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Young Dubai businessman behind unique SDaaS for SMEs

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A Dubai-bred young serial entrepreneur is disrupting the local Software as a Service market with a unique AI-driven platform for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, launched at the start of the year.

Called Zoftware, it is “Software Democratisation as a Service, where software products of the people (companies) are recommended by our people (the team), for the people (B2B clients) for any problems they face in their businesses,” says Aayushman Dalmia, 29.

Within the first quarter of operations, Zoftware already has arrangements with a growing list of over 6,000 companies – including the Microsoft and Zoho suites, Google, Adobe and others.

“You can find a packed suite of software just with a generic search, but do you require everything in that or can you customize it? Maybe not. Zoftware is free for the customers while we work with them to understand their needs and even do the work for them in customising solutions from the software companies. Consider us as the Zomato or Tripadvisor for the software industry.

“Avoiding wastage of resources by reducing the gap between the capability knowledge of any software’s offerings and solving the problems of the end users is core to Zoftware’s mission,” says Dalmia, who came up with the idea when he could not find such a solution while searching for his needs himself.

“Zoftware is about marrying software with the best of customer experience. We make it easy for customers to navigate the ocean of software to find the right tools for their business and purpose. We offer deep insights on software and match organisations to the right product, be it for accounting, customer relationship management (CRM), project management, IT, payroll and many more,” says Dalmia, confident his idea will revolutionise the convenience of running a business.

Aayushman Dalmia set up Zoftware after getting stuck with the wrong software as a choice for his family business. Supplied

Zoftware is a unique startup offering a choice of business tools in software with a personalised touch, using Open AI’s ChatGPT, for SME owners and companies. There are plans to take this to India, a huge market for SaaS providers and consumers.

“We have raised 500,000 dollars as a convertible note. And there are plans to raise another $1.5 million in the next round,” he says. “We are aiming for a revenue of $1.5 million by end of 2023.”

The rise of ChatGPT has only become an enabler for the Zoftware team. “Our technical analysts have been nimble to stay ahead on the transformation curve. We are in the process of setting up an AI bot with whom people can converse with, we understand what the customers want from the platform and give them the relevant output data while connecting with the vendors.

“If they want, we can also onboard it for them. With ChatGPT, it can give you out the names, but it cannot do comparisons and the prices that are out there. It cannot help you come to a decision, while we can help find the best value for the clients.

“According to studies, 75 percent of businesses fail in their software implementation. We want to make it to zero, because it is a waste of capital and resources such as time, effort and money. In the SME section, that is not something one can afford. We want to reduce the wastage cycle as much as possible. And we want to build the trust of our customers.”

Zoftware is Dalmia’s latest fruit of labour, coming from his own personal experiences when he saw a gap in the market. He set up Yalla Referral, a referral and benefits platform, is co-founder of an online diamond-purchasing platform Carat Finder and Director of Growth and Innovation at Data Direct Group.

“I remember, in 2018, when I wanted to implement CRM for my sales team, I ended up putting so much effort and money only to realise a year later that I had a complex setup which wasn’t needed at all. Several dollars went in waste apart from the time and effort. Many startups and SMEs may not be able to come out of the wrong direction taken.”

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UAE’s HR excellence in spotlight as merit-based Employee Happiness Awards begins nominations

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Employee Happiness Awards is set to shine a spotlight on ongoing transformations across the human resources (HR) landscape, especially in the context of employee experience and wellness. The brainchild of Plan3Media, a leading event management company known for championing a merit-based awards culture in the region, Employee Happiness Awards is open to nominations in 27 distinctive categories.

In the previous edition held in June 2023, the Employee Happiness Awards received several nominations, some of whom were selected as finalists and gave compelling presentations to an independent jury. The winners and participants were leading companies and HR individuals from industries as diverse as retail, real estate, healthcare, education, and finance. Abu Dhabi Police GHQ, Nakheel, ADNH Compass, Marriott International, Babyshop, Cigna Healthcare, Du, DAMAC Properties, Rove Hotels, Alef Education, Masafi, and Pinsent Masons were among the big winners. Inspired by the overwhelming response to that edition, Plan3Media has added more categories and planned an eventful agenda for the upcoming gala ceremony in Dubai.

CEO of Plan3Media, Jatin Deepchandani, attributed the success of Employee Happiness Awards to its relentless focus on upholding transparency and integrity through a merit-only approach. “As corporate awards increasingly became self-congratulatory exercises, we seized the opportunity to set ourselves apart by instilling a culture of meritocracy. Our relentless efforts to make the Employee Happiness Awards synonymous with HR excellence are now yielding tangible results, distinguishing our accolades from the rest.” In line with Jatin’s words, the Employee Happiness Awards is validated by a reputable global accreditation programme called Awards TrustMark.

Employee Happiness Awards has a rigorous and systematic nomination process. Nominees are expected to initially submit an online form with basic information, category selection, and a write-up about their competencies. Finalists are invited to make a 20-minute presentation to an independent jury, which will evaluate the performance against a few metrics before selecting deserving winners. Plan3Media has set a nomination limit of three categories per company. There are 22 well-defined categories for companies and 5 for individuals.

Over 200 CHROs, HR professionals, government officials, and startup founders are expected to participate in the black-tie gala awards ceremony, scheduled for Friday, June 7, 2024, where Gold and Silver winners will be announced in each category. Finalists and winners of the Employee Happiness Awards will receive a trophy showcasing their competencies in HR strategies and employee experience. Recognized companies will understandably excel at talent attraction and retention.

Nominations for Employee Happiness Awards – UAE, 2024, close on April 5, 2024.

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UAE braces for heavy rain, thunderstorms across the Emirates this weekend

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The weather will be extremely unstable from Friday evening to Sunday noon with varying amounts of rain, lightning, thunder, and occasional hailstorms.The Ministry of Interior and the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) have called on the public to exercise caution and abide by safety requirements.

People are advised to avoid valleys, mountains and areas prone to flooding. Legal action will be taken against those who break the rules or put themselves or others in danger.Authorities added that roads leading to wadis and mountains will be closed until the weather conditions improve, while the decision to shift to remote learning is up to the emergency and crisis management teams in the affected emirates.

In order to review the readiness levels of various entities, a series of meetings were held by the Joint Assessment Team for Weather and Tropical Situations, headed by the NCEMA.

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Ian Bell to play for Meteora England Champions in World Champions League

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Meteora Developers, a trailblazing force in the business sector, has officially announced its acquisition of the esteemed England Champions cricket team, in partnership with Bollywood icon Jacqueline Fernandez. This strategic move positions the England Champions to enter the prestigious World Championships of Legends (WCL), signaling a historic convergence of cricketing legends and global fan engagement.

The announcement unfolded amidst a glitzy ceremony at Taj Downtown, Dubai, attended by former England captain, Ian Bell and other names from the sporting world

Meteora Developers’ founder and CEO, Mr. Praveen Sharma, expressed enthusiasm about the association with WCL and the ambitious goals for the England Champions. “Our entry into the World Championships of Legends is a pivotal moment for us. With cricketing greats like Ian Bell on our team, we’re poised to build a legacy that will captivate and inspire English fans globally. This is just the start of a thrilling journey,” Sharma asserted, hinting at a promising future for the franchise.

Cricket star Ian Bell, an integral part of the England Champions, underlined the significance of this venture for players and the sport. “Being part of the England Champions under the WCL is an extraordinary opportunity. The league’s innovative approach and the chance to play in England make this a truly exciting prospect. I’m eager to contribute to our team’s success and make our fans proud,” Bell commented, emphasising the players’ enthusiasm and commitment.

Harshit Tomar, CEO of WCL, delivered an impassioned overview of the league’s vision, emphasizing its commitment to redefine the global cricket landscape. Tomar warmly welcomed Meteora Developers and the England Champions into the WCL family, expressing high expectations for the collaboration. “This partnership promises to bring innovation and excitement to cricket, setting new benchmarks for excellence,” Tomar remarked.

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