, which aims to encourage start-ups that use innovation to fuel development on the African continent, is being extended to the Middle East and, this year, includes a Special Cultural Content Prize. Applications may be made from 18 May to 21 September 2016 on the EntrepreneurClub.Orange.com website, Orange's new portal for entrepreneurs in Africa and the Middle East.

The projects of 4 start-ups will be recognized during the awards ceremony with prizes of 25,000, 15,000 and 10,000, while 5,000 euros will go to the winner of the Special Cultural Content Prize.

The 10 finalists of the Prize and the “Entrepreneur Club’s choice” award will also receive special support from the Grow Movement NGO for 6 months.

Net users are invited to participate in the selection by choosing their favourite project on the new Orange portal for entrepreneurs in Africa and the Middle East, EntrepreneurClub.Orange.com.

Furthering development by stimulating innovation

The Orange Social Venture Prize showcases entrepreneurs offering innovative products and services meeting the health, agricultural, educational, energy, commercial or industrial needs of local communities.

In its 6 years of existence, the Orange Social Venture Prize has been exceedingly successful, with some 2,600 projects received. This strong turn-out by candidates illustrates the entrepreneurial dynamics and telecommunications potential of Africa and the Middle East.

Who can participate?

Any entrepreneur of 21 years and older and any legal entity in existence for less than 3 years may participate in the Prize at no cost, regardless of nationality. The projects presented must concern a service to be deployed in at least one of the 18 African and Middle Eastern countries listed in the contest rules(1).

Orange innovates to bring information and communication technologies into play to improve the living conditions of communities in those countries.

Supporting local entrepreneurship

“Orange MEA is a strategic partner for the digital transformation in Africa and the Middle East to serve its 110 million customers; it plans to play a leading role in supporting the digital transformation of the African continent and to be a major partner to start-ups,” says Bruno Mettling, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Orange operations in Africa and the Middle East.

Orange’s footprint in this region gives the Group a major role in the economy and development of Africa and the Middle East through the many improvements to the daily life of the communities that digital technology brings. Orange is working to improve the communities’ connectivity and to launch value-adding mobile services.

The operator also supports entrepreneurs by offering various support systems, both to entrepreneurs wishing to start their own companies and to mature start-ups. Within that framework, Orange shares its experience and know-how by offering access to its exchange platforms and networks and by facilitating the creation of new services through application programming interfaces (APIs). In particular, the Group created specific incubation and acceleration mechanisms such as the Orange Fab program in Ivory Coast and Senegal, along with management and financing vehicles.

Orange also opened incubators in five African countries: Senegal (CTIC), Mauritius (Ebene), Niger (Cipmen), Mali (Createam) and Guinea (Saboutech). Designed with inclusive, horizontal governance that brings together the public sector, the private sector and civil society, the originality of this model lies in co-creativity to nurture the emergence and development of small and medium businesses and start-ups. This approach is being deployed in other countries on the African continent.

(1) Botswana, Cameroun, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypte, Ile Maurice, Guinée Bissau, Guinée Conakry, Guinée Equatoriale,  Madagascar, Mali, Maroc, Niger, République Centrafricaine, République Démocratique du Congo, Sénégal, Tunisie, Jordanie, Libéria.
Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Orange.

AUC TO HOST MICROSOFT’S 2016 IMAGINE CUP PAN-ARAB FINALS


WHAT
Microsoft’s  2016 Imagine Cup Pan-Arab Finals, hosted by The  School of Business at The American University in Cairo (AUC).  It is the first time for this event to be held in Egypt with participants from over 13 countries around the Arab World.
Microsoft Imagine Cup is an annual competition brings together young technologists worldwide to help resolve some of the world's toughest challenges. All Imagine Cup competitors create projects that address the Imagine Cup theme: "Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems."
The three final teams chosen will proceed with the Imagine Cup Finals in Seattle, Washington.

WHO

El Helali El Sherbini, minister of higher education; Ali Faramawy, corporate vice president, Microsoft Egypt; Khaled Abdel Kader, general manager, Microsoft Egypt; Sherif El Sanadily, developers marketing director, Microsoft Egypt and Karim Seghir, dean, AUC School of Business; Asmaa El Hosseiny, chief information officer, Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) as well as representatives from AUC School of Business and Microsoft Egypt.


WHERE
Conference and Visitors Center, AUC New Cairo


WHEN
Saturday, May 28, 2016; 10am-6pm
Sunday, May 29, 2016; 9am-4pm

*Press conference: Sunday, May 29, 2016; 3:30-4pm

Consumers turn to mobile spending during Ramadan: Criteo


  • MEA region saw a rise in e-commerce from 15% for retail and up to 35% for travel during Ramadan, according to recent Criteo study

  • Share of mobile shopping witnessed a permanent increase, resulting in up to 57% during Eid al-Fitr


Dubai, 18 May 2016 – Criteo (NASDAQ: CRTO), the performance marketing technology company, has announced the results of their recent study that reviews transactions of online retailers and travel providers across the MEA region during last year’s Ramadan.  The findings give insight into consumer trends during one of the most important times of the year for the region and the impact that it has for online retailers.

One of the most intriguing insights from the study is the increasing importance of mobile commerce for retailers.  Mobile was the preferred device throughout the Ramadan period, with spending increasing from 44% two weeks prior to Ramadan, to 49% by the last week, and 57% during Eid al-Fitr.  However, share of desktop engagement was seen to recover post Eid al-Fitr when regular working hours resumed.  

Other key findings include an increase in online purchases during Ramadan evenings. Twice as much traffic than usual was recorded including a significant increase in sales transactions with 16% more transactions taking place at night in comparison to a usual week.  Weekends during Ramadan saw a steady stream of e-commence activity with Friday performing only slightly below other days of the week.  Interestingly, Fridays saw desktop usage drop 10% when compared to Mondays, while mobile usage surged 10%.

Regardless of the device, retail sales increased by 15% and travel bookings soared by 35% as consumers made plans to spend their Eid holidays with friends and family. Additionally, retail sales decreased by 37% from the third week to Eid al-Fitr, but slowly rose after Eid with a 17% increase. Online travel bookings continued to witness an increase by 3% from the third week to Eid al-Fitr, and 6% after Ramadan.

Dirk Henke, Managing Director Emerging Markets, Criteo, said “Ramadan is unlike any other time of the year in the region, and our findings give us a glimpse into consumer purchasing patterns and their preferences when it comes to shopping online. It is crucial for advertisers to understand how consumer shopping behaviour evolves during different time periods in the year in order to understand when to adjust marketing activities and budgets to reap maximum benefits.” He continues, “With the exponential rise in online commerce in the region, this study can help brands better understand how they can reach their target audience and create long lasting engagement.”

Based on this research, Criteo developed four key recommendations for online retailers to maximize sales during Ramadan:
  1. During Ramadan, brands should ensure that marketing campaigns are predominantly mobile focused
  2. Intensify commercial offers to accompany traffic growth and convert them into sales
  3. Capitalize on the fact that shoppers are more active on their mobile devices at night and target them accordingly
  4. Online travel agents should bear in mind that individuals are still going on holiday after Ramadan, and should continue their online marketing campaigns in the weeks that follow

For this research, Criteo analyzed close to 3 million transactions from more than 35 retailers based in the Middle East and North Africa region (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Kuwait, Morocco and Qatar) on desktop, smartphones and tablets.
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