Hani Arab, Seymour Whyte’s CIO, says vendor BDMs and account executives need to understand the business they are selling to and the challenges it faces.

Over the years, vendors that have engaged successfully with experienced tech chief, Hani Arab, can convey a value proposition that “any sane person can’t resist or reject.”

Arab, who joined construction and engineering firm, Seymour Whyte last year, says vendor BDMs and account executives need to understand the business they are selling to and the challenges it faces.

He admits that there is “never enough time” to evaluate the sheer number of tech solutions that are available in the marketplace.

“Depending on the level of due diligence, how detailed you want to get, you can be consumed forever,” he says.

The above video is only an excerpt. Only ADAPT Advantage clients can watch the full video on a Day in the Life of a CIO.

“This is why I try to leverage my industry contacts, I’ll find other people that are using that vendor or similar vendors to get an honest and unbiased discussion going around what is good and what is not so good.”

This gives Arab a level of confidence that what he is hearing can be taken at face value before he commits to purchasing a solution.

Meanwhile, Arab agrees that construction companies have historically been a bit slow on the uptake when it comes to deploying innovative technologies that can drive efficiencies and even deal with the sector’s labour shortage.

“Historically, there has been this understanding by senior construction leaders that we are here to build infrastructure and they may not have necessarily accepted the level of technology enablement that can be achieved,” he says.

We do elements of good technology around BIM (building information modelling), digital twins, AutoCAD and 3D modelling. We have a great opportunity to do a lot more with it.”

Seymour Whyte is in the throes of modernising its IT infrastructure with plans to move all on-premise workloads to the cloud. Arab and his team also have plans to redevelop the organisation’s business apps with a platform that will scale, is sustainable and remains fit for purpose.

Maintaining a good cyber posture is also a high on the list of priorities for the organisation’s executive and leadership team.

“We have good pockets of cyber hygiene and I want to reinforce that understanding across the entire business … so there’s a consistent level of effort going into our cyber hygiene,” he says.

The above video is only an excerpt. Only ADAPT Advantage clients can watch the full video on a Day in the Life of a CIO.

Contributors
Byron Connolly Head of Programs & Value Engagement at ADAPT
Byron is a highly experienced technology and business journalist, editor, corporate writer, and event producer.​ Prior to joining ADAPT, he was the... More

Byron is a highly experienced technology and business journalist, editor, corporate writer, and event producer.​

Prior to joining ADAPT, he was the editor-in-chief at CIO Australia and associate editor at CSO Australia. He also created and led the well-known CIO50 awards program in Australia and The CIO Show podcast.​

Byron creates valuable insights for our community of senior technology and business professionals that help them reach their organisational and professional goals. He has a passion for uncovering stories about the careers and personal philosophies of Australia’s top technology and digital executives.​

When he is not working, Byron enjoys hot yoga, swimming, running and spending time with his family. He completed the North Face 100km ultra marathon in the NSW Blue Mountains in 2012 and 2013.​

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Hani Arab Chief Information Officer at Seymour Whyte
I am a curious person who believes there is a solution to every defined challenge. Today more than ever, we are spoilt... More

I am a curious person who believes there is a solution to every defined challenge. Today more than ever, we are spoilt for options that have become part of the challenge. Navigating through the infinite and changing technology landscape poses a risk and opportunity.

My professional career began with completing a Bachelor of Civil Engineering, which naturally veered me into a career in technology. Since then, I have developed and managed large ICT infrastructure teams, built data centres, implemented ITSM solutions, ERP and HR platforms and tailored enterprise application developments.

I am passionate about creating solutions that deliver value and enhance user experience. A consistent theme has been eliminating friction and automating processes across the entire value chain.

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Modernisation