Nearly 200 delegates, representing more than 50 airline companies will participate in the IBS Software's Global Customer Summit today where 60 speakers will discuss key issues shaping the global air transportation and logistics industry.

Billed as one of the largest congregation of airline representatives for an event organised by an individual technology company, the summit will run from April 4 to 7 at the Ritz-Carlton, Dubai.

Industry stalwarts, technology experts and thought leaders will share insights on some of the critical challenges facing the industry and focus on how advancements in technology could be leveraged to optimize cost of operations and improve yields. The theme of the event is 'Innovating in a World of Disruptions.'

Speakers include Shashi Tharoor, former under-secretary-general of the UN and former minister for external affairs, India; Harish Manwani, global executive advisor at Blackstone; William Cavendish, vice president distribution strategy - Global Sales at Emirates Airlines; Flo Lugli, founder and principal at Navesink Advisory Group; Rohit Verma, executive director of the Cornell Institute for Healthy Futures; and Roger Liew, former CIO and senior vice president of Orbitz Worldwide; among others.

Speakers from IBS include executive chairman V K Mathews and chief executive officer Rajiv Shah.

"We are living in a digital age where the pace of change is unprecedented and the business challenges are exceeded only by the business opportunities available to companies nimble enough to grow and adapt to disruptive technologies and market forces. At the same time, customers are increasingly sophisticated and demand a greater focus on product quality and delivery, leading companies to pivot to an approach that is more customer-centric while still meeting the expectations of stakeholders," said Mathews, elaborating on the theme of the summit.

IBS, which recently received $170 million private equity investment from Blackstone, has a global presence with nearly 3,000 professionals across nine offices and provides a range of new-generation software products to some of the world's best airlines, busiest airports, leading cruise lines, major travel distributors and top oil and gas companies. - TradeArabia News Service