Zebra Technologies transacts 100% of its business in the region through channels. As the head of the sales organisation, growth and expansion of channel business is Saylawala’s key responsibility alongside business development with end-customers.
For Saylawala, the most exciting part of his job role is the opportunity to engage with CXOs across diverse industry verticals including retail, healthcare, transportation, logistics and manufacturing. He points out they are all very different, but with common challenges and opportunities. “The quality of the people I work with at Zebra and at our customers is an added privilege.”
With the visibility that solutions from Zebra provides, enterprises can become as smart and connected as the world we live in. Real-time information can be extracted from its solutions, giving organisations the competitive edge they need to simplify operations, drill down into their businesses and customers, and empower mobile workers to succeed in today’s data-centric world. “While the fast pace of the technology life-cycle makes implementation from the vision phase to deployment phase incredibly exciting, it is also somewhat challenging,” says Saylawala.
Strategic visions of the governments in the region have led to fast adoption of advanced technologies. This includes many of the smart city initiatives. Saylawala feels some of his most exciting and memorable achievements, as part of his professional association, have been with these amazing projects in the region that have advanced the Middle East significantly. “As a result, we have been able to innovate and create a range of niche solutions that cater to the unique demands and characteristics of the clientele we serve in the region.”
Saylawala is a strong believer in people empowerment and follows a supportive style of management. He rationalises, that by bringing in talented people and providing them with motivation and a platform to grow and develop professionally and personally, Zebra Technologies can get the best contribution from the team and all individuals within it. “I am a firm believer in building strong teams with processes that make them self-sustaining and thereby making its manager redundant.”
Saylawala’s inspiration to enter into a career in technology is linked to Bill Gates and his book – The Road Ahead. The vision and future possibilities for technology that the book contained and outlined, motivated him to think seriously about a career in technology. “I believe I made the right decision,” he reflects. In his opinion, the hot technology talking points of the year cover Internet of Things, which contains artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and contextually aware assets. “We anticipate this will all keep us focused this year.”
He destresses by cooking meals for his family and friends, which is also a great pleasure. And he likes to spend most of his time-off after work with his family and his children, whilst they are still young and in their growing years.
Hozefa Saylawala leads the sales and operations of Zebra Technologies in the Middle East region.
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