Inaugural HR Tech Saudi Summit Opens with High-Level Presentations

Uniting HR and IT professionals in Saudi Arabia for the first time, the inaugural HR Tech Saudi Summit, organised by Dubai based QnA International, will take place at the Mövenpick Hotel, Riyadh. The two-day summit begins 20 November. The Summit is set to lead discussion and debate on the Kingdom’s adoption of cutting-edge HR technologies, processes, and practices.

Topics of discussion at the Summit will cover the newest trends, ideas and disruptions in HR technology. The Summit is timely as Saudi Arabia continues to drive through a national agenda of development and innovation, in line with the ambitions set out in Saudi Vision 2030. The first-day’s sessions begin with discussions tailored to achieving Vision 2030 through HR technology, and the importance of choosing appropriate HRMS systems delivered by SAP.

The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 is a roadmap outlining policies and strategies for the diversification and development of a thriving non-oil dependent economy. Integral to all economic change are the personnel involved in steering and enabling strategies towards the outlined goals, and in Saudi Arabia many of these individuals will come from its youthful and tech-savvy cohort. Therefore, the challenges in training and managing human resources will require a multi-faceted approach with technology at its core.

Sidh N.C., Director, QnA International, said: “The HR Tech Saudi Summit is the only premier initiative for HR Tech in the Kingdom. Taking place for the first time, the Summit will present new opportunities for businesses to transform HR through a concentrated focus on digitized and smart systems.

“Concepts such as big data, cloud, social media, mobility and gamification are today’s buzzwords. However, tackling the key issues of talent acquisition, talent management, change management and employee engagement, are the true keys to building a successful business that will thrive over the coming decades.”

The Summit takes place as the Kingdom prepares to invest SAR 8.3 billion to support HR and workplace development across key growth sectors under Vision 2030. The cash boost is the latest in a number of significant investments in leading technology solutions set to transform how and why Saudi Arabia does business.

Sidh continued: “Finding, training and retaining talent are the traditional concerns of any HR manager, but today HR managers are instead focused on harnessing and integrating technology.” Through remote, mobile and real-time connectivity, digital HR tools now support and enhance such functions as interviewing, performance management and KPI review. However, choosing the appropriate tools for the business and task at hand are important for its effectiveness.

Global leader, SAP, the Platinum sponsor of the inaugural HR Tech Saudi Summit will address concerns in adopting the right HRMS system for a business. In doing so, SAPs presentation will include key insights on change management, the importance of redefinition and revaluation of current HR systems and processes, and the need for customization amongst other pertinent challenges.

“Inspired by digital transformation and the heightened pace of change across business, Saudi Arabia’s leaders have come to recognize the overwhelming benefits and efficiencies of digitized HR management and are supporting its continued development. The unique business landscape of Saudi Arabia provides an excellent test-bed for such developments, and organizations in both the public and private sector have the potential to create real change and innovation across people management.”

Delivering insightful keynotes, focused roundtable discussions and lively panel debates, speakers over the two-day event will include: Nawaf Al Dhubaib, Head of HR Transformation, Ministry of Finance; Ahmad Alsalem, Chief Corporate Services Officer, SALIC; Ahmad Al Ghamdi, VP- HR, Saudi Telecom Company; Darren Kamphuis, Chief Learning Officer, Saudi Electricity Company; Fouzi Bubshait, VP – Strategic Human Capital, Ma’aden; and Faisal Algurouni, Senior Advisor, Saudi Aramco, to name a few.

Sessions will assess topics such as, building the organization of the future; leadership strategies to overcome human challenges; and how to plan for major change in building the future organization, in addition to sessions on organizational performance, LMS and leadership strategies.

There will also be lively contributions from representatives of some of the world’s leading technology developers including IBM who is a Gold sponsor of the Summit. Other sponsors include, IE Business School, Technova, and Mercer to name a few.

The launch of HR Tech Saudi Summit, follows the success of HR Tech MENA, which took place in Dubai in May 2017 under the theme the Future of Work. Discussion at the third edition of the Summit ranged from the challenges of rapid technological developments to the need for enhancement of workplace life, at a time when organisations the world over are implementing digital workplace solutions.