The Qatar Big Data & Analytics Workshops closed on Monday June 8 in Doha, Qatar after hosting more than 50 registered delegates– with widespread praise from speakers and audience members for the intellectual quality of the presentations and the high-level networking opportunities provided.
Kumar Ramanujam, Director of Conferences for TMC (Event Organizers) noted: “The GCC has jumped a curve from Business Intelligence to Big Data. Forward looking organizations in Qatar now have many successful POC’s and use cases to support future analytics planning.”
The event was sponsored by Mannai Trading Company WLL in cooperation with Oracle Corporation. Mr. Binu M.R., Vice President, Mannai Software Division, commented: “Mannai was delighted to support this initiative to expand the knowledge and application of Big Data and Analytics in the Qatar Market.”
“This event has been a significant step to introducing a new dynamic into the business intelligence space. We hope that these successful workshops can be expanded into a larger forum next year.”
The two days’ of workshops and masterclasses were designed to reinforce the importance of new Qatari IT investment into Business Intelligence and Big Data. Delegates learned about scores of important use-cases which were relevant to their own professional interests, as well as intensive seminars on Data Visualization and Data Science. Practical illustrations that dealt with specific issues covered education, transport, telecom, utilities, IT, airline, banking, energy, sports, healthcare and retail sectors. One important issue that emerged was the need for more home-grown IT talent and for regional universities to build courses around complicated business challenges such as Big Data analysis. Shortage of talent has become a key issue and data scientists are currently rare commodities.
The two masterclass leaders were recognized international thought-leaders: Dr Mouwafac Sidaoui, Associate Professor and Chair Department of Business Analytics and Information Systems, University of San Francisco and Dr Satyam Priyadarshy, Chief Data Scientist, Halliburton.
Delegates attended from the Qatar Ministries of Public Works, Education and Transport, Ooredoo, Qatar Central Bank, Qatar Investment Authority, Electricity & Co-Generation Regulatory Authority, Anti-Doping Laboratory Qatar, Qatar Olympic Committee, Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Gas, ICT Qatar, Al Khaliji Bank, Hamad Medical Corporation, Aspire Zone, Landmark Group and Gulf Mall, among others.
The positive reactions from IT and Data professionals present have led to the announcement of the full-scale QATAR BIG DATA & ANALYTICS SUMMIT next year in Doha from 22 – 24 May.
Ramanujam commented: “Next year’s Doha Summit will showcase many of Qatar’s early adopter big data stories,” This enlarged and expanded format will include more than 25 internationally respected presenters over three intensive days of seminars, presentations and workshops.
Other new events by organizers TMC include the OMAN BIG DATA & ANALYTICS WORKSHOPS which will take place in Muscat on 3 – 4 October 2015 and the SAUDI BIG DATA SUMMIT which will take place in Riyadh on 16 – 17 November, 2015.