Bain & Company has added to the chorus of concern for the world’s working class by predicting a doubling of automation activities among companies over the next two years. The strategy and management consultancy came to this conclusion after conducting a survey of 800 executives worldwide, many who have had no other choice but to turn to automation to keep business running throughout the crisis due to social distancing mandates.
A new survey from global advisory and brokerage Willis Towers Watson has revealed that the sudden shift to remote working brought about the global coronavirus pandemic has not significantly impacted productivity among workers in the UAE. Indeed, more than 1/5 of large local employers stated an increase to productivity, while the majority of respondents – 39% – suggested only a minor decrease.
Student housing is a relatively untapped market within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in general and Dubai specifically, according to a new vision paper by real estate consultancy CBRE. Experts Gabriella De La Torre, Michelle Fraser and Rim Ghalayini outline why growth is expected over the coming years.
Over 85% of the companies surveyed said that they expect revenue to drop in 2020, with over 30% predicting a revenue slide of over 30%. In response, financially hit companies are among others slashing non-people costs, freezing recruitment, deferring or reducing capital expenditures, reducing the use of contractors and putting staff on furlough.
PwC Middle East has released its own remote working charter to help its employees contend with the challenges of the current professional landscape. Regional PwC senior partner Hani Ashkar says: “Recognizing the challenges that come with working remotely, the charter outlines twelve values we should all work to incorporate in our daily practice; individually and together as part of a greater team.”
Classes were delivered online via Google Classrooms, which is an online platform that can be used to post tests and learning material. Meanwhile, instructive videos, audio notes and texts were distributed to students via WhatsApp. Generation reports that WhatsApp was an effective way to draw participation from all students involved.
Using Horváth & Partners’ tool, clients of the firm can keep track of what the current Covid-19 situation is anywhere in world and can use that info for risk management and health and safety responses – as well as grabbing any new opportunities quickly.
Accounting and consulting network Nexia International, the world’s ninth-largest network of its kind, has welcomed its latest global member firm, Innovative Business Solutions of Oman. The new addition further extends Nexia’s regional MENA footprint, with Algeria’s Addadahine Kawther joining the network earlier this year.
SC&H Capital, the investment banking and advisory arm of SC&H Group, an accounting and consulting firm based in Sparks, Maryland, has launched a joint venture with Healthcare Management Partners and I3 Health Consulting. The joint venture will seek to serve the strategic and financial needs of the healthcare industry, which is currently being challenged by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The two consulting firms had previously worked together on “several projects” said Gunby (President and CEO of FTI Consulting), stating “we have seen the expertise, value and integrity they bring to their clients. Together, we look forward to continuing to deliver for the world’s leading telecom, media & technology companies as they address their most significant challenges and opportunities.”
Capita Consulting’s new partnership with low-code platform OutSystems is aimed at underpinning the consulting group’s ability to rapidly build, deploy, manage and maintain applications on behalf of customers. In this climate of rapid and escalating change, this is hoped to supply Capita’s clients with the ability to respond and adapt their business to suit their customers’ needs.
Since March, consulting firm Q5 and Leeds based charity Ahead Partnership have been collaborating to help organizations facing hard times during the current crisis. Called Pop-up Consulting, the new group offers a one-to-two days of pro bono consulting intervention to medium-sized businesses and charities, who would welcome some help, but do not have budget for consulting support.
Having already in the past fortnight launched a comprehensive apprenticeship programme for first-year university students in Saudi Arabia, Deloitte has backed up with another regional training initiative under its education and skills-building ‘WorldClass’ committment, with the local launch of its D-180 digital mentoring programme. D-180 is open to students and recent graduates with applications are now being accepted.
The VAT has been launched in Bahrain more than a year ago, on different goods and services in the kingdom. Tapping into this market, KPMG has launched a Robotics Process Automation solution that automates and facilitates large chunks of the workflow, while dealing with a number of critical controls for quality assurance.
The client, with accountabilities for setting the digital transformation agenda of Egypt, has the ambition to digitize government to business and government to citizen services. This will enable the institution to bolster its productivity, while enhancing the customer experience it offers to its ‘customers’.
When dealing with the COVID-19 crisis many people struggle to find the best sources of information. As a contribution to the business community, Infomineo has put together a repository of the best sources of information which we will keep updating during the COVID-19 crisis.
Gulf countries had the chance to benefit from the delayed exposure to the virus, to prepare in advance to deal with it. What is the current level of preparedness of these countries, to cope with the health crisis? And how exposed are their healthcare systems?
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