Riverbed, the frontrunner in Unified Observability, has unveiled its latest research on the Digital Employee Experience (DEX) in the Middle East as it gears up for GITEX 2023. The study underscores the critical need for organizations to maintain high DEX standards to stay competitive and retain talent, particularly among younger employees who may otherwise contemplate leaving the company. Riverbed’s GITEX presence (Concourse 2 – Stand 18) is centered on demonstrating how organizations can achieve outstanding digital experiences through Unified Observability and Acceleration.
In the Middle East, Millennials and Gen Z employees exhibit high expectations when it comes to their digital work experience. The Riverbed Global DEX Survey, conducted by Sapio Research on behalf of Riverbed, reveals that these younger generations have the most demanding technology and digital experience expectations at the workplace. In the UAE and Saudi Arabia, 64% of decision-makers acknowledge the heightened demands of younger employees, with a striking 97% believing that more advanced digital experiences are necessary to meet their needs.
Among the regional leaders surveyed, a substantial 72% express concerns that failing to provide the seamless digital experiences younger employees demand could lead to these employees considering leaving the organization. Over half (53%) argue that unmet digital experience expectations would adversely affect the company’s reputation and overall business. Notably, 50% of leaders in the UAE and Saudi Arabia assert that a seamless digital experience is more likely to keep their workforce engaged, surpassing traditional office perks like free coffee and snacks (14%).
It’s no surprise, then, that 98% of leaders in the UAE and Saudi Arabia consider delivering a seamless DEX important, with 64% deeming it critically important for maintaining competitiveness. Fueled by these heightened digital expectations and the risks to talent, productivity, and competitiveness, nearly all respondents (97%) prioritize investing in DEX for the next five years.
Mena Migally, Regional Vice President, Emerging EMEA, at Riverbed, highlights the significance of catering to the expectations of Millennial and Gen Z employees in the Middle East’s youthful workforce. At GITEX, Riverbed’s team will be fully engaged, demonstrating how organizations can address growing IT complexity and proactively enhance digital employee experiences.
Despite the pressing need for a seamless DEX, a substantial 94% of UAE and Saudi leaders identify obstacles or gaps in achieving this. These obstacles include budget constraints (36%), IT talent/skills shortages (32%), insufficient observability tools (31%), inadequate SaaS or cloud services (31%), excessive data (26%), and an abundance of monitoring tools (26%).
In recent years, the shift towards hybrid work environments has elevated the role of IT leaders in the C-suite. Technologies like AI and Unified Observability are recognized as key players in delivering an exceptional digital experience. Riverbed emphasizes Unified Observability as a solution to tackle the complexity of IT infrastructure faced by organizations, given that almost all (97%) regional respondents believe that increased investment in unified observability platforms can lead to better digital experiences for employees and customers.
Furthermore, UAE and Saudi leaders highlight the importance of various technologies, including AI (54%), Cloud (50%), Digital Experience Management solutions (43%), Application/Network Acceleration technology (36%), and Automation (34%) for organizations striving to remain competitive in today’s marketplace.
Mena Migally expresses excitement about showcasing the enhanced capabilities of the Alluvio Unified Observability portfolio at GITEX. Additionally, Riverbed’s presence through its regional distributors—Crestan, Mindware, and StarLink—demonstrates the company’s deep commitment to the region, augmenting the value of its solution portfolio.
