German tech powerhouse, SAP went live with the first Public Cloud Data Center in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as the Saudi organizations began to invest heavily in cloud solutions. According to a recent report by BMI Research, the Saudi IT market is set to reach SAR 33 billion in 2018.
The launch of the SAP Public Cloud Data Center, the centerpiece of SAP’s 4-year SAR 285 million Saudi investment plan that is part of the wider Digital Hub, which additionally includes: an open digital platform supporting entrepreneurship, co-innovation with customers, partners, and the wider ecosystem to leverage cloud solutions to solve real world problems, and localization to support the Government’s vision and journey into digital transformation.
“Today’s SAP Public Cloud Data Center launch will deliver a new level of cloud-based digital solutions to accelerate transformation and competitiveness to the Kingdom, underscoring our commitment to Saudi Vision 2030,” said Ahmed Al-Faifi, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, SAP Middle East North. “Our in-country Public Cloud Data Center will enable Saudi public and private sector organizations to securely digitally transform their business.”
Using the SAP Public Cloud Data Center, organizations can adopt opex-friendly and scalable cloud solutions for 25 industries and 12 lines of business. The company is also exploring to integrate the SAP Public Cloud Data Center into the planned Saudi Government Cloud by underlining SAP’s support for the Saudi government to digitally transform.
“Our investment in a Public Cloud Data Center is aimed at supporting the Kingdom’s transformation into a leading digital economy, enabling young Saudi talent to innovate, and fostering the next generation of Saudi leaders,” said Khaled Alsaleh, the recently-appointed Managing Director for SAP Saudi Arabia. “Saudi organizations that use our SAP Public Cloud Data Center can optimize their budgets in an opex model, and analyze data easily and securely for new levels of business innovation to excel.”
Further fueling economic growth of the kingdom, SAP’s Startup Focus Program is supporting local entrepreneurs, and the Winnovate initiative is inspiring breakthrough innovations by providing a unique blend of coaching and tools to businesses and institutions.
