Middle East medium and smaller businesses will drive the region’s $12 billion business intelligence market, according to the newly appointed channel head at digital transformation enabler SAP.

While small- and medium-sized enterprises comprise the majority of Middle East enterprises, they lag in digital technology adoption. Among SMEs in the region, only 18 per cent in the UAE are digital, and only 15 per cent in Saudi Arabia, according to a recent report by Digital McKinsey.

Showing the strong potential for Big Data analytics to enable digital transformation, the Middle East business intelligence market is set to more than double to USD 12 billion by 2020, according to a recent report by MicroMarket Monitor.

“Small and Medium businesses in the Middle East and North Africa need the right channel partner to succeed in the Internet of Things. Partners should have specialized training in new digital business models, especially across artificial intelligence, blockchain, and machine learning innovations,” said Zakaria Haltout, head of Global Channels and General Business for Mena at SAP.

The SAP Mena channel program grew by 61 per cent, with channel coverage increasing by 25 per cent from 2015-2016, making it one of the fastest-growing regions in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa for the SAP PartnerEdge Program. SAP counts over 120 regional partners.

“Zakaria Haltout is a proven leader, with the local knowledge and expertise who will drive the Middle East and North Africa as a strategic global market. We will work closely in upskilling our partners to enable the digital transformation of small and medium enterprises,” said Nick Malone, vice president of EMEA South, Global Channels and General Business unit at SAP.

Based in Dubai, Zakaria Haltout reports to Nick Malone. Haltout has been with SAP since 2008, and has 17 years of technology experience. – TradeArabia News Service