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Vertiv Outlines Data Center Evolution and AI Infrastructure Strategy

Exclusive Interview with Peter Lambrecht, Vice President Sales, EMEA, Vertiv

What specific challenges do clients face in powering and cooling AI infrastructure, and how did you address these at GITEX this year?

At GITEX this year, the focus on artificial intelligence (AI) was unmistakable. Every booth showcased AI-driven solutions running on GPU-powered servers from leading companies like NVIDIA. However, for AI applications to function effectively, the right infrastructure is essential to power and cool these GPUs, ensuring smooth and efficient performance. For us, this highlights our expertise in AI infrastructure, designed to support these platforms optimally.

One of our key focus areas is liquid cooling, as traditional air cooling in data centers is no longer sufficient. With rack densities now reaching 50, 60, and even up to 132 kilowatts per rack, air cooling alone cannot handle the thermal load. Liquid cooling has become critical, efficiently drawing heat away and directing it elsewhere. This core technology, developed with our partner NVIDIA, supports the deployment of GPUs worldwide, and together we provide, market, and deliver these advanced solutions to our clients.

Cooling, however, is only one part of the equation. The shift to AI also requires a comprehensive approach to power management, as AI workloads significantly alter electricity load patterns. Our solutions are designed to meet these power demands, and we have showcased these capabilities at our booth. We’ve been actively engaging with partners and clients to address these challenges as they implement their AI solutions, ensuring that both cooling and power needs are effectively met.

Can you elaborate on your partnership with NVIDIA and how it has evolved over the years?

Our partnership with NVIDIA has grown significantly over the years, and over the past year, it has reached an unprecedented level of collaboration. Both of our CEOs, Jensen Huang of NVIDIA and Giordano Albertazzi of Vertiv communicate regularly, aligning closely on joint development initiatives. Together, we create environments optimized for NVIDIA’s cutting-edge chips, ensuring they have the necessary infrastructure to operate at peak performance.

In a recent joint announcement, both CEOs unveiled new solutions that integrate NVIDIA GPUs with Vertiv’s advanced infrastructure, designed to maximize efficiency and reliability. This collaboration represents the core strength of our partnership, where we have refined reference designs that allow NVIDIA to deploy their GPUs seamlessly and effectively on a global scale.

What current trends do you see in the data center and critical infrastructure market? With many hyperscalers entering the market, what is your perspective on this development?

The data center market is dominated by Hyperscalers, whether through their direct deployments or co-location facilities—two primary models for quickly scaling data center capacity. These Hyperscalers are making substantial investments in infrastructure, fueling competition in this fast-evolving landscape.

The AI race is fully underway, with industry giants all striving toward the same goal. As their infrastructure partner, we are advancing with them, providing the essential support they need to drive this innovation. At the same time, the growth of the cloud sector remains foundational and continues to expand robustly. What we are seeing now is a dual growth trajectory: traditional cloud business growth compounded by the accelerated demand for AI infrastructure.

Trends in data centers reveal a marked increase in power consumption. A few years ago, a five-megawatt data center was considered significant; soon, however, a five-megawatt capacity will fit within a 10×10-meter room as rack density skyrockets, reducing the need for extensive white space but requiring expanded infrastructure areas. Data centers are scaling up to unprecedented sizes, with discussions now involving capacities of 300-400 megawatts, or even gigawatts. Visualizing a gigawatt-sized facility is challenging, yet that is the direction the industry is moving—toward ultra-dense, compacted facilities where every element is intensified, driving an enormous need for power.

As data centers continue to grow, how do you view the sustainability aspect associated with these large facilities?

Today, nearly everyone has a mobile phone in hand, yet data centers—the backbone of our digital lives—often face criticism despite being indispensable to modern society. Data centers are not disappearing; on the contrary, they are set to expand as the pace of digitalization accelerates globally. Power generation remains, and will continue to be, a critical challenge, particularly in regions where resources are limited.

Currently, we see significant advancements in AI infrastructure across Northern Europe. Countries like Sweden, Finland, and Norway benefit from ample hydropower and renewable energy sources, making them well-suited for sustainable AI development. Meanwhile, the Middle East is experiencing a technology boom, backed by its rich energy resources and favorable conditions for large-scale investment in data centers.

There’s also a rising trend toward on-site power generation, with organizations increasingly considering dedicated power stations and micro-grids that tap into renewable or alternative energy sources. In the U.S., for instance, discussions are underway about small, mobile nuclear reactors to support local power needs. Finding sustainable power solutions has become imperative. A sudden surge in electric vehicle usage, for instance, could stress current power supplies dramatically, underscoring the need for substantial changes in our energy landscape.

What support and services does Vertiv offer to its customers? What types of infrastructure investments is Vertiv making in various parts of the world?

At Vertiv, service is arguably the most critical aspect of what we do. Selling a product is only one phase of its lifecycle; the real value lies in our ability to maintain and support that product for the next 10 to 15 years. The availability of highly skilled labor and expertise is essential, as we know that issues will inevitably arise. This is why resilience is a cornerstone of data centers. A strong service infrastructure is vital for addressing challenges promptly when they occur. Just as a car will eventually break down, data center systems too will face difficulties over time. At Vertiv, we have developed an exceptional service framework to ensure that we are always prepared to support our clients.

My philosophy is simple: we don’t sell a product unless we can guarantee the service to support it. When you sell a solution, you’re essentially selling a potential future problem, so ensuring your service capabilities are in place is vital for sustainable growth. This commitment to service is one of our key differentiators in the market.

We are continuously enhancing our core production facilities and making ongoing investments in engineering, research, and development. We are also evaluating our global footprint to optimize production capabilities and meet the growing demand. We are not just focused on the immediate needs of today; we are preparing for the demands that will arise in the next six months, a year, or even two to three years. In this race for capacity, the winner will be the one best positioned with the most scalable and resilient capacity.

What is the future of cooling systems in relation to AI chips, and where do you see this race heading?

While we are not completely moving away from air cooling as it will always play a role in the equation, fully eliminating it would be prohibitively costly. The transition to liquid cooling is a critical step forward. We are already seeing advancements in the liquids used to cool servers, enabling them to absorb higher levels of heat. However, the primary challenge will be addressing the overall densification of data center systems, as more powerful and compact solutions require innovative approaches to heat management.

Our partnerships with industry leaders like NVIDIA and Intel are essential, as they provide us with invaluable, first-hand insights into the development of cutting-edge chips and GPUs. While cooling and power systems might seem straightforward, AI introduces a new layer of complexity that demands forward-thinking solutions. To meet these challenges, we are making significant investments in research and development to support the AI-driven data centers of today and tomorrow. Our commitment to continuous innovation ensures that we remain at the forefront of these critical advancements.

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From Reactive to Predictive: How AI is Revolutionizing Cybersecurity in the Middle East

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From Reactive to Predictive: How AI is Revolutionizing Cybersecurity in the Middle East

Exclusive Interview with Assad Arabi, Regional Managing Director Africa, Mediterranean and CIS, Trend Micro

Portrait of Assad Arabi, Regional Managing Director Africa, Mediterranean and CIS, Trend Micro
Exclusive Interview with Assad Arabi, Regional Managing Director Africa, Mediterranean and CIS, Trend Micro

What are your impressions of GITEX this year?
GITEX has always been an incredible platform, but this year feels different, there’s more energy, more excitement, and a clear focus on meaningful business conversations. The engagement level is impressive, and it’s great to see the region’s digital ecosystem evolving so rapidly.

What is the current state of cybersecurity in the Middle East and Africa?
It’s getting increasingly complex. We’re seeing more AI-driven, sophisticated cyberattacks that are harder to detect and mitigate. Last year alone, Trend Micro detected around 1.35 billion cyber threats in MEA , a staggering figure considering even one major attack can disrupt entire organisation. Globally, cybercrime is projected to cost around USD 10 trillion, which is an enormous economic loss.

This growing threat landscape demands a new approach. Instead of reacting after attacks occur, we’re shifting to a predictive cybersecurity model  anticipating threats before they strike. By identifying patterns and alerting organisations in advance, we’re helping them safeguard critical data and infrastructure proactively.

What key innovations is Trend Micro showcasing at GITEX 2025?
This year is special for us. Our flagship Trend Vision One platform, known as the world’s most comprehensive cybersecurity platform, continues to evolve. It integrates multiple security layers  from endpoint and server to cloud, network , data, email, IoT, and OT security — into one unified ecosystem.

The latest innovation we’re showcasing is our Agentic  SIEM solution, launched just last month. Among the first of its kind globally, it leverages AI to automate rule creation, configurations, and response actions. This will revolutionise how SOC teams operate  paving the way for fully autonomous security operations powered by AI.

What emerging trends are shaping 2025?
One of the most concerning trends is the rise of AI-driven threats, especially deepfakes. Attackers can now replicate voices, faces, and data to create what we call “malicious digital twins.” Imagine a video that looks and sounds exactly like you, used to deceive others , it’s a new frontier of cyber risk. We’re actively developing tools to detect and neutralise these threats before they cause harm.

How is Trend Micro leveraging AI to stay ahead of evolving attacks?
AI is central to everything we do. We’ve developed systems that not only detect but quantify cyber risk. For example, organisations receive a numerical cybersecurity score , say, 67 today and 70 tomorrow ,helping them see risk fluctuations in real time and take corrective action.

We’re also creating cybersecurity digital twins, replicating clients’ digital cyber security environment on our platform to safely simulate attacks and test resilience. This enables predictive defence and faster response.

What defines the next generation of cybersecurity?
The next era of cybersecurity will be defined by intelligence and foresight. Having advanced tools isn’t enough; you need actionable threat intelligence. It provides visibility into what’s happening, what could happen, and where your vulnerabilities lie. This shifts cybersecurity from reactive to truly preventive.

How is AI transforming the way organisations predict threats?
At Trend Micro, AI is embedded across our entire ecosystem  from endpoint and network protection to cloud, OT, and IoT security. We collect native  telemetry data into a central data lake and apply AI models and threat intelligence to correlate anomalies and detect hidden attacks.

Our proprietary Cybertron large language model (LLM) is a breakthrough. It analyses threats contextually, offering insights tailored to each organisation rather than generic alerts. It empowers security teams to identify, prevent, and neutralize threats before they materialize. This advanced level of intelligence was unimaginable just two years ago, and it’s redefining how cybersecurity protection should be  perceived .

What are the biggest challenges organisations face in a cloud-native environment?
The biggest hurdle is mindset. Many organisations still use traditional security methods for cloud environments  and that simply doesn’t work. Trend Micro offers a complete cloud-native security portfolio covering applications, workloads, containers, storage, and configuration. Our attack surface and exposure management tools continuously assess cloud posture, identify risks, and alert teams before vulnerabilities are exploited.

What impact has the Trend Vision One AI Companion delivered?
The AI Companion acts like our version of ChatGPT for cybersecurity analysts. They can ask questions such as “What does this alert mean?” or “What should I do next?” and receive instant, actionable guidance or even have the system perform those actions automatically. This has dramatically reduced response times and helped close the cybersecurity skills gap, enabling junior analysts to perform at senior levels.

What sets Trend Micro apart from other cybersecurity companies?
As a Japanese company, precision and commitment are part of our DNA. For over 37 years, cybersecurity has been our singular focus. If we enter a segment, it’s because we intend to lead it.

Our leadership is consistently recognised by Gartner, Forrester, and IDC across multiple domains  from endpoint and network to IoT and attack surface management. What truly differentiates us is our natively integrated ecosystem, which simplifies management, enhances visibility, increase the protection , and strengthens customer confidence.

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AI is Not an Add-On, But an Enabler!

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Why So Many Companies Fail, Even with Massive AI Investments

In a brief interview at GITEX, Technology Integrator speaks with expert  Shivdayal Charan, Director of Middle East at Torry Harris Integration Solutions on how the company is enabling digital transformation across industries through modernization, AI enablement, and connected digital ecosystems.

A studio portrait of Shivdayal Charan, Director of Middle East at Torry Harris Integration Solutions
Shivdayal Charan, Director of Middle East at Torry Harris Integration Solutions

1. Could you give us an overview of Torry Harris, what the company does, and its core areas of expertise?

At Torry Harris, our purpose is to make digital transformation real – grounded in business logic, scalable through technology, and outcome-driven. For over two decades, we have helped enterprises rebuild the connective tissue of their businesses – modernizing legacy systems, integrating data, and creating digital ecosystems that scale.

Our expertise is at the intersection of API-led integration, cloud modernization, and digital ecosystem enablement – foundations that turn technology landscapes into agile, interoperable networks. From telecom and finance to logistics and government, we help enterprises move beyond isolated systems to unified, intelligent architectures that enable real-time collaboration and innovation.

We often say that we don’t just integrate systems; we integrate with intent. Because true modernization isn’t about technology alone – it’s about creating coherence between business vision and digital execution.  That’s what allows enterprises to innovate with confidence, move at market speed, and build resilience.

Headquartered in the US, with regional offices in Dubai and Riyadh, we’re deeply aligned with the Middle East’s digital transformation ambitions – simplifying digital complexities and helping public and private enterprises translate strategy into sustained progress.

2. What is one of the company’s latest core offerings?

Our flagship platform, SMART Souq, is where AI meets ecosystem thinking. SMART Souq is an AI-powered marketplace platform that enables organizations to design and scale digital ecosystems around themselves. It connects suppliers, partners, and customers into a single fabric where data, APIs, and services flow naturally.

The platform supports hybrid engagement models (such as B2B2C and G2B2C) and enables organizations to monetize APIs, data, and services as part of a larger digital value chain. Its embedded 4Sight intelligence layer combines personalization, conversational AI, and predictive insights, while its low-code framework allows business teams to configure user journeys, onboarding flows, and monetization models without heavy engineering lift.

Today, speed defines relevance. Enterprises can’t afford to prototype for months; they must launch at market pace and refine in motion. SMART Souq enables exactly that – moving from concept to deployment in weeks, not quarters.

Take a regional bank, for instance. With SMART Souq, it can evolve from being a service provider to an ecosystem hub – integrating insurance, auto finance, mortgages, and lifestyle services – all under one digital roof. What was once a transaction becomes an ongoing relationship, renewed every day through context and connection. That’s the future of marketplaces – less about transactions, more about context.

3. Could you elaborate on the key solutions you are showcasing at GITEX this year and how they are helping enterprises accelerate their digital transformation journeys?
This year at GITEX, we are prioritizing what we call the three levers of digital momentum – modernization, intelligent automation, and connected ecosystems.

Modernization is where agility begins – taking what’s already working and making it cloud and AI-ready. It’s not about starting over; it’s about starting smarter. Done right, modernization renews the core, embeds intelligence, and creates the conditions for speed and scale. It’s how banks cut release cycles, how cities deliver digital services, and how governments move from efficiency to experience.
Intelligent automation builds on that core. Through APIs and integration frameworks, we create a digital nervous system – a fabric where data, workflows, and partners move securely and in sync. When systems speak a common language, business starts to move as one.

And when that foundation is in place, ecosystems begin taking shape. SMART Souq turns these internal capabilities into external opportunities – enabling enterprises to co-create and monetize APIs, data, and services through a larger value network.

Modernize the core – Connect the fabric – Monetize the flow. That’s how transformation stops being a plan and becomes a pattern – one that organizations can repeat, refine, and scale.

3. Artificial Intelligence is a major focus across industries today. How is Torry Harris integrating AI into its offerings, and what value does this bring to your clients?
AI has moved from experimentation to expectation. The real question now is – how do enterprises embed it meaningfully, not just visibly?

At Torry Harris, AI is not an add-on but an enabler that runs through our entire portfolio. Our AI Factory helps enterprises industrialize adoption – combining automation, data pipelines, and decision intelligence into a single operational fabric. The goal is simple: measurable outcomes, not model counts. Efficiency that shows up in metrics, prediction that shows up in decisions, and personalization that enhances experience.

Our 4Sight analytics engine turns raw data into foresight. It learns from operational patterns, customer behavior, and market signals – helping enterprises anticipate demand instead of react. You can see this clearly in SMART Souq – its AI engine continuously learns from interactions, predicting needs and optimizing engagement in real time. In real estate, it might infer buyer intent; in logistics, it might optimize partner routes. AI here doesn’t replace human intuition but augments it.

And through our Agentic AI Services, we extend that intelligence across the enterprise, embedding it into operations, testing, integration, and decision systems. The result is AI that’s pragmatic, governed, and aligned to business rhythm, not hype cycles.

4. Could you share an example of a recent project where Torry Harris helped an enterprise modernize or integrate its systems, and what measurable impact it delivered?
A recent example I can reference comes from our work with NBQ – a leading regional bank that needed modernize its integration landscape for agility and scale – without dismantling what already worked.

We implemented a secure API management layer that unified systems and created real-time data exchange across the bank’s ecosystem. The results were tangible – 45% improvement in operational efficiency, 30% reduction in integration costs, and partner onboarding time cut from three days to one. More importantly, NBQ could launch new digital services 40% faster – a critical edge in a market where speed defines customer experience.

But the real change wasn’t technical; it was behavioral. NBQ stopped managing systems and began orchestrating outcomes. Teams moved faster, experiments carried less risk, and innovation  turned from being occasional to repeatable.

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How Unifonic Intelligence is Transforming Customer Experience in Saudi Arabia

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Ayman Hamdan, Co-founder of Unifonic and others from Unifonic on the stage at an event

Exclusive Interview with Ayman Hamdan, Co-founder of Unifonic

Portrait shot of Ayman Hamdan, Co-founder of Unifonic
Ayman Hamdan, Co-founder of Unifonic
  1. How does E3 Customer Experience Conference showcase innovation and advance Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation goals? 

The E3 Customer Experience (E3CX) Conference plays a crucial role in advancing Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation by serving as a dynamic marketplace where innovation, policy, and technology converge. For Saudi organisations, the event offers the opportunity to explore real-world solutions, moving beyond abstract concepts to evaluate validated use cases and production-ready technologies. It brings together key stakeholders, including vendors, system integrators, government agencies, and enterprise buyers to collaborate on critical issues such as compliance, integration, and security. 

Crucially, the conference supports Saudi Vision 2030’s emphasis on secure, locally governed digital services and a growing domestic software as a service (SaaS) ecosystem. It enables partnerships between platform providers, local cloud operators, telcos, and system integrators that address national priorities like data residency. For policymakers and regulators, E3CX provides a neutral, insight-rich platform to observe market capabilities, refine regulatory frameworks, and accelerate public-sector procurement. Sessions focus on operational readiness and business impact, including service-level agreements (SLAs), security, pilot-to-production timelines, and demonstrable return on investment (ROI). 

By bringing together technical teams, buyers, and regulators under one roof, the conference shortens procurement cycles, fosters collaborative problem solving, and ensures that digital initiatives deliver measurable economic and social outcomes. Ultimately, E3CX is where Vision 2030’s digital ambitions are translated into scalable, impactful services for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

  • Where do you see CX in MENA in three years? 

Over the next three years, customer experience (CX) in the MENA region will shift from being a set of separate channels to a smooth, ongoing conversation that follows customers wherever they are. Mobile messaging and voice will become the primary means of engagement across discovery, purchase, and support. Companies that treat these conversational journeys as a key part of their revenue strategy, rather than just support tools, will be the ones that succeed. AI will move beyond small tests to full-scale use, helping personalise interactions in real time while also meeting local regulations. This will result in faster responses, fewer false positives, and more localised customer experiences. 

At the same time, Arabic-first design will become essential. Businesses that focus on dialect accuracy and culturally relevant design will see better engagement and conversion. Moreover, CX success will be measured by more than just satisfaction scores; business leaders will look closely at how chat and messaging contribute to revenue, customer retention, and cost efficiency. Data residency and local regulations will also play a bigger role in how companies choose their technology partners as governments and large enterprises will prioritise vendors that can demonstrate local hosting, audit logs, and clear data governance. While automation will handle routine tasks, skilled human agents will still be needed for complex or emotional conversations. Finally, CX will increasingly become tailored by industry, with sectors like banking, aviation, and government developing domain-led playbooks for conversational automation, featuring specialised models, compliance patterns and measurement frameworks. Thus, early adopters are poised to win procurement and set an example for others to follow. 

  • With Vision 2030 shaping the SaaS market, how is Unifonic enabling better CX for Saudi businesses and public sector buyers? 

With Vision 2030 driving the transformation of the software as a service (SaaS) market in Saudi Arabia, Unifonic is uniquely positioned to enable better customer experience (CX) for both Saudi businesses and public sector buyers. The growing demand for SaaS solutions in the MENA region is fuelled by the rise of new digital models, and Vision 2030 has further accelerated this by emphasising the need for secure, locally compliant, and scalable digital services. 

Unifonic meets these demands by offering a unified conversational platform designed for production from day one. Our technology prioritises Arabic-first experiences, ensuring conversational journeys resonate across different dialects and feel natural to users. This focus on language and cultural relevance reduces friction, increases engagement, and drives higher conversion rates across customer acquisition and support workflows. For the public sector and large enterprises, we have adopted a collaborative go-to-market approach that includes joint pilot design, clear key performance indicators (KPIs), and quick iteration cycles. This enables stakeholders to validate the platform’s impact before committing to scale. 

On the ecosystem front, Unifonic works closely with local cloud operators, telecommunications companies, and system integrators to integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure and accelerate deployment. We also invest in developer programs, training initiatives, and accelerator partnerships to nurture local talent, directly supporting Saudi Vision 2030’s objective of job creation. 

Unifonic operates at the intersection of language, compliance, and production readiness. We empower Saudi organisations to move their conversational projects beyond experimentation into scalable, measurable services that improve both citizen and customer experiences, fully aligned with the Kingdom’s digital transformation, economic growth, and workforce development goals. 

  • What is Unifonic Intelligence? 

Unifonic Intelligence is the AI engine that powers the Unifonic customer engagement platform. It brings together four key modules: the AI control centre for governance and oversight, AI chatbot for customer-fa cing virtual agents, agent copilot to assist human agents in real time, and a content creator with marketing recommendations to automate and personalise campaign messaging. Together, these components empower businesses to deliver faster, smarter, and more personalised customer experiences. 

What sets the platform apart is its underlying AI framework, which uses a retrieval-augmented generation approach to ensure responses are grounded in the customer’s real data and up-to-date enterprise knowledge. We carefully evaluate and select leading open-source large language models (LLMs), optimising them for Arabic dialects and region-specific intents. This results in conversational AI that not only understands local nuances but also delivers factually accurate interactions. Early adopters can expect enhanced engagement, improved customer satisfaction and better business decisions through data-driven insights. 

  • How does the partnership with Humain and Groq enable this platform and what does it mean for customers? 

Our partnership with Humain and Groq is both a technical and commercial enabler that strengthens the Unifonic AI Powered Customer Engagement Platform with unmatched performance, security, and scalability. Groq provides industry-leading inference hardware and performance engineering, focused specifically on inference execution, which is the critical backbone of live conversational systems. This means significantly faster model execution, lower latency, and scalable throughput, all of which are essential for delivering high-quality customer experiences. At the same time, Humain ensures that these capabilities are deployed locally, with full integration into regional compliance frameworks, and enterprise-grade operational controls across Saudi Arabia and the wider MENA region. 

Groq and Humain led the development of the inference architecture, performance tuning and deployment playbooks. While Groq tuned serving layers for peak low-latency performance, Humain implemented the local hosting, networking and operational controls required by enterprise customers. This joint approach allows us to push new model variants from testing to production in days rather than months, all while maintaining full audit trails and governance that regulated enterprises require. For customers, the benefits are measurable: inference and model serving are hosted in Saudi-based environments, preserving data residency; response times are faster, improving user satisfaction and reducing drop-off; and Arabic language support is significantly enhanced because of regionally-tuned models and dialect validation. 

Ultimately, this partnership gives Unifonic the infrastructure and operational foundation to deliver Arabic-first, compliant AI for enterprises across the region. At the upcoming E3 Customer Experience (E3CX) Conference 2025, we will be showcasing these engineering achievements and inviting customers to join our early adopter program to start delivering measurable business outcomes. 

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