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CAIRO: Global technology provider Lenovo plans to strengthen its presence in Saudi Arabia, thanks to its Vision 2030 digitization agenda that promotes technology in all sectors.

In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Marwan Bsat, general manager of Levono Saudi Arabia, said the company is committed to being a technology partner to support the Saudi youth as well as Vision 2030.

“Our efforts to bring new products and advanced services into the Saudi market will greatly contribute to the ongoing digitization in various Saudi sectors,” Bsat said.

Since the pandemic played an important role in the digitization of the economy with the onset of remote work, Lenovo aims to provide the right resources to support the implementation of the growing hybrid work model.

“We will continue to seize the opportunities driven by accelerated digital transformation and hybrid working while successfully navigating a number of industry-wide challenges,” he added.

Bsat stated that the quality of the devices used by hybrid workers will greatly affect productivity, focus, ability to work on the go and comfort, which can affect employee well-being.

“With 83 percent of IT decision makers actively preparing for a hybrid model, equipping people with the technology they need is key to unlocking productivity,” explained Bsat.

“At Lenovo, we have the products, solutions and services to meet the needs of employees and support the three pillars of an enabled flexible workforce security, collaboration and productivity.”

The company realized the unpredictable disruption of the industry with the pandemic, but managed to use a global crisis to its advantage.

“However, our long-term outlook remains positive. The hybrid work model is here to stay, fueling strong and long-term demand for smart devices and IoT infrastructure, as well as intelligent applications and services,” he said.

Furthermore, Bsat added that building a perfect student environment is one of the company’s goals to support the learning sector in the Kingdom, stating that academic success “starts with the unit students study and learn on.”

In a class of its own

Lenovo provides students with the solution to improve their academic performance with its smart learning features that Bsat explained are “designed to help students get the most out of their learning experience at home, without compromising on comfort or privacy.”

“Whether it’s for the virtual classroom at home or the school classroom, Lenovo has the solutions for effective e-learning, including secure laptops, smart tablets and all-in-one PCs, monitors and accessories,” he added.

Hybrid employment and education are well-known factors in empowering the youth, but Lenovo discovered another rising trend to strengthen its position among the Saudi population, which is the booming e-sports sector.

Although eSports has been around for a while, the pandemic and the availability of technological devices have highlighted the importance of the sector, with teams and tournaments being established with multi-million dollar investments.

Staying ahead of the game

As the personal computer market leader in the kingdom with nearly 30 percent market share, Lenovo aims to provide the right tools to support the gaming industry of all ages.

“Whether it’s young girls, boys, working parents or even people over 60, we’ve worked with all these communities over the years, recognizing their love for gaming and giving them platforms to thrive on,” said Bsat.

At Lenovo, we have the products, solutions and services to meet the needs of employees and support the three pillars of an enabled flexible workforce security, collaboration and productivity.

Marwan Bsat, general manager of Lenovo Saudi Arabia

With around 70 percent of the population under the age of 30, the Kingdom can play a significant role in global eSports as it already has approximately 20 million active players.

“As with any competitive sport, esports helps students develop discipline, learn new skills and build engaged communities. But more than that, eSports can foster an inclusive community largely regardless of physical ability, gender, location and other factors,” said Bsat.

The company has supported the esports industry in the kingdom in recent years by organizing competitions and tournaments and sponsoring local teams.

“As part of our efforts over the past few years to increase visibility and opportunities for players, we hosted the first ever Legion Cup in 2019, sponsored local gaming teams and pushed the boundaries for girl players in the region,” he said.

“All of these have helped players to share their experiences and create a lasting impression among their peers and thrive,” he added.

“Besides that, we are the first brand in the region to launch an online dedicated Arab community for players in the region. Legion Community is a platform that allows players to connect with like-minded players and share gaming experience and expertise,” Bsat added.

He explained that with the right technology, Saudi players could compete in global e-sports competitions and be open to professional opportunities.

The company aims to exploit all the aforementioned sectors in 2023 by maintaining its leading market share.

“We aim to deliver the latest and greatest innovations to all sectors of the Kingdom, while supporting the digital transformation initiatives set by the government,” Bsat added.

The company will also leverage its strong synergies with its business groups, Lenovo Infrastructure Business Group, Mobile Business Group and Services and Solutions Group, to offer innovative, tailored solutions to the public and private sectors.

“Digitalization, intelligent transformation and hybrid work models continue to accelerate and drive long-term opportunities. At Lenovo, we look beyond devices. This is where the strengths of our other business groups really come to life and give us our competitive advantage,” Bsat said.

He also stated that the company achieved the highest non-PC revenue mix in its history this year, and changed its mindset to “solution-based results rather than pure hardware.”

“At Lenovo, we are dedicated to helping intelligent technologies empower everyone as organizations and consumers traverse the evolving hybrid space of work, learning and entertainment,” he added.