Exclusive Interview – Mubashir Chishti, Chief Operating Officer at SPECTRA INNOVATIONS PTE LTD
What is the 2023 market outlook for Spectra? As a distributor, what are your key strategic focus areas this year?
Earlier the impact of the pandemic has caused significant disruption around the world due to irregular supply chains. Since last year we are facing forex challenges and our business is also impacted by all these factors, driver shortages, logistics provider capacity issues, inflation, shipping delays, increased freight costs, depleted inventory levels, labor shortages and demand peaks are driving discussions and require attention. Operational leads have been asked to shift their focus from large change projects to day-to-day operations and staff and customer needs. Spectra Boards are now learning how to balance the oversight of crisis response with the strategic thinking required beyond these immediate challenges.
The successful implementation of transformation mandates will likely determine an organisation’s success post-pandemic. It is now more important than ever to ensure operations are flexible and resilient, with projects carried out, operations kept up to date and unnecessary added costs avoided.
Management should ensure they adopt a scalable crisis management process, have sufficient leadership capabilities in place, and document their experiences and learnings throughout the pandemic so they are able to balance short- and long-term priorities.
Our key strategic focus to overcome these challenges:
To address rigidities, Spectra is working with the vendors who should focus on building a network of trusted vendors (customers, supply chain partners and suppliers) to help manage disruptions and support business continuity. Cultivating a resilient supply chain enables an organisation to better anticipate, react to and plan for the unexpected by enabling cross-functional integration and collaboration with its ecosystem of vendors.
Simplification of technology adoption has always remained a key task for organizations. How does Spectra align with this need?
Simplification of technology adoption is indeed a key task for organizations, especially those that do not have internal IT expertise or have limited resources for managing complex IT systems. Spectra Innovations as Value Added IT distributor can align with this need in several ways:
Providing expert guidance: We can provide expert guidance on the latest technologies and help customers identify the solutions that best meet their needs. They can also provide advice on implementation best practices and help customers avoid common pitfalls.
Simplifying procurement: We can simplify the procurement process by providing a one-stop-shop for a wide range of IT products and services. This can save customers time and effort by eliminating the need to manage multiple vendors and contracts.
Offering pre-configured solutions: We can offer pre-configured solutions that are designed to work together seamlessly. This can simplify the deployment process and reduce the risk of compatibility issues.
Providing training and support: We can provide training and support to help customers get the most out of their IT investments. This can include on-site training, webinars, and access to online resources.
Offering financing and leasing options: We can offer financing and leasing options to help customers manage the cost of technology adoption. This can make it easier for organizations to budget for IT expenses and avoid large upfront capital expenditures.
By aligning with the need for simplification of technology adoption, Spectra Innovations can help organizations overcome the challenges of deploying and managing complex IT systems, enabling them to focus on their core business objectives.
How is the Spectra performing in the Asia region?
Spectra Innovations is an upcoming Technology Distribution in ASIA region. In 2022 we announced the opening of our Technology Experience Centre in Asia Pacific. Located in Singapore, this enables channel partners to learn more about and gain real-world experience with today’s integrated, end-to-end, multi-vendor products and solutions.
Open for in person and remote engagement, the new Spectra Innovations Technology Experience Centre marks a first within Asia. With the ongoing expansion of technologies and solution featured aligning to market trend, the centre serves as a unique place for channel partners and providers to host training sessions, new customer meetings and executive briefings.
We are always innovating around how we can help our channel partners and providers run business better, grow faster and do more for their customers.
Solutions for the pandemic-resilient workforce, collaborative workforce, secure workforce, and hyper automation environments will be showcased at the Technology Centre. These categories represent many of the domain knowledge areas we are investing in and expanding upon. The global market continues to digitally transform, and we are thrilled to be at the forefront. Together with our providers, we are enabling our channel partners with the tools, training, resources, solutions, and talent to add more value to their services and better meet and anticipate the needs of their customers.
What role does Spectra Eco Lifestyle play in creating a sustainable environment?
As far as Eco Lifestyle is concern Spectra Innovations can play an important role in creating a sustainable environment by promoting and distributing eco-friendly IT products and services. Which includes:
Energy-efficient products: Distributing energy-efficient IT products, such as servers, storage systems, and other hardware that consume less energy and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
Recycling and waste management: Promoting and supporting responsible recycling and waste management practices for IT products, including e-waste disposal services and recycling initiatives.
Cloud computing: Encouraging the adoption of cloud-based solutions, which can reduce the need for on-premises hardware and lower energy consumption.
Remote work solutions: Promoting and distributing remote work solutions that can reduce the need for commuting and travel, leading to lower carbon emissions.
Green packaging: Encouraging the use of eco-friendly packaging materials for IT products, such as recycled or biodegradable materials.
Green initiatives: Supporting and promoting green initiatives, such as carbon offsetting programs, renewable energy projects, and sustainability certifications.
By promoting and distributing eco-friendly IT products and services, Spectra Innovations can help reduce the environmental impact of technology adoption and contribute to a more sustainable future.
What are the new digital transformation trends you foresee in 2023? How do you capitalize on the opportunities this changing market has created?
As a distributor of information technology products, some of the key strategic focus areas for Spectra Innovations in 2023 are as follows:
Digital Transformation: Helping customers to adopt new technologies and upgrade their existing systems to keep pace with the rapidly changing technological landscape.
Cloud Computing: Investing in cloud-based solutions and services to capitalize on the growing demand for cloud-based IT infrastructure and services.
Cybersecurity: Providing robust cybersecurity solutions and services to help partners & customers protect their data and systems from cyber threats.
AI and Machine Learning: Investing in artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to develop innovative solutions that can help partners & customers improve their business processes and gain competitive advantages.
Data Analytics: Providing data analytics solutions and services to help partners & customers make better decisions based on real-time data.
Mobility: Investing in mobile solutions and services to enable partners & customers to access information and services from anywhere and at any time.
Customer Experience: Focusing on improving the customer experience by providing high-quality support, training, and services to help partners & customers get the most out of their IT investments.
These are just a few examples of the key strategic focus areas of Spectra in 2023. Ultimately, the specific focus areas will depend on the market trends, and partners & customer needs.
How would you define your channel partner strategy in MEA region?
In Spectra Innovations we simply the channel partner strategy that help outlines and able to engage and work closely with channel partners, such as resellers, and value-added resellers (VARs), to sell our products and services. The strategy typically includes identifying the target market and the types of partners we will work with, establishing partner programs and incentives, providing training and support to partners, and measuring the success of the program through key performance indicators (KPIs) such as sales revenue and market share.
While developing a channel partner strategy in the Middle East region, we carefully consider the unique characteristics of the market and the local business culture. For example, the Middle East region is known for its strong relationship-based business culture, so building strong partnerships with local businesses and understanding their needs and priorities will be critical to the success of our strategy. Additionally, our strategies always focus on the regulatory environment, economic conditions, and competitive landscape in the region.
When it comes to progressing in a leadership role, what are the most important traits? Can you give one piece of advice to young professionals who are considering careers in tech?
When it comes to progressing into a leadership role, there are several important traits that can be helpful:
Communication: Leaders need to be able to communicate effectively with their team, their peers, and their superiors. This includes listening actively, speaking clearly, and being able to convey complex ideas in an understandable way.
Empathy: Good leaders can put themselves in their team members’ shoes and understand their perspectives and needs. This helps them to build trust and rapport with their team and to create a positive and supportive work environment.
Vision: Leaders need to be able to see the big picture and to set clear goals and objectives for their team. They should also be able to communicate this vision effectively and inspire their team to work towards it.
Adaptability: The ability to adapt to changing circumstances and to be flexible in your approach is essential for leaders. This includes being able to pivot quickly when necessary and to make decisions based on new information.
Integrity: Good leaders are honest, transparent, and ethical. They lead by example and hold themselves accountable for their actions.
For young professionals considering careers in tech, my advice would be to focus on developing strong technical skills, but also to develop your soft skills. This includes communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership skills. Building a strong network of mentors and colleagues can also be helpful in advancing your career. Finally, be open to new opportunities and be willing to take risks and try new things. The tech industry is constantly evolving and being adaptable and open-minded can help you stay ahead of the curve.
