Curating a Sensation of Surprising Notes

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Mustafa Alasali, Founder and Owner of Mavroki

By Shereen Shabnam

The art of creating a signature scent requires not just knowledge and insights into the fragrance industry but a passion for the opulent world of fragrance. We speak to Mustafa Alasali who launched his brand Mavroki in 2018, a niche luxury French perfume house that is now one of the region’s pioneering forces in the perfume industry. We find out more about his mission to offer luxury with uniqueness via an uncompromising high-quality product.

Tell us about Mavroki and what made you venture into the fragrance industry?

Working in diamonds and luxury products for more than 22 years, led me to evolve and explore new expansions of our business that can complement the lifestyle our brands offer and help us always meet our customers’ expectations.

What is the USP of your latest fragrance collection?

Our latest collection has the most unique ingredients, where we sourced each element from different places in this world.

What fragrances do you love personally?

I have a passion towards the fusion and complex yet natural perfumes, that make you guess and wonder the notes of the olfactory. Also this means you can smell something different every time you use them. These types of perfumes are not only a pleasure to smell but also have a therapeutic effect -I made sure every scent we create has the same impact.

How is your business divided between Men and Women? And what characterizes your perfume?

It is more females focused; every perfume has its own personality.

Which is your bestseller in the region?

It depends on the season, every season has a different hero. We have recently launched Daz, which is a female Eau de parfum with a timeless olfactive narrative. It has a touch of freshness to delicately brighten the skin from morning to night through its vibrant radiance and a stirring blend of fruity and floral notes.

Can you talk about building a niche fragrance brand in a tightening distribution landscape?

According to studies, perfumes and beauty products sales will increase more than 50% by 2026 which give us a push to create more products. The niche segment has been a solid ten to fifteen-year emerging trend in perfume. And although many successful brands have emerged over this period, it is now almost at saturation level, with many being taken over by big corporations, historically involved with perfumes. Today, to build a niche fragrance brand in the current climate there are many entry barriers. These include two key aspects. Firstly, the know-how, we are talking specifically about luxury here, it takes a lot of skill, passion and technique to establish a signature brand in this market. The distribution itself is the second factor, concerning the saturation, it is hard for new brands to enter the distribution market and this is further amplified by the big corporations who are in much control of this distribution.

What does it take to be successful in this field?

To be successful in this business, you need these three main traits. Firstly, the mastering of the juice – a very coherent, innovative, out of the box and precious fragrance signature is essential. You have to know how to be good at it and there is no success without good juice. Secondly, the story – as we are talking niche we are not relying on a celebrity or big marketing campaigns but rather relying on quality, selectivity, creativity and exclusivity. You have to work around the marketing side of things in the niche sector and it is often very intangible. Hence, your storytelling is imperative and must relate to all your values. Thirdly, the distribution. Without a good model it is very difficult to succeed, alongside, of course, good financials. Personally, I also believe that the pandemic gave us the edge (and time) to launch new products when most of the niche brands were hesitant to do so. No risk, no glory.

What is your advantage of being a French brand?

It is synonymous with luxury, which supports the conception and the lifestyle associated with it, and that transmits into what we do as a brand. Furthermore, we are closer to the source of the perfume’s origin.

Can you explain why understanding the importance of your brand values is important to building a profitable business?

Without a long-term perspective, being honest, and transparent with your values there is no way you can build a successful long-term business. We have created every product with patience and love and are telling a beautiful story that relies on very solid values. Lastly, we are daring. We can pivot and make quick decisions when necessary, and this has bolstered our growth.

What are the advantages of your brand to be able to compete and attract the consumer? And how does the business environment help? As it is a highly competitive region in regards to perfume.

You have to be able to tell a good story. And we have a fantastic story to tell at Mavroki. People want to dream about what they wear, to incarnate the ‘spirit’ of a brand, and ultimately feel special. Therefore, the story you tell is very important. To be able to make it in this competitive market you have to be consistent in your offering, you can’t jump from one perfume to the next without remaining true to your signature. We use the high-end natural ingredients to create our perfumes in addition to the luxury and high-quality packaging. All of the above cannot be achieved without a synergetic team that has one objective and vision, to always give the best outputs.

In a recent study for Fraicheur.com, Beauty industry losses are expected to reach 175 billion dollars in 2020 due to working from home and therefore the decrease in makeup and cosmetics products use in general. Does this apply to the perfume market? And what are your expectations for this market in 2021?

With 2020 is behind us, I have a strong faith in the future. As per our expectations for the market in the next few years, we believe that it will continue to grow. Regarding this industry losses and I can’t speak on behalf of others, I can only say that Mavroki hasn’t been affected during the pandemic.

Being independent in a market dominated by giant groups must be challenging. What are your day to day challenges and advantages of being an independent brand in the perfume industry?

Being independent is an advantage as it gives us flexibility and speed when it comes to major decisions. You are much more agile. Developing and enhancing in addition to creating the most unique products for our customers are our only challenges.

What about e-commerce? To what extent does e-commerce work in the perfume industry?

Digital transformation is happening across all the industries, and is one of most fast-growing sectors. You cannot leave behind the customers’ needs and expect to have a profitable business; therefore, we see that e-commerce and online shopping are the present and the future of all sales platforms.

#GlobalTrendMonitor #Mavroki #Fragrances #Perfume #Interview #magazineUAE #magazine #mediaUAE #UAEbusiness #myDubai 

Transform your home for the summer season: Chattels & More

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By Shereen Shabnam

Summer has arrived and since most residents are not able to travel, why not invest in the home environment with the latest collection from Chattels & More. Titled “Fancy Accessories”, this latest collection features elegant furniture and stylish accessories in exciting textures and materials.

With an array of eccentric designs to decorate the home with unique statements, shoppers can explore the new range of unique, artistic and practical furniture that caters to a broad-spectrum of styles and tastes allowing consumers to explore their imagination and express their individuality with the new collection.

Filled with accessories made from raw materials such as stone and terracotta, this fanciful selection is bound to provoke attention and provide superior comfort, aesthetics, and functionality to the home. The collection’s elegant range fits multiple styles with an interesting colour palette from premium yellows to robust greys. A collection that promotes a calm and luxurious atmosphere, it’s minimal yet exotic statement pieces can make the home stand out as unique and original.

Ass. Butterfly Black/Gold on Globe D23x38h

Featuring glittering golden butterflies, this stunning ornament can make a classy statement on any table. Especially the stunning stone grey statement table to promote a cool and premium atmosphere.

Cocktail Glass Hommage

Enjoy elegant summer dining with a set of cocktail glasses from Chattels & More. Its gold accents exude an exquisite aura, perfect for refreshing the palette with ice-cold beverages.

Deco Object Leopard Mosaic 129 cm

Add a unique flair to any room with a bold accessory such as this Leopard Mosaic. Perfect for those with an individual style, when placed with minimalistic decorations such as these traditional and bold vases, a statement will certainly be made.

Gwayi Dia Set

This delicate dinner set displays a classic geometric pattern to calm the mind – an ideal way to dine in peace and class, away from the Summer heat.

Decorating a space with a range of bold wall art and accessories will uplift any space. From soft throws to opulent terracotta vases, the whole room can make a statement when fanciful accessories are well-placed to complement each other.

Whether working from home, or diving into a great book after a long week, relax in a comfortable space by adding some cushions, lighting and layers of textures around your comfortable arm chairs. #GlobalTrendMonitor  #Homedecor #Furniture #SummerCollection #magazineUAE #magazine #mediaUAE #UAEbusiness #myDubai 

Journey of Discovery: Barcelona

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By Shereen Shabnam

Every time we go to our Spanish home, we try and explore a different city and Barcelona, the second-largest city in Spain has been delight for all senses from visiting cultural sites, city attractions, art venues, trying out Catalan dishes and evening tapas experiences as well as taking a cruise ship that saw us visiting a number of nearby countries.

It is a city steeped in history with so much to see, especially in the Gothic Quarter which is the oldest neighborhood of Barcelona. Here you will find medieval structures, Gaudi’s architecture from the 19th and 20th centuries, winding alleys, the Cathedral of Barcelona, plazas and Roman ruins.

After a week on a cruise ship, we spent a lot of time in Las Ramblas, a pedestrian only street lined with cafes with the best tapas and drinks, shops and a bustling vibe. We also went to the La Boqueria nearby which had some beautiful Spanish gift items and then stopped at Placa Reial, a beautiful square perfect for people watching.

One late afternoon we drove to El Born which is the most trendy and artistic part of the city and explored a few avant-garde galleries, indulged in vintage shops vintage shops and took a stroll with our daughter who loved the idea of sampling little plates of dishes at tapas outlets. Our favourite dishes were laced with olive oil and include seafood dishes, fried potatoes and Spanish omelettes stuffed in baguettes.

Spain is famous for their tapas that are meant to be snacked on but we ordered a wide range of dishes and made a meal out of it. Seafood paella in Barcelona is an absolute must try dish and so is seafood done in different styles. I always enjoyed the cold sweet Spanish coffees that seem to inject life and energy into me in between the tours.

After fuelling up on food and drinks, head to L’Eixample for some famous architectural highlights such as the La Sagrada Familia and to El Raval which has some interesting boutiques and restaurants. We were on a trail to see as many of Gaudi’s work so we explored the area of Gràcia which has great views of the city and home to Gaudí’s famous hilltop park, Parc Güell. Gaudi is Barcelona’s most famous architect whose Gothic and Art Nouveau styles made him legendary around the world. We also loved Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, and Casa Milà.

If you are into art, head to the Picasso museum to learn about the life of one of the most influential artists in the 20th century. There are over 3,000 pieces of art and one of the biggest Picasso museums in the world.

If you have a lot of time, head to Barcelona History Museum. There are4,000 square meters of Roman ruins located beneath the city that you can walk through and learn more with an audio guide explaining the mosaics, wall frescoes and ancient documents.

Barcelona is one of those cities where you can easily spend weeks exploring. We rented a car and drove up to Cadaques to see Dali’s House – this remains of the best experiences ever even though it took a full day to get there with multiple coffee stops, tapas breaks and winding roads but it was well worth the journey.

It is best to stay the night there, get rested and explore the many attractions on the way back. It is a beautiful city with impressive architecture, charming medieval streets, amazing beaches and has something for everyone.

#GlobalTrendMonitor #travel #TravelJunkie #TravelTheWorld #wanderlust #globalista #wanderer #explore #discover #destinations #adventure #GoingPlaces #Tourism #LuxuryTravel #TravelDiary #AmazingPlaces #Travelling

True Cinema Experience: Nebula Cosmos Max

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The pandemic has had many effects on people around the globe but one common ground we can all share is that we are spending more time at home and have rediscovered the need to have a good home entertainment system that gives us a true cinema experience right in our living room.

With the new Anker Nebula Cosmos Max 4K UHD TV Home Theatre and Entertainment Projector, we can bring the cinema experience into our home. The superb image quality is perfect for watching movies, sports events, games and more, complete with 1,500 ANSI-lumen image plus Dolby Digital Plus and Sound Dimension®. The Cosmos’s speakers have been optimized to deliver 360° of true 3D audio.

Another highlight includes the adjustable Image Size. You can change the size of Cosmos Max’s image without ever having to move the projector, courtesy of the built-in digital zoom. Max out your movies at 150 inches, or scale things down for a more intimate affair, all with a simple tap of the remote.

For those who look for image quality and love being nostalgic by watching movies and personal videos from the past, Nebula Cosmos Max upscales everything. It breathes new life into your old DVDs, videos, and even live TV broadcasts thanks to Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG). It also automatically detects when you’re watching non-HDR content and upscales it in real-time so everything you watch looks sensational.

Whether you want to indulge in an ice-cream-fueled Prime Video binge or watch the big game via the ESPN app, Cosmos has you covered with endless entertainment. Users can choose from over 5000 apps including Hulu, Disney+, HBO, and many more with Android TV. The Model Number D2150 comes in black and is stylishly designed to blend in with any home deco ambience.

What’s In The Box: Nebula Cosmos Max, remote, quick start guide, adapter, 12-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.

#GlobalTrendMonitor  #Anker #Nebula #CosmosMax #Cinema #magazineUAE #magazine #mediaUAE #UAEbusiness #myDubai 

An Edge Computing Breakup: Out with the Old, and In with the New

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Co-authors: Dave Russell, Vice President of Enterprise Strategy at Veeam and Rick Vanover, Senior Director of product Strategy at Veeam

When COVID-19 arrived in early 2020, enterprises’ first priority was to patch together a communications and information-sharing infrastructure that could sustain operations until work could return to normal. More than a year later, returns are on hold, and enterprises are rethinking their visions of “normal.” They’re reimagining their workplaces and their business practices – embracing more flexible models that take advantage of the benefits of edge technologies.

Edge computing is defined loosely as a model that brings computational, data storage and connectivity resources closer to the locations where they’re needed, saving bandwidth and accelerating response times. Edge technologies power millions of IoT applications in industrial, retail, healthcare and smart cities environments, and, prior to 2020, analysts expected an additional bump from virtual reality and 5G in the coming years.

Then the pandemic hit, and the need for edge technologies suddenly accelerated. As millions of workers shifted out of enterprise hubs into more remote locations, they put a strain on networks, creating increased latency and a greater need for computer power, capacity, and storage closer to the new network edge.

It’s not just workers connecting on Zoom occupying this new edge. Video editors working from home are transmitting huge files, schools are engaging thousands of students in online classes, and physicians are conducting remote health visits where high-res images are posted and circulated. Investing in edge solutions that process data locally and enable more seamless connections avoids having to slog through increasingly overburdened public networks.

The result: a boom in edge-related hardware, software and applications. Analysts are predicting a major growth spurt at the edge, rocketing up 30 percent a year to $44.0 billion by 2030.

As enterprises accelerate investments in digital transformation projects, edge technologies will open up new opportunities to succeed in the marketplace. Here are a few areas where they’ll play prominent roles.

Customer service

Customers, of course, can be demanding. They want choices, information, intuitive purchasing options, respect for their privacy and, at times, a little coddling. Businesses can respond better in transactional situations if they can have information and insights available in the moment. This plays right to the strengths of edge applications.

Retailers, for instance, can use edge devices with web caching functions to replicate online customer experiences in the physical world. They can capture customer information, apply insights from shopping patterns, process connections in real time and be ready to serve the customer better at key points of the buying journey.

Outside the store, changeable digital displays can broadcast pop-up sales to attract customers inside. As customers enter, the network connects to their personal devices and access their purchase history. Customers then can request customized coupons or connect to personalized shopper assistance. Inside the store, strategically positioned kiosks and screens display customized promotional offers based on each shopper’s buying patterns.

Sales associates can use digital assistant devices to check updated inventory levels or gather insider product information. Easy-to-use product finder displays can steer customers to the right products based on individual, self-selected preferences.

Security

The proliferation of edge computing applications has significant – and seemingly contradictory – ramifications for security.

On one hand, adding more nodes opens up more places vulnerable to attack. This will force IT security leaders to bolster their defenses to ensure that information and applications stored at the edge match the strength their applying inside the data center itself.

At the same time, edge computing’s decentralized nature brings some security benefits. If an edge device is breached, security teams can easily wall off the endpoint so the attack doesn’t spread to the whole network. They can also configure their edge models to keep more data at the endpoints and limit the amount of information that gets sent back to home office. That adds an extra layer of security, keeping threats away from the data center, where more mission-critical resources are stored.

To optimize the security of an edge-enabled system, organizations will need to establish strong governance programs to control the data that’s being generated, processed and transferred from individual sites.

Plus, since IoT devices are tough to secure, it’s important that the edge computing deployment emphasizes proper management of the devices themselves. They’ll need to establish policy-driven configuration enforcement and security for computing and storage, paying special attention to encryption of data at rest and in flight.

While edge security isn’t a new concept, the scale of the challenge has grown with the expansion of remote work and on-site IoT-related applications. Solving these edge security issues will be a top priority in 2021 and beyond.

Democratizing technology

Gartner identified democratization as one of its top ten strategic technology trends for the enterprise in 2020. While the projection focuses mainly on a broader sharing of technical and business domain expertise, it can be extended to include an increase in democratization of commerce itself – enabled by the growth of edge technologies.

The edge’s ability to aggregate, process and analyze data locally opens up new opportunities for entrepreneurial ventures outside major hubs of commerce. Data will be cheaper to manage, and it will be available to larger pools of talent. Startup and operational costs will be lower, creating a budding market for new ventures in new and existing industries.

The democratization will be driven, in part, by society’s move to remote work. Home-based businesses will create their own individual edge outlets, and organizations will establish regional edge hubs to serve growing numbers of remote employees and contractors. And, telecommunications providers will shore up edge hubs and leverage faster 5G to lighten the traffic loads that are bogging down today’s suddenly overburdened networks.

Gartner’s trend prediction projects four key elements of democratization to accelerate through 2023. These include the democratization of data and analytics (tools targeting data scientists expanding to target the professional developer community), development (AI tools to leverage in custom-developed applications), design (expanding on the low-code, no-code phenomena with automation of additional application development functions to empower the citizen-developer) and knowledge (non-IT professionals gaining access to tools and expert systems that empower them to exploit and apply specialized skills beyond their own expertise and training).

We will see edge technologies pushing commerce into the mix starting this year.

#GlobalTrendMonitor  #Veeam #Technology #Security #AI #IT #magazineUAE #magazine #mediaUAE #UAEbusiness #myDubai 

FLY NOW, PAY IF OK is Now Available in the UAE

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Innovative flight compensation company, Colibra, is now live for users in the United Arab Emirates to use. For the first time the ‘Fly Now, Pay if Okay’ service allows passengers with a valid UAE residency to book flights that they only pay for if their flight arrives on time. They now have the privilege to be the first in the world to use the pilot version of the product and test this disruptive travel technology.

The Colibra app guarantees UAE residents that if the flight is cancelled or delayed for more than three hours, passengers do not have to pay for their plane tickets at all. This service is entirely free for users of the app, allowing them to book tickets within 30 days before departure (and arrival) and then pay the regular ticket fare if their flight arrives on time or within three hours of its scheduled departure. 

The Colibra app is now available to download on the Apple Store for IOS users, as well as on the Google Play Store for Android users.

How the app works:

1. The passenger chooses a flight – it must depart and arrive within 30 days from the booking date

2. Adds his/her personal data – Colibra doesn’t charge at the time of booking

3. Colibra charges the passenger upon arrival if everything goes smoothly and the service is delivered (ticket’s price is at no extra cost). In all other cases, the user travels for FREE.

Fuel Cell & Battery Electric Vehicles: The Inevitable Future of Clean Mobility

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By Bang Sun Jeong, Vice President, Head of Middle East & Africa Operation, Hyundai Motor Group

With climate change continuing to be an important topic around the world, more questions are being asked of how automobile manufacturers can help reduce the emissions that are being produced by vehicles on a daily basis. 

According to statistics from the International Energy Agency, road transportation accounts for three-quarters of transport emissions while transportation alone makes up one-fifth of global carbon dioxide emissions. It is a significant problem and one that simply cannot be ignored. 

In recent years, several vehicle makers including Hyundai Motor Company, have committed to play their part in addressing this issue by providing clean mobility. We are already seeing the beginning of this with many clean and energy-efficient vehicles being driven on the roads today. 

Most of them are battery electric vehicles (BEVs) which are becoming an increasingly popular choice for consumers today. It is easy to see why. Many governments around the globe have rolled out financial incentives to encourage the adoption as part of its long-term strategy to go green. 

For instance, the United Kingdom is set to ban the sales of new cars and vans that are powered by diesel or petrol from 2030 while the American government has pledged to invest heavily in clean energy including electric vehicles with plans to install 500,000 new charging outlets by the end of 2030. This would be a huge jump given there are currently less than 29,000 public EV chargers across the U.S.

Although these plans would help accelerate the sales of BEVs, trying to change the majority of people’s behaviours to switch to ‘greener’ and sustainable vehicles will not be easy.

How long would it take to charge? Is it affordable? How far would consumers be able to travel and how long would the batteries last before it needs replacing? These are just some of the questions being raised by potential new buyers before making the final decision and doing their part in protecting the environment. 

Many of these answers are largely down to the use of advanced technologies and how practical they are. Today, more organisations within the industry are collaborating to leverage different forms of technologies to develop vehicles and infrastructure that will make BEVs a climate-friendly way to get around. 

While these are big steps forward, BEVs are not the only transport solution that will help make our cities and towns cleaner. 

Hydrogen power has been on the market for many years but in a very limited capacity. Yet, it has been identified as a key green transportation technology and in recent years, Hydrogen, the most abundant element on Earth, has become a vital resource in the automotive industry.

Hydrogen cars or fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV) as they are widely known today are unlike BEVs. 

Firstly, FCEVs are installed with a hydrogen tank that enters the fuel cell using a combination of hydrogen and oxygen which generates electricity to power the motors. This means that hydrogen cars have characteristics of both electric cars due to the use of electric energy and conventional petrol cars which have tanks.

As well as reducing carbon footprints and greenhouse gases, another difference is that FCEVs do not require consumers to plug in the vehicle to an outlet for refuelling which can be done between five and 10 minutes. 

For example, the Hyundai NEXO Fuel Cell only needs less than five minutes to refuel for a driving range of up to 380 miles. To put that into perspective, that is almost the distance of a full-round trip between Washington DC and New York compared to BEVs which can range between 100 and 200 miles. 

Furthermore, FCEVs can store more energy at a lower density while hydrogen is a more sustainable and long-term fuelling option that can be used for long periods without even harming the environment.

Despite these positives, one of the biggest challenges is costs. Although a variety of FCEVs have been rolled out in the last two decades including Hyundai’s Santa Fe FCEV –the Company’s first fuel cell EV and the world’s first mass-produced FCEV Hyundai ix35, the demand is relatively low. 

There are many reasons for this but one of the main problems is that they are expensive to buy. This is largely down to manufacturing and technology costs which will only drop when production numbers rise. 

Even if consumers can afford a new FCEV, there needs to be a substantial number of Hydrogen fueling stations across all countries and these facilities will only be built by fuel companies if there is enough business. 

However, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is among the countries that already have installed at least a fueling station which shows that some nations are more than ready to welcome hydrogen-powered vehicles to their roads.

It is clear that BEVs and FCEVs have the advantage of producing zero local emissions and at Hyundai Motor, we see a bright future for both types of vehicles. It is part of our vision to produce automobiles that are sustainable and eco-friendly.

Yet, we realise that a huge amount of work needs to be done to provide a clean mobility landscape. As part of our long-term strategy, Hyundai plans to roll out at least 12 BEV models with the objective to sell 560,000 EVs per year by 2025. During this same period, Hyundai Motor Group, plans to expand its BEV lineup to 23 models by 2025 with the goal to sell 1 million units annually in global markets.

At the same time, Hyundai Motor Group has set out its ‘FCEV Vision 2030’ roadmap, reaffirming its commitment to accelerate the development of a hydrogen society by leveraging its global leadership in fuel cell technologies. 

During the next nine years, Hyundai Motor Group aims to secure a 700,000-units-a-year production capacity of fuel cell systems for automobiles as well as for non-automotive sectors, such as vessels, rail cars, drones and power generators.

As for fuel cell vehicles, Hyundai Motor has already started exporting its XCIENT Fuel Cell, the world’s first mass-produced fuel cell heavy-duty truck with 2,000 units being developed per year by 2021 to support expansion in Europe, the U.S. and China as demand for clean transport solutions grows. 

Overall, it is inevitable that we will be seeing more BEVs and FCEVs being driven in the future as they are part of the solution that will make our cities cleaner. If members of society are to shift to these vehicles, it would require policy-makers, governments and industry experts to work together and overcome any challenges.

It is simply not enough to develop these vehicles for the roads in mass production unless there is sufficient infrastructure in place and are affordable to buy and operate. Therefore, resourcefulness will be key to clean and sustainable mobility. 

#GlobalTrendMonitor #Hyundai #Mobility #Technology #FuelCell #Vehicles  #magazineUAE #magazine #mediaUAE #UAEbusiness #myDubai 

Digital Marketplace for Car Services

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Interview with Ahmed Nasser Co-Founder of Odiggo

Shereen Shabnam

We recently had coffee at the Shangri La Dubai with Ahmed Nasser, Co-Founder and President of Odiggo, a one-stop-shop for everything you need for your vehicle. He tells us how the business started and how e-commerce is empowering the younger generation to come up with new ways to do business.

Odiggo is an app that connects all car owners with the best quality car parts at the lowest prices possible. It is perfect for those who wouldn’t know where to start when it comes to buying parts for their cars and need to know who has the capability to do the job and at what price.

The global market for the auto parts and accessories manufacturing industry is currently valued at US$2 Trillion and is one of the top 10 industries in the world. It is a $61 billion (AED224 billion) industry in the Middle East and Africa alone which is a brilliant opportunity for Odiggo to use its E-commerce expertise to transcend the market and become the leading company in the industry.

How did Odiggo start?

It started with Ahmed Omar who was keen on e-commerce after he sold his dad’s bike online and received part of the sales. His career and journey to Germany and the USA exposed him to the potential of e-commerce and on return to Cairo, he started  new ventures with friends. In 2017, Omar launched an online with friends for used and new cars and called it Kasr-Zero with a supporting online marketplace that offers car spare parts.

It was in 2019 that we set up Odiggo which means ‘drive’ and now has revenues that have increased from 6 million to 100 million.

How big are you?

We operate in Egypt and have just launched in the UAE. Our team and investors are all over the world but the core team is about 35 people strong.

What do you offer via the App and how does the back-end technology work?

We offer a one-stop-shop for everything you need for your vehicle and the app connects all car owners with the best quality car parts at the lowest prices possible with best service provider at your doorstep including offering customers free car washes.

Describe your target audience?

There are two apps – one for customer and one for supplier. We target individual car owners and look after any type of car. We are also getting requests for our services from businesses now as well.

Are there any expansion plans?

We intend to expand to Saudi and then to other parts of the world but we also intend to expand our services and look after not just cars but also bikes and trucks in the future.

How do you select suppliers?

There is a criteria as we initially focus on the top 20 who hold the highest market share because of their track record reputation and size. Once they get a taste of the reach we have, they stay and this encourages the rest of the market to come on board. Currently we are a market leader in Egypt because of the due diligence done on our suppliers.

What’s next for Odiggo?

We will be connecting the car directly with the app using our deep-tech dashboard. By doing this we will know the accurate diagnosis of the car at the right time. This offers the best customer experience as we hope to use AI technology for OBD (On-Board Diagnostics), and enhance vehicle’s self- diagnostic and reporting capability allowing us to get data to identify between 2-3K errors in a car. This is a gamechanger for us and will see us grow tenfold in the future.

#GlobalTrendMonitor #technology #App #Software #Odiggo #Business #interview #magazineUAE #magazine #mediaUAE #UAEbusiness #myDubai