Dohatna inaugurates Qatar’s largest Samsung outlet at Place Vendome Mall

Expanding the presence of Samsung Electronics outlets in Qatar, Ali Bin Ali Holding’s Dohatna Innovative Distribution has launched the sixth Dohatna Samsung outlet in Doha. The new store at the luxurious Place Vendome Mall was ceremoniously inaugurated on June 22, 2022, by the Chairman & President of Ali Bin Ali Holding, Mr. Adel Ali Bin Ali.

Also present at the event were Managing Director of Samsung – Qatar Branch – Mr. Yong Jae Lee, General Manager of Dohatna Innovative Distribution Mr. Mohammad Imran and Division Manager of Dohatna Retail Consumer Electronics Mr. Ganesh Mithra Parthajee, VIP guests, members of the local media.

Located on the first floor of the latest luxury destination of Qatar, the new Dohatna Samsung showroom is centrally placed. The 205sqm showroom is the biggest Samsung showroom in Qatar with the largest display area among all Samsung stores in the country. It offers the best customer experience, complemented by well-informed and friendly staff.

The new Samsung store was opened to the public with a grand ribbon-cutting ceremony following which the guests got a chance to experience the store and the Samsung products offered there. Refreshments and canapes were passed around to add to the celebration.

The new outlet has the full brand line-up of Samsung mobile phones, tablets and accessories and is sure to become a favorite among Samsung loyalists. On the occasion of the launch, the new Dohatna Samsung Electronics outlet will be giving out freebies and offering some exclusive promotions on selected items.

Speaking at the launch event, Mr. Adel Ali Bin Ali said: “Ali Bin Ali Holding is proud of its long-standing association with Samsung Gulf Electronics. Samsung offers some of the best digital solutions in the market and we are glad that we collaborate with them to bring that to the people of Qatar. This is the sixth Dohatna Samsung outlet in Qatar and we look forward to strengthening our ties and expanding the brand’s presence together.”

Ali Bin Ali Medical achieves new heights, receives Mecomed TPI Certificate

Taking its business credibility to new heights, Ali Bin Ali Medical passed the Mecomed assessment on March 23, 2022. With this, ABA Medical became the first medical company in Qatar to receive the Mecomed TPI (Third – party intermediaries) Certificate, which is valid for two years.

Established in 2009, Mecomed is the medical devices, imaging and diagnostics trade association, serving as the voice of international medical technology manufacturers and their partners across the Middle East & Africa.

Mecomed spearheads initiatives to work closely with healthcare officials in MEA countries and coordinates efforts, helping set credible healthcare standards for the region. In addition to this, Mecomed uses the core competencies of its constituent members to formulate, evolve and sustain ethical business practices.

The medical industry is gradually heading towards a stricter healthcare compliance. All big and multinational suppliers are now looking for compliant partners and setting some standards, rules and regulations to regulate the relationship and activities with customers, government officials and HCPs (healthcare professionals). Mecomed is the body that manages and oversees the compliance process.

Application to the Mecomed Certification processes is a tool to allow stakeholders voluntarily to demonstrate their commitment to the ethical standards included in the Mecomed Code of Ethical Business Practice to the industry partners.

Having this certificate (same as the ISO) adds value to ABA Medical’s already impressive portfolio. It shows ABA Medical as a compliant company, which is the primary criterion suppliers are looking for when assigning new distributors. Being a certified member also adds value with new and current principles and customers as well.

Speaking about the latest recognition, General Manager of Ali Bin Ali Medical Mr. Monzer Abdel Samad said: “ABA Medical has always maintained high standards in all aspects of the business and it is always great to be recognized and officially certified by a credible authority.

This certificate will elevate our position and image in the market and help in building long-term partnerships with both customers and suppliers, old and new.”

Dohatna Signs Exclusive Distribution Agreement with Anker Innovations

Ali Bin Ali Holding’s Dohatna Innovative Distribution, one of the region’s largest distributors, On March 16, 2022 announced that it has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Anker Innovations, a global leader in charging technology and consumer technology products. This Partnership expands Ali Bin Ali’s existing extensive portfolio and increases Anker’s existing footprint in the Region.

This collaboration was announced during a two-day-long event that took place in Doha on March 15 and 16, March 2022. The event was attended by 300 delegates from the organized and independent retailers, as well as the local and regional media outlets representatives in Qatar.

Additionally, a delegation from Ali Bin Ali’s Dohatna and Anker Innovations were present at the event including Mohammad Imran, General Manager of Dohatna, Deepak Jayaram, Sales Manager of Dohatna and Faraz Mehdi, General Manager – Sales at Anker Innovations MEA. Guests attending both events received an introduction about the brand, the new products and got a chance to experience the Anker Exhibit Corner, where selected Anker Innovations products from the brands Anker Charging, eufy Appliances & Security, Soundcore and Nebula were on display, allowing attendees to get first-hand experience of the products.

“We have always tried to get the best and latest technology for the people in Qatar and I am sure that Anker Innovations products will be a valuable addition to that. With Anker’s innovative smart devices for entertainment, travel and smart homes combined with Dohatna’s market knowledge and reach, we look forward to a successful and long-term collaboration,” said Mohammad Imran, General Manager of Dohatna Innovative Distribution.

“We are very excited to expand our presence in the Middle East Region, to enable more people to experience Anker Innovations products. We are confident that Dohatna’s strong regional presence and distribution expertise will contribute immense value to our business and growth ambitions for 2022 and beyond,” said Faraz Mehdi, General Manager – Sales at Anker Innovations MEA

Anker and Dohatna’s offering in the Qatar market includes four brands:

  • Anker Charging: Anker’s core focus is to develop products that leverage new technologies such as GaN and its own PowerIQ smart chips to bring efficient and safe charging solutions. This includes wireless chargers, portable chargers, car chargers and wall chargers, as well as cables and hubs.
  • eufy Appliances & Security: eufy is a smart home brand by Anker Innovations. eufy was founded in 2016 with the objective of bringing the latest smart home technology and home security devices to households across the country at attainable prices.
  • Soundcore: Soundcore is part of the Anker Innovations family of consumer brands providing premium audio solutions (true wireless headphones, speakers and more). These include true wireless ear buds endorsed by Grammy-winning audio engineers and musicians, as well as over-ear headphones and indoor and outdoor Bluetooth speakers designed to amplify the party.
  • Nebula Projectors: Nebula is a smart and portable home projector brand. Nebula represents a new and exciting class of smart, portable entertainment devices, combining smart capability with immersive audio and visuals.

Ali Bin Ali Holding expands base, opens office in India

Widening the Group’s operation base and making it more dynamic, Ali Bin Ali (ABA) Holding opened its first Offshore Support Functions office in India. ABA Holding’s FMCG stream opened the state-of the-art office in Bengaluru through a service provider, Gazelle Information Technologies Ltd.  The office, which is administratively managed by Gazelle at its Bengaluru branch, is exclusive for Ali Bin Ali Holding’s back office operations.

The grand opening ceremony was held on 15th March, 2022, in the presence of the senior management of ABA Holding and Gazelle Information Technologies Ltd. The event was attended by Mr. Wadih Kazan, COO, ABA FMCG; Mr. Vincent Emmanuel, Head of Supply Chain & Logistics, ABA FMCG; and Mr. Utpal Das & Mr. Kirit Goyal, Managing Directors of Gazelle Information Technologies Ltd.

The new ABA Holding office in Bengaluru has been fully operational since January 2022 with world-class offices and IT infrastructure supported by the ABA IT Department. The IT setup is similar to any ABA office connecting to the ABA Network. .

The total seating capacity of the office is 35 and is currently occupied by the FMCG Supply Chain team of 15 members, while other functions within ABA Holding are working to occupy further seats. The location of the office is perfect for attracting a pool of talents across many sectors of industry while the technology infrastructure is an ideal fit for the ABA back office setup.

“The pandemic has posed us many challenges and at the same time provided us with opportunities to explore new ideas. Remote working via offshoring is one such initiative which was under discussion prior to the pandemic but is now time-tested for our operations,” said Mr. Emmanuel.

Mr. Kazan, presiding over the ceremony, said: “We are proud and glad to have embarked on a new journey that is reliable and economical to our FMCG stream. This project brings tangible cost reduction and efficiency to the current operations that we do locally. We offshored it to India very successfully while the operations remain same as when it was in Doha. Thanks to Gazelle and the ABA IT Department who made this a workable solution. I am also happy to say that this operation can cater to many other divisions/companies of the Group and maybe later to 3rd parties, bringing efficiency in costs and high level of effectiveness that you will only see when you try these services.”

This is an opportunity for ABA divisions/functions to take advantage of this initiative and benefit from cost efficiency by offshoring the required staff to India with full control on deliverables, while the administration is managed by the 3rd party, headed by an ABA employee. The offices can accommodate further 20 staff on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

Ali Bin Ali Medical enjoys a family day out

The Ali Bin Ali Medical team took time out of their busy schedules to enjoy a day of fun with their families. The event was organized on March 12, 2022, at Retaj Salwa Resort.

All ABA Medical staff members and their families attended the event, where a full range of fun activities were arranged for their entertainment. The organizers ensured that there were activities for all age groups and all guests enjoyed the day.

Fun and entertainment activities included game stations, trivia competition, talent shows, kids’ activities and karaoke. An exciting raffle draw added excitement to the already eventful day. ABA Medical also took this opportunity to recognize the contribution of its employees. Awards, certificates and trophies were handed out for long service and outstanding & excellent performances.

The elaborate lunch menu was a crowd-pleaser and everybody enjoyed it.

Speaking about the gathering, General Manager of ABA Medical Mr. Monzer Abdel Samad said: “It was a well-deserved break for the entire ABA Medical team. It was good to see everyone enjoying with their family and colleagues. This was also an ideal occasion to casually socialize with the team members away from the work pressure and deadlines. Overall, it was a different kind of a productive day.”

 

Ali Bin Ali Beverages wins two prestigious awards

Ali Bin Ali Holding is delighted to announce that ABA Beverages, the exclusive bottler of PepsiCo in Qatar, has bagged two awards at the 2021 Regional Conference in Dubai. The first, recognizing the top performer in the Total Liquid Refreshment Beverages Growth for the year 2021 and the secondly for the largest most successful water innovation.

The award ceremony hosted by PepsiCo Middle East North Africa (MENA), gathered bottlers from all over the region as well as PepsiCo Regional Leadership and senior executives.  ABA Beverages was congratulated as the 2021 top performer in the below 60 million cases markets category for having achieved the highest share growth in total Liquid Refreshment Beverages. The market share is measured by   Canadean – an independent, global research agency who publishes monthly market survey reports.

The second award recognized the largest, most successful water innovation. ABA Beverages was again selected as a winner for the success of Aquafina in Qatar in 2021, once again confirming the company’s strategic commitment and investment capabilities.

Commenting on the awards, ABA Beverages General Manager, Mr. Marc Karam reiterated that he was delighted to receive the 2 accolades on behalf of the company. Mr. Karam said, “These awards reflect the strong commitment of Ali Bin Ali Holding who have invested ahead of the curve and continued to promote the growth of PepsiCo brands in Qatar. As an organization, ABA has stewarded Pepsi’s brands and range of products with utmost pride and continues to invest in growing the business against all sorts of challenges.”

ABA Beverages General Manager also went on to say “I commend the passion and the drive of ABA Beverages associates. This determined team managed to install and commission a full state of the art line during the pandemic and worked through the lockdown in 2020, gaining 32% Canadean share of market over the course of 18 months. That’s a huge achievement and we can  celebrate it”.

Congratulations to Team ABA Beverages!

 

Dohatna Innovative Distribution to reward premium Samsung phone users with My Book Qatar offers

Dohatna Innovative Distribution, a subsidiary of the Ali Bin Ali Holding, which is the official distributor of Samsung in Qatar, has launched one of the most exciting rewards programmes for its customers. Dohatna just released details of the campaign that awards new purchasers of premium Samsung phone models in the country with hundreds of free offers through its new partnership with My Book; the most popular deals App in Qatar.

Built on the popular Buy 1 Get 1 Free mechanism, complete with a large range of free offers of merchandise, Dohatna Innovative Distribution’s rewards initiative is attracting the attention of customers in Qatar.

Commenting on the latest initiative, Mr. Mohammad Imran General Manager of Dohatna Innovative Distribution said “Dohatna Innovative Distribution renown for the highest standard of quality products with competitive pricing. This is a reputation we maintain with great pride. By rolling out the Dohatna My Book App we have elevated our portfolio of exceptional customer benefits and we look forward to having our customers enjoy reward upon reward by cashing in on the free offers. Our collaboration with Qatar’s own, award winning rewards app, My Book Qatar will ensure the highest degree of satisfaction for premium Samsung customers.”

Mr. Deepak Jayaram, Brand Manager at Dohatna had this to say, “This is just one of our continuous efforts to offer best-in-class benefits for premium customers of Samsung. Because we wanted to give our customers something to not just celebrate but also benefit from, we have made sure that the Dohatna My Book App is available as a complimentary download to all customers who purchase premium Samsung phone models in Qatar.”

My Book is hugely popular among consumers, and has a network of hundreds of outlets across all categories of merchants, hotels, theme parks & entertainment venues. My Book provides one of the best digital solutions for app users to discover and save on all the experiences that Qatar has to offer. “As part of Dohatna My Book App, Samsung users will have access to more than 2,000 buy one get one free vouchers at more than 1,000 of the most popular outlets in Qatar” said  Abdulla Soomro, CEO of My Book Qatar. “The App provides offers across fine dining, fast food, hotels, buffets, theme parks, travel, cafes, salons, spas, gyms, shopping & more.”

Dohatna My Book Qatar 2021 App is available on both Android and iOS, and Dohatna customers buying premium Samsung phone models can enjoy it at more than 1,000 of the leading outlets in Qatar.

 

ABA Holding’s iSpot opens new Apple Authorized Service Center in Villaggio Mall

Much to the delight of Apple product loyalists, Ali Bin Ali (ABA) Holding opened the second iSpot Service Center in Qatar at the popular Villaggio Mall. The Apple Authorized Service Provider opened its doors to the public on Friday, 19th February, 2021.

Strategically located right opposite Carrefour hypermarket, the new iSpot Service Center offers Mac’s signature service and warranty repairs on all product categories by a trained team of Apple-certified technicians, as well as the entire suite of Apple products.

With a welcoming environment, friendly staff and comfortable waiting area for customers, the iSpot Service Center provides services such as full health checkup for all Apple products, iPhone battery replacement, iPhone display replacement, AirPods sound quality test, MacBook repairs, iMac repairs, software update, reformatting and installing a new system.

To celebrate the launch of the new store, iSpot has announced a full week of free complete health checkup for all Apple products, starting from Friday, 26th February, 2021 until Thursday, 4th March, 2021.

Speaking about the opening, General Manager of Prime Distribution and Trading Company – a subsidiary of ABA Holding – Mr. Mohammad Imran said: “We are excited to open our new Service Center and serve the people of Qatar better. At iSpot, all the repairs are done 100% as per Apple standards and we aim for 100% customer satisfaction. Our all technicians are Apple-certified and look forward to serving all Apple product users.”

iSpot store timings:

9am till 10pm – Sunday, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
9am to 11pm – Thursday, Friday & Saturday.

 

Dohatna Innovative Distribution inaugurates Qatar’s 5th Samsung outlet at Landmark Mall

 

Expanding the presence of Samsung Electronics outlets in Qatar, Ali Bin Ali Holding’s Dohatna Innovative Distribution has launched the fifth Samsung outlet in Doha. Inaugurated on January 21, 2021, the kiosk is located near gate 6 of the popular Landmark Mall and is strategically placed near Carrefour hypermarket.

The new outlet has the full brand line-up of Samsung mobile phones, tablets and accessories and is sure to become a favorite among Samsung loyalists. On the occasion of the launch, the new Samsung Electronics outlet will be offering some exclusive promotions on Samsung mobile, tablets and accessories from January 21 to 31, 2021.

Present at the opening were Ali Bin Ali Holding’s Group Chief Financial Officer Mr. Iftekhar Ahmad, General Manager of Dohatna Innovative Distribution Mr. Mohammed Imran, Division Manager – Samsung Products Mr. Deepak Jayaram and Finance Manager – Dohatna Innovative Distribution Mr. Azhar Baksh.

Speaking about the new venture, Mr. Imran said: “Dohatna Innovative Distribution has been for long the official partner of Samsung Electronics in Qatar and the latest outlet marks a new milestone in escalating our collaboration in Qatar. Samsung offers some of the best digital solutions in the market and we are glad that we play the medium to reach that to the people of Qatar. The launch of this new outlet reinforces that mission and I am sure it will be a welcome addition to the Samsung outlet chain in the country.”

 

 

140 days since Forward e-HR Partner ‘Go Live’

We have completed 140 days since the Forward e-HR Partner ‘Go Live’. On this occasion, we want to share with you some important information about the system and how it is affecting ABA’s daily HR and Admin operations.

 

Forward e-HR Partner is already achieving the objectives for which it has been implemented.

 

The Self Service HR facility is the most ‘visible’ component of the system, which is handling and processing requests from all ABA staff members. The usefulness, ease of use and reliability of the system are becoming more evident with time and through users’ interactions.

 

Thanks to the dedication, commitment and hard work of the e-HR Partner implementation team (Business Partners, HR Division coordinators, Help Desk staff), we are almost ready to completely replace the old HRMS with the Forward e-HR Partners.

 

System Statistics

Number of transactions performed by e-HR Partner ‘Go Live’: 12,545.

Company letters request    2,138

Documents of record          69

Education and qualification                37

Other professional qualification       72

Medical insurance request                57

Personal information          952

Ticket information request   1,323

Exit permit request   279

Change bank account request 123

Self-service generic

Approval process   4,312

Training request   179

 

Forward Help Desk

 

Integral to the Forward system’s full implementation at ABA is the establishment of a support mechanism for the system. Accordingly, part of the Forward system support is the Forward Help Desk, which was launched simultaneously with the e-HR Partner Go Live. The Forward Help Desk is run by the ABA IT Department and located within the department.

 

The Forward Help Desk has received 1,954 requests, closing 1,840 requests to date – which accounts for around 95% of all requests.