Rabat – Ensuring access to quality Information Technology (IT) services is becoming increasingly indispensable in operating a business. From startups to Fortune 500 companies, adopting a successful digital transformation strategy is of critical importance to remain competitive, provide quality services, and increase profit margin while protecting the company’s data.
Morocco has made significant strides in drafting state policies paving the way for strong IT-backed industries, but Moroccan private sector companies are largely lagging behind in this regard.
Most Moroccan companies are still working with outdated models and are afraid to embrace change, and they continue to use unlicensed software on outdated hardware.
With little to no investments directed toward data protection and data recovery protocols, IT is considered unimportant, according to data from Moroccan cloud service company FutureRoc.
Morocco World News (MWN) met with a prominent figure in the Moroccan IT industry working to boost the adoption of cloud-based IT services, expert and FutureRoc CEO, Ijaz Shah.
The CEO stressed that it is time for Moroccan companies “to join the Cloud revolution” and rethink how IT could become more accessible at a fair price.
Born in London, Shah permanently moved to Tangier two years ago, in the hope of contributing to the rise of resilient cyber infrastructure in Morocco.
With over two decades of experience in the field, he decided to launch his company in Morocco aiming to address many of the structural deficiencies within the industry in the country.
Meeting at FutureRoc
“Growing up in London as a Pakistani/Muslim I never felt that I belonged there. I was always looking for a home and I believe that it was my destiny to come to live in Morocco, having fallen in love with the culture and people I finally found a place I feel I belong to,” he told MWN.
Shah’s company is among a handful of other companies in Morocco driving the country’s digital transformation in the private sector. The company’s goal is to shift attitudes of businesses toward IT and equip them with the necessary IT infrastructure to become internationally competitive.
Aside from hindering growth in business operations, Morocco’s underdeveloped IT landscape is behind one of the biggest problems the country is facing, that of capital flight.
“There are so many talented young people in Morocco who are being exploited by international companies reaping huge profits in exchange for low wages,” Shah told MWN.
The CEO further explained that the country’s young talent migrate abroad as soon as they gain sufficient experience seeking better working and living conditions. He also noted that “better paychecks do not necessarily translate into better living standards as they have to leave their families behind.”
In contrast to the conventional business model within the industry based on exploiting young talent to boost profit margins, FutureRoc believes that real sustainable growth is only achieved through successful talent retention strategies, the CEO explained.
To ensure consistent growth, the Moroccan company focuses on offering its talent competitive salaries and eradicating gender and cultural barriers standing in the way of optimal performance.
“Real leaders feel great joy when they shine the light on the talent of others,” the CEO asserted.
Team of young talents at FutureRoc
A strong IT strategy is a must
As the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have learned a number of valuable lessons, including the need to maintain a resilient IT infrastructure.
At the height of the pandemic, businesses were forced to close offices and start working from home, accelerating the rate of the digital transition.
Meanwhile, the risk of cyber threats spiked, with cyberattacks growing by 600% across the world during the pandemic, according to some estimates.
While the pandemic pushed many businesses to the verge of bankruptcy and many more out of business, companies now need a resilient IT infrastructure as an insurance policy against future pandemic-grade challenges.
Aware of the magnitude of cyber threats, governments around the world are now introducing regulations mandating companies to invest in protective IT infrastructures, and Morocco is no exception to the trend.
FutureRoc is placing itself at the heart of this transition to a more resilient IT infrastructure, the CEO underscores, adding that the company’s mission is to support Moroccan businesses to continue their operations irrelevant of the cyber threats looming over the post-pandemic economy.
The company’s cloud-based security services entail minimal disruptions to operations while enhancing clients’ cybersecurity.
FutureRoc’s signature product offers a Cost-Free consulting service with the delivery of a detailed report to companies with suggestions on how to best secure, modernize and enhance their IT Landscape.
The IT company also pioneered educational material on IT in Darija (Moroccan Arabic) to help people understand Cloud services.
“We can help any company in any industry, there is no limit to what cloud-based IT services can offer companies of all sizes,” the CEO said.
Read Also: 10 Ways Information Technology is Changing the World of Business
