YBA Kanoo Awards Avaya Technology Transformation Contract

Group to deploy networking, wireless, voice and video conferencing solutions across 60 GCC branches

Manama, Bahrain. 2016: Bahrain based Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo (YBA Kanoo), one of the largest independent, family-owned businesses in the Gulf region, has today announced awarding a flagship networking and wireless project contract to Avaya, a leader in business communications solutions.  Under the contract, Avaya will deploy its networking and wireless technologies to connect the group’s 60 branches across the GCC (Gulf Council Countries), providing the group with superior customer and team experiences while building operational efficiencies across the group’s stores and offices in the GCC.

Scheduled for completion in June 2016,  YBA Kanoo customers and employees will enjoy the secure, fast and seamless wireless roaming experience in all of the group’s outlets and offices, while enabling the management of the group to quickly and easily roll out customer and employees specific applications that enhance productivity and the experience of the group’s customers.

 “At YBA Kanoo, staff mobility is a fundamental business requirement considering the diverse nature of our lines of businesses across many geographies.  We firmly believe that wireless access will enhance the collaboration between our teams while increasing their efficiency and productivity.  Having access to internal company resources wherever our sales and operations teams are would also greatly improve the customer satisfaction through faster response time,” commented Jameel Al-Sharaf, Head of Group IT at YBA Kanoo.

With the centralized wireless network management, network administrators at YBA Kanoo will be able to differentiate enterprise users from guests, with full network visibility and control all the way to individual user level. The network is managed on a private cloud, and allows for centralized licensing management, which will help YBA Kanoo to cut OPEX by an estimated 30%.

The group’s head office in Bahrain will also be running on Avaya networking technology, running Avaya applications such as voice and video conferencing solutions.  “Continuing the drive towards higher efficiency and improved staff productivity, integrated voice and videoconferencing solutions will greatly reduce our operational costs while enhancing the collaboration experience between our staff across our offices,” said Al Sharaf

“Our work with the Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group demonstrates the digital maturity of business groups in the region, led by strong examples such as the Kanoo Group. In such engagements, flexibility is a key requirement, and our solutions and services targeted towards diverse business needs are available to consumers in a number of consumption models. We also look at this as testament to our strong support towards Bahrain, a market we see as a key growth area. Across regions, our wireless solutions deliver the simplicity, scalability and security that our customers now expect from Avaya, allowing them to meet changing business requirements and enable their employees to do more than ever before”, said Mohammed Areff, VP MEA, Avaya.

Established in Bahrain in 1890, YBA Kanoo has diversified its business interest from trading and shipping to other dynamic industries, including shipping, travel, machinery, chemicals, logistics, properties, energy, technology  and other retail and commercial activities. The group also operates the largest travel and leisure company in the Middle East. The group is looking to further expand internationally and the Avaya solution will help it achieve its ambitions.

About Avaya
Avaya is a leading provider of solutions that enable customer and team engagement across multiple channels and devices for better customer experience, increased productivity and enhanced financial performance. Its world-class contact center and unified communications technologies and services are available in a wide variety of flexible on-premise and cloud deployment options that seamlessly integrate with non-Avaya applications. The Avaya Engagement Development Platform enables third parties to create and customize business applications for competitive advantage.  Avaya’s fabric-based networking solutions help simplify and accelerate the deployment of business critical applications and services. For more information, visit www.avaya.com/mea/.

About Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo W.L.L:
YBA Kanoo is one of the largest, independent family-owned multinational businesses in the Middle East with an extensive portfolio of complementary business units and strategic partnerships across a range of industry sectors. Established in 1890 as a family trading and shipping business in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Company has evolved into a diversified conglomerate with a physical presence across the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Asia, and a dedicated workforce of 4,000 employees.

YBA Kanoo is a key contributor to the region’s economic growth and development supported by over 120 years of experience, ethical conduct, best-in-class partnerships, advanced business systems and cutting-edge technologies. It has established itself as a first choice partner for regional businesses and continues to pursue commercial growth and expansion through the constant delivery of business excellence. YBA Kanoo’s business activities include shipping, travel, machinery, chemicals, logistics, property, energy, technology and retail, to name a few.

Certain statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "should" or "will" or other similar terminology. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While we believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. These and other important factors may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. For a list and description of such risks and uncertainties, please refer to Avaya's filings with the SEC that are available at www.sec.gov. Avaya disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.