Page 40 - SAMENA Trends - January 2021

ARTICLE SAMENA TRENDS

Innovative ICT solutions empowering the Doctor Solution helps both healthcare Accordingly, Omantel's pathbreaking ICT
society to counter COVID-19 challenges providers and patients to continuously solutions have lent these policies a big
COVID-19 unexpectedly impacted business monitor patients’ health condition push. The Company continues to throw
processes, personal communications, online around the clock. The Remote its full technological support behind the
access to data, learning, transportation, Consultation Telemedicine (Virtual Clinic) economy as businesses, government
retail and much more. Technologies such has helped overcome geographic barriers and private offices and academic bodies
as cloud, virtual conferencing, IoT and 5G to healthcare, especially for specialized prepare themselves for the new normal.
which were in their pilot stages, became providers where patients and doctors can
mainstream, nearly overnight. As the shift meet virtually for consultation. The pandemic accelerated digital adoption
arrived, businesses across sectors were and forced the reinvention of processes
required to realign their strategies and Other than this, Omantel has lent its and business models in Oman. Thus,
operations. technical and infrastructural resources for building on these advances is the best
distance learning needs of the Ministry of course of action to kickstart growth, the
COVID-19 unexpectedly Education. Omantel's ICT devices secured report indicates. Omantel has been playing
commercial and service establishments
an empowering and leading national role in
impacted business pro- by checking temperature, detecting this direction with continued reinvention,
cesses, personal commu- face masks and keeping a people count rethinking and investment for every sector.
nications, access to data, digitally. Its Artificial Intelligence-enabled For example, blockchain is being piloted
automated chatbots have taken over some
in the logistics sector as supply chains
learning, transportation, call center duties. become more complex. Oman’s airports
retail and much more. Omantel's digital solutions have created and sea ports are at the forefront of
embracing digital dependence through 5G,
Technologies such as contactless work premises with alerts robotics, Drone and other technologies to
cloud, virtual conferencing, that replace Fingerprint/Badge Scanner improve security, customer experience and
through Bluetooth and GPS. Omantel
operational efficiency.
IoT and 5G which were in has also facilitated the highly secure
their pilot stages, became e-Signature service that eliminates the The pandemic accelerated

mainstream, nearly over- need for physically signing or sending digital adoption and forced
documents, by replacing the system with
night. As the shift arrived, digital and mobile processes that enable the reinvention of process-
businesses across sectors signature on any device. es and business models in
were required to realign Needless to say that Omantel Oman. Thus, building on
their strategies and opera- revolutionized the Working from Home set- these advances is the best
tions. up by offering and facilitating platforms like course of action to kick-
Cisco Webex and Microsoft Teams, which
are both virtual meeting and collaboration start growth...
Through its rapidly implemented tools, apart from the Company supported
measures, Omantel led the way in digital popular and successful In Country Video
adoption. The Company allayed general Conference solution Igtimaati, which also To sum up, digital economies, post
security concerns over digital processes digitizes minutes of meetings. All these COVID-19 will thrive by catering to
through its efficient, innovative and tailor- have kept the efficiency and network speed personalised needs through solutions
made solutions for individuals, private and uninterrupted, thus helping the economy that offer easy transactions and real time
government entities. This not just enabled continue on its path of growth with minimal functionality, thus creating more growth
businesses and powered the economy, impact. avenues and profits. A trickle-down effect
but also the Company’s own manpower to of this on the people will be seen in the
work remotely, flexibly without hindering Contributing to Oman’s digital future form of sustained economic prosperity.
service delivery. A World Economic Forum study showed Therefore, it is expected that Omantel, the
that returns on digital investments and in digital partner of choice in the consumer
One of the case studies was the back new technologies is positive overall, with arena as well as for public and private
up Omantel’s call centre infrastructure a three-time increase in productivity when sector businesses in Oman, will always
provided for the Ministry of Health’s crucial technologies are deployed in combinations continue to empower the Sultanate’s digital
COVID-19 response. The Company’s of AI, machine learning, edge computing, future and pave the way for Generation Z
ICT solutions like the Home Doctor and quantum computing, blockchain, big data and beyond.
Virtual Clinics are complementing the analytics, and 5G.
hard work of frontline health staff. Home

40 JANUARY 2021