Tech News
Autonomous deliveries for urban logistics: Zelostech’s fully electric delivery vehicle wins DHL’s startup challenge in the Middle East & Africa
Zelostech wins DHL’s Fast Forward Challenge startup program in the Middle East & Africa. The five shortlisted startups of this year’s Fast Forward Challenge presented groundbreaking applications based on AI and automation that have the potential to redefine logistics and workforce efficiency while driving more sustainable supply chains in the MEA region. The innovative solutions ranged from strategic people analytics platforms to a collaborative mobility approach bridging the gap between manual labor and automation to fully automated robots and vehicles for intralogistics, mid- and last-mile deliveries.
“It was such an honor to be among these shortlisted companies who are all pioneers in their specific field. In the end, it was our autonomous delivery solution for urban logistic deliveries that won and that is already deployed in various cities in China and in Singapore. We have 3,000 vehicles on the road and have accumulated nine million kilometers of Level 4-autonomous driving and are eager to enter the UAE and wider GCC market, says Jason Wang, UAE-Country Manager of Zelostech.
The Fast Forward Challenge, now in its fourth edition, is a startup program organized by the DHL Middle East & Africa Innovation Center together with strategic partners. It supports startups that offer innovative solutions to meet the future needs of logistics and supply chains.
“Congratulations to the winner Zelostech. I am certain they will make a major difference towards shaping the future of logistics and I am very much looking forward to our collaboration,” says Irina Albanese, Head of Innovation, Middle East & Africa at DHL. “The candidates this year are really remarkable, especially in terms of the maturity of the startups and the innovative ideas and solutions that were presented. With our Fast Forward Challenge, we offer a platform for startups to showcase their groundbreaking solutions, receive ongoing mentorship, and forge valuable connections with venture capitalists. It is truly an ecosystem of opportunities.”
While some of the presented solutions vary greatly, they have one major thing in common: All five startups provide a solution to address current and future challenges with the world of work evolving.
This year’s program featured startups from around the globe. For the final round, the contestants took the grand stage of the Future 100 Forum during the 4th edition of the annual Investopia Summit in Abu Dhabi. Investopia is a UAE-based platform launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The platform connects the global investment community with opportunities in new economies.
In Abu Dhabi, the five shortlisted companies had to pitch to a panel of 9 prominent judges with a wealth of business expertise in the region, the industry, and beyond. The judges selected the winner, utilizing a set of detailed criteria to guide their decision-making process. The Fast Forward Challenge @ Investopia winner will benefit from extensive support provided by industry experts and consultants, including mentorship, trade license support, extensive media coverage, and a membership to the Ignyte platform to foster their business growth and development. Additionally, Zelostech will receive a Proof of Concept opportunity with DHL or Dubai South for a suitable solution fit.
The Fast Forward Challenge MEA 2025 is organized by DHL Customer Solutions & Innovation in partnership with Investopia, PwC Middle East, Dubai South, Logistics Middle East, the tech startup AHOY and various prominent startup business supporters.
“It was a pleasure to host the final round of DHL’s Fast Forward Challenge during the 4th edition of Investopia. This challenge brought together an outstanding group of innovators and entrepreneurs redefining logistics and supply chain – an industry at the core of the new economy, which is the very essence of Investopia. We were also delighted to have DHL as one of Investopia’s Contributing Partners this year, and I am confident that this marks the beginning of a series of fruitful collaborations in the UAE and beyond,” said David Tabet, Chief Operating Officer of Investopia.
Mohsen Ahmad, CEO of the Logistics District at Dubai South, said: “We are proud to be part of such an innovative program that continues to evolve and improve year after year. The logistics industry is ever-changing, and participants are showcasing groundbreaking ideas that promise a strong future for the sector. At Dubai South, we remain committed to supporting initiatives that drive the advancement of logistics, further cementing the emirate’s position as a global logistics hub.”
“We congratulate Zelostech on winning this year’s Fast Forward Challenge. As we celebrate our fourth consecutive year partnering with this program, we recognize the strong contributions of startups participating,” says Dominik Baumeister, Partner, Global Transport & Logistics Lead, at PwC Middle East. “Innovative solutions are part of PwC Middle East’s strategy, and through this partnership, we have consistently seen real and tangible impact on the logistics landscape. We look forward to continued progress in shaping the industry’s transformation in the Middle East.”
“Big congratulations to Zelostech on winning DHL’s Fast Forward Challenge; you made us proud with your innovative approach to logistics. Your startup exemplifies the spirit of transformation that this industry so urgently needs. Initiatives like the Fast Forward Challenge encourage groundbreaking solutions to problems affecting everyday life, a mission we stand behind at AHOY. Every candidate presented a solution that shows their drive to innovate, and AHOY is proud of each and every one of you”, said Jamil Shinawi, Co-founder and CEO of AHOY.
Tech News
GCC COMPANIES ACHIEVE 30-SECOND PAYROLL PROCESSING WITH 100 PER CENT ACCURACY USING ADVANCED HRMS, REVEALS GREYTHR
Companies across the GCC region have experienced higher workforce management efficiency using advanced AI-powered HRMS, reporting 100 per cent accuracy and stronger compliance with GCC labour regulations, reveals a recent survey conducted by greytHR, the leading full-suite Human Resource Management System (HRMS) platform. Notably, organisations with around 1000 employees could complete their payroll processing in just about 30 seconds using the innovative platform.
The findings point to an exponential shift within the GCC HR landscape, where organisations are embracing intelligent automated HR operations amid evolving labour regulations, hybrid work models, and the rise of multi-country workforces. The company’s data shows that 75 per cent of GCC companies are first-time HR automation adopters, while 24 per cent have migrated from legacy systems, highlighting the ongoing regional transition towards fully digitised, compliance-ready HR frameworks.
greytHR is powering this digital shift through its robust cloud-based infrastructure and AI-powered tools, which simplify the entire hire-to-retire employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding to core HR, leave, attendance, payroll, performance, exit and engagement.
Girish Rowjee, Co-founder and CEO of greytHR, said, “At greytHR, we believe that ‘people’ are the primary pillar of any business. A company’s growth relies on the dedication and hard work of its employees. As a result of this belief, we built our HRMS to make employee lifecycle management simpler, more transparent, and more connected within the HR ecosystem. Our goal is to help organisations reinvent how they manage and support their workforce through intelligent, people-focused automation in today’s digital world.”
Through it’s a highly intelligent and unified system, greytHR has been continuously addressing the region’s distinctive challenges and maximising impact through efficient workforce management.
Sayeed Anjum, Co-Founder & CTO, greytHR, said: “As companies expand across borders and hybrid work models become the norm, HR leaders face issues such as manual payroll errors, fragmented systems and limited automation, which can directly impact compliance, employee satisfaction, and productivity. Our platform is tailored to address these pain points and the region’s unique needs by serving as an intelligent, unified system that simplifies all stages of workforce management. This further aligns with our broader vision of creating measurable impact for companies and transforming the regional HR ecosystem through digitisation.”
He further stated: “Currently, IT & ITeS, Business, and Financial Service sectors lead in HRMS adoption, at 19 per cent, 15 per cent and 10.5 per cent respectively, highlighting the vital role of technology-driven and service-oriented businesses in catalysing the ongoing digital HR revolution.”
greytHR offers built-in compliance features tailored to GCC nations, including automated GPSSA deductions, multi-country payroll capabilities, and real-time analytics. Moreover, its intuitive interface and modular architecture make it accessible to businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises.
The company showcased these advanced offerings at the recent HR Summit & Expo 2025, held in Dubai, highlighting its commitment to supporting the region’s evolving workforce needs. As GCC continues to position itself as a global business hub, greytHR remains steadfast in its efforts to positively shape the future of the regional HR industry.
Tech News
NEW SOLARWINDS REPORT: GEN AI SIGNIFICANTLY DROPS INCIDENT RESPONSE TIME FOR ITSM TEAMS
SolarWinds, a leading provider of simple, powerful, secure observability and IT management software, has released its 2025 ITSM Report, which outlines a clear delineation between Information Technology System Management systems that leverage generative AI (GenAI) in their operations and those that do not. The report analyzed more than 2,000 ITSM systems and more than 60,000 aggregated and anonymized customer data points.
Over the past year, IT teams have moved from experimenting with automation to actively integrating generative AI into their workflows—reshaping how they diagnose issues, resolve incidents, and deliver service. What began as an efficiency play is now transforming team structures and redefining the ITSM experience itself. As GenAI becomes embedded in daily operations, organizations are uncovering new performance gains and insights that signal a broader shift in how IT service management is evolving.
The GenAI Effect: Faster Resolutions, Smarter Service
The data shows that organizations using GenAI in ITSM significantly reduce incident resolution times. SolarWinds analysts examined key AI-driven capabilities—such as automated ticket responses, knowledge article recommendations, and incident summaries—and compared resolution times before and after enabling GenAI. The results revealed:
- The average resolution time before GenAI: 27.42 hours
- The after GenAI enablement: 22.55 hours
- The average time saved per incident: 4.87 hours
- The relative reduction: 17.8 percent
The report also reviewed the resolution times of organizations that have yet to implement GenAI into their ITSM functions. The data showed a much wider gap between GenAI enablement/non-enablement than the group mentioned above:
- The average incident resolution time (non-GenAI customers): 32.46 hours
- The average for GenAI customers post enablement: 22.55 hours
- The time difference: 9.91 hours per incident
- The relative improvement: 30.5 percent
GenAI adopters represent more mature, innovation-driven ITSM operations. This consists of teams already embracing self-service, knowledge management, and automation. Their adoption signals a culture ready to drive broader organizational innovation and transformation.
Reclaiming Time and Producing ROI
When IT teams significantly reduce time spent on manual tasks, they reclaim valuable hours that can be redirected toward strategic initiatives—turning efficiency gains into tangible ROI for the organization. According to the data, which culminated all incidents logged from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025, GenAI-enabled organizations saved a cumulative 323,343 hours after GenAI enablement.
“By leveraging GenAI, ITSM teams can reclaim time and resources once spent on routine tasks, enabling them to focus on strategic initiatives that drive real business value,” said Lauren Okruch, Senior Manager for ITSM, at SolarWinds. “Looking ahead, embracing technologies like GenAI isn’t just about efficiency—it’s a strategic imperative for organizations aiming to innovate, stay ahead of change, and transform IT from a support function into a proactive driver of growth.”
Setting ITSM Teams up for Success
SolarWinds is committed to offering ITSM teams AI tooling and other innovative solutions that drive efficiency and improve user experience, including the announcement of the SolarWinds AI agent and other innovations on October 8. The SolarWinds Service Desk Premier Plan offers ITSM customers:
- Automation workflows and runbooks
- AI-powered suggestions and deflection tools
- Enhanced reporting and customization options
- Virtual Agent integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams
Tech News
VERTIV SELECTED TO SUPPLY ADVANCED AI-READY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR DIGITAL REALTY’S NEW DATA CENTER CAMPUS IN ITALY
Vertiv (NYSE: VRT), a global provider of critical digital infrastructure, today announced it will supply next-generation infrastructure for ROM1, Digital Realty’s first data center in Italy with a planned capacity above 3 MW. The agreement extends the comprehensive suite of Vertiv solutions and existing technology implementations with Digital Realty across European locations, including Paris, Madrid, and Amsterdam.
The ROM1 facility will feature advanced cooling and power infrastructure designed specifically for high-performance computing (HPC) environments. The technology implementation includes innovative free-cooling systems that leverage Rome’s climate conditions, and highly energy-efficient power management systems designed to support high-density workloads.
The project will be implemented in phases, with the facility planned to begin operations in 2027. ROM1 will serve as a carrier-neutral facility optimized for AI and machine learning workloads. Its strategic location will establish Rome as a key digital hub, connecting to major Mediterranean cities through fiber networks and submarine cables. Expansion plans also include connectivity in Barcelona, launching in early 2026. The new facility will support the company’s growth as a leader in the Mediterranean, complementing its existing data centers in Marseille, Athens, and Crete.
“Rome is emerging as a crucial gateway for digital infrastructure between Europe and the Mediterranean,” says Alessandro Talotta, managing director, Italy of Digital Realty. “The cutting-edge technologies selected for ROM1 will help establish it as a strategic AI hub, setting new benchmarks for energy efficiency and performance in high-performance computing.”
“The growing adoption of AI applications is driving the need for more sophisticated data center infrastructure,” says Karsten Winther, president for EMEA at Vertiv. “Our cooling and power solutions are built on decades of experience in supporting the most demanding applications and are designed for projected scalability while helping customers meet their efficiency objectives.”
ROM1’s technical innovations include AI-ready cooling systems that adapt to varying workload demands and high-efficiency power distribution designed for intensive computing. The facility incorporates smart environmental controls that respond to real-time conditions and are integrated with alternative energy sources. These technological choices reflect both companies’ focus on supporting advanced computing needs while minimizing energy consumption and environmental impact.
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