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From running a footwear business in India to starting one of Dubai\u2019s early IT ventures, Ashok Harpalani\u2019s path took unexpected turns. In this exclusive conversation with TECHx Media, the Computronic UAE founder looks back at how he built a career in a changing business environment, from the impact of the Gulf War to the early days of digital adoption. His story reflects a time when decisions were driven by instinct and experience, and progress came through steady effort.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ashok Harpalani, Founder of Computronic UAE<\/a>, has seen the UAE\u2019s digital landscape evolve from its infancy. With decades of experience in business and technology, his story is one of persistence, adaptation, and transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His journey began in 1982 with an idea. By 1986, after a visit to his in-laws in the UAE, that idea started taking shape. Back then, he was running a successful wholesale and retail footwear business in India. Before considering Dubai, he explored Asia, including a two-year stay in Bangkok to pursue garment trade. A legal dispute forced him to return home, where he refocused on his footwear business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dubai didn’t immediately impress him. But on a later visit, the city\u2019s pace, lifestyle, and business potential left a strong impression. Wanting more out of life, he took a leap. In 1990, he handed over his business to his brothers and moved to Dubai. Along with a partner, he entered the textile wholesale market. They did well at first, but the Gulf War in 1992 brought significant financial losses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The period that followed was difficult. Despite the pressure to return to India, he chose to stay in Dubai. He worked in textile retail for two years, searching for a new direction. Over tea one day, he discussed his frustration with a friend\u2019s brother who had IT experience. That conversation sparked a new idea: to launch an IT store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With no technical background but growing curiosity about the digital world, he co-founded Computronic<\/a> in 1992. Dubai was just beginning its digital journey, and Harpalani sensed the shift. He believed technology wasn\u2019t just a passing trend, it was the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Starting in IT was not easy. He had to adapt to local business customs, build trust in a new industry, and understand consumer preferences. Distributors were hesitant to support newcomers. But banking support and straightforward business regulations helped him move forward. He focused on a limited product range and gradually built a strong foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the years, he witnessed the UAE\u2019s transformation. The rollout of high-speed internet, 4G and 5G, and free nationwide fiber-optic upgrades marked the country\u2019s serious commitment to digital growth. Data centers and cloud<\/a> adoption became the norm. Smartphones and e-commerce reshaped everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He saw banking evolve from cash to contactless payments and online transfers. Small businesses gained reach through digital platforms. The UAE\u2019s shift to a tech-enabled society was underway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n