Digital transformation continues to drive organisations to adopt cutting-edge technologies to stay competitive and relevant, reshaping industries across the globe. As enterprises evolve, integrating digital technology into all areas of a business fundamentally changes how companies operate and deliver value to customers. In Saudi Arabia, this digital revolution is at the heart of Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s ambitious plan to diversify its economy and develop public service sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation, and tourism.
Technology players are pivotal in achieving the nation’s goals, enabling enterprises to align with this vision and pushing Saudi Arabia’s economic and social objectives forward. In this dynamic environment, e& enterprise stands out as a driving force, playing a crucial role in realising the nation’s ambitious plans.
“We started in April 2020, which was the worst time for any entity to start due to the pandemic,” says Tareq Alangari, CEO, e& enterprise KSA. “Initially, it was just a concept on paper with only a commercial registration. I was the first employee.”
When e& enterprise’s parent company, e&, acquired the cybersecurity firm Help AG in February 2020, the workforce in Saudi Arabia expanded to over 30 employees. Fast forward to today, and the company is on track to have more than 600 employees on the ground by the end of this year, with projections to reach 1,500 by next year.
According to Alangari, this extraordinary growth is driven by a strategic blend of developing core businesses and acquiring existing ones, enabling e& enterprise to scale its operations rapidly across Saudi Arabia.
Diverse innovations for growth
e& enterprise provides extensive consultancy services, specialising in crafting comprehensive end-to-end digital transformation solutions, from design to implementation and operation. Their innovative offerings cover a broad spectrum of capabilities, including cloud, data and artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Moreover, they have a dedicated fintech division that delivers platform solutions specifically designed for major banks and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
The company mainly focuses on delivering bespoke digital value propositions to customers. These solutions enable sustainable growth, enhance operational efficiencies, bring exceptional customer experiences, and support data-driven decision-making across diverse industries and sectors.
With its strategic location, large and tech-savvy population, and strong government support for innovation and digitalisation, Saudi Arabia is a vital market for e& enterprise to expand its footprint and drive technological advancement. The Kingdom is poised for impressive growth, with IDC predicting that the Saudi IT services market will reach $6.4 billion by 2027. In light of this promising outlook, e& enterprise is committed to driving the nation’s rise as a global digital leader.
“e& enterprise’s strategy in Saudi Arabia is multifaceted, focusing on five distinct verticals or business lines: cybersecurity, customer experience, cloud solutions, IoT, and peer-to-peer lending. Saudi is a primary market in which all five verticals are active. This comprehensive approach has not only been implemented in Saudi Arabia but also extended to Turkey, Oman, and Egypt,” says Alangari.
Alangari emphasises that e& enterprise’s approach in Saudi Arabia extends beyond revenue growth to fostering a robust ecosystem. This is why partnerships and acquisitions are crucial elements of the company’s growth strategy. The main focus remains on accelerating the digital transformation in Saudi Arabia and aligning with the objectives of Vision 2030.
“We consistently seek out purposeful collaborations with other technology innovators and providers who share our vision. I believe this is what sets us apart in the market and is a deliberate strategy,” explains Alangari.
“By focusing on our core strengths and empowering local companies to excel in their areas of expertise, we ensure mutual growth and excellence. Our dedication to maintaining high-quality standards and exceptional customer service drives this approach. Partnering with local consulting firms with the right talent, capacity, and cost efficiency allows us to deliver superior value to enterprise customers.”
Among the notable partnerships e& enterprise established was with Bespin Global, a premier provider of cloud-managed services. This strategic alliance was created to offer comprehensive public cloud-managed and professional services, catering to the specific needs of customers across the Middle East, Turkey, Africa, and Pakistan (METAP) region.
e& enterprise also partnered with Maxbyte, a player in the field of integrated digital and robotics solutions, further demonstrating its commitment to accelerating Industry 4.0 innovations.
Additionally, e& enterprise has acquired a 100 percent stake in Beehive, and Alangari sets on the board of the newly acquired company. Beehive is a MENA-focused peer-to-peer digital platform that aims to capitalise on opportunities in the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) lending market.
With operations in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman, Beehive connects creditworthy SMEs seeking finance with investors, both private and institutional, offering conventional as well as Sharia compliant loans. This move enabled e& enterprise to provide an innovative lending solution to address the $250 billion SME credit gap across the GCC region combining its strong brand positioning with a Fintech platform.
“Our strategy, rooted in a strong sense of purpose and vision, is what drives our continuous growth,” says Alangari. “So far, we have achieved an impressive 136 percent growth year-to-date in earnings – a comparison between June 2023 and June 2024 – but we’re not resting on our laurels. Our goal is to achieve 2x the growth this year. That’s why we’re committed to investing heavily in resources and talent, ensuring we have the best people powering our mission.”
Championing talents
At the heart of e& enterprise KSA’s success is a strong focus on people, according to Alangari. “For me, it’s all about people,” he says.
The e& enterprise KSA chief believes that selecting the right people, empowering them, and providing them with a clear vision and purpose are key to achieving their ambitious goals.
“In my opinion, one of the most important departments in any organisation is the talent acquisition division. Through them you can find the best and fitting people for your business. Leaders must be discerning and proactive in selecting the right talent, investing significant time and effort to ensure only the best candidates are chosen,” explains Alangari.
He then emphasises that the foundation of success lies in having loyal team members who are willing to go above and beyond. Alangari also points out that maintaining a “good people filter” is crucial. “As leaders, we must ensure that once the right people are on board, we empower them to excel in their roles by giving them the freedom to work in the way they find most effective. Consequently, we must recognise that while talent is critical, character and cultural fit are equally important. This is how a welcoming and positive culture can transform untalented individuals into talented ones and non-hardworking individuals into hardworking ones.”
He adds: “Success is more than achieving your bottom line. If you have the right people with you, give them a good environment to work in, and provide them with a purpose to strive for, then you will be surrounded by individuals who can enable you to achieve your goals and targets. Believe me, if you get this part right, the rest will follow.”
As a testament to Alangari’s ethos and to demonstrate e& enterprise’s commitment to fostering local talents and facilitating job creation the company has launched a state-of-the-art Contact and Customer Experience Centre in Riyadh in June. The new facility is expected to generate over 1,500 new jobs across various roles.”
The centre is equipped with cutting-edge communication technologies, NOC control, and high-readiness data centres that comply with the Kingdom’s cybersecurity requirements. It also adheres to the highest standards of quality, security, and business continuity.
e& enterprise’s Contact and Customer Experience Center in Riyadh is staffed by experts in customer experience and contact centre management, holding technical and practical certifications specialised in quality management, customer, and beneficiary experience.
The new facility also focuses on fostering a suitable environment for national talent and promoting investment in the business outsourcing sector, call centres, and control operations.
“Currently, the Contact Centre employs over 200 Saudi nationals. By the end of the year, we anticipate increasing that number to 400. Next year, our goal is to expand to 1200 employees. With 400 seats available at the Contact Centre and operating in three shifts per day, we can accommodate this growth,” explains Alangari.
He adds: “Some customers will use our technology—laptops, headsets, and software—but will work at their own premises. We expect to have 300 of these off-site employees. Additionally, some companies prefer a hybrid model, with some employees working at our premises and some at theirs. Overall, we expect to create 1500 jobs by 2025.”
The promise of AI and sustainability
e& enterprise is also dedicated to driving AI progress and sustainability agendas in the Kingdom. Looking ahead, AI believes that AI is poised to be the most game-changing technology for the Saudi market.
“One of the most exciting things we’re working on right now is our AI vertical in Saudi Arabia,” he says. “We’re investing in developing local capabilities and projects that are tailored specifically for the Saudi market. We’ve already developed our own product lines with AI toolboxes for banking, defense, agriculture, workflow management, and communication, all ready to roll out.”
Alangari further underscores the robust groundwork already laid by the company’s AI team, which includes investing in local expertise, partnerships, and other initiatives that position e& enterprise KSA as a leader in the AI domain.
“We are among the few with a fully-fledged AI department and a dedicated Chief AI and Data Officer who is responsible for ensuring the effective integration of the technology across our operations. We have a team of data scientists and experts focused solely on AI initiatives. Additionally, our network of AI partners ensures that we deliver top-notch solutions. We are proud to be in a country like Saudi Arabia that wholeheartedly supports AI progress,” he says.
Alongside its dedication to technological advancement, e& enterprise also demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) initiatives.
“Sustainability is central to our purpose and vision. At e& enterprise, we ensure that our technological innovations are designed with sustainability in mind, exploring how advancements like AI can drive sustainability initiatives forward. These goals remain at the forefront of our initiatives, as we are committed to forging a future where technological innovation and sustainable progress in Saudi Arabia are seamlessly intertwined,” says Alangari.
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