IFS, a global leader in enterprise cloud and Industrial AI software, is set to spotlight its Industrial AI strategy and platforms at the upcoming IFS Connect Middle East & Africa 2025 in Riyadh.
Unlike traditional AI, which largely automates tasks such as predicting failures, generating reports, or spotting anomalies, Industrial AI — coupled with emerging Agentic AI — is about acting, deciding, and optimising in real time.
For the Middle East, this shift is a priority. With ambitious energy transition projects, giga city developments, and aviation safety high on the agenda, the stakes are immense. “These are industries where AI’s ability to make intelligent, context-aware decisions can truly transform outcomes,” notes Rahul Misra, SVP & Managing Director, MEA at IFS, in an exclusive interview with Sree Bhat of TradeArabia/Gulf Industry.
IFS’ strategy is clear: to embed Industrial AI at the very core of mission-critical operations, not as an add-on, but as a seamless part of how assets, projects, and people are managed. This, Misra says, is the company’s differentiator — and the message it will amplify at its flagship customer and partner event on September 10 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Riyadh, held under the theme “Powering Vision 2030: Industry-Centric Innovation for National Transformation.”
Excerpts from the interview:
1. AI is transforming industries worldwide. From your perspective, how is AI reshaping the industrial landscape in the Middle East, and what role can IFS play in this transformation?
When I look at the Middle East today, I see a region at an inflection point. AI is no longer a buzzword here — it is a national priority. Whether it’s Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the UAE’s Vision 2031, or Egypt’s digital ambitions, AI is at the core of how nations plan to leapfrog into the future.
From a personal perspective, I see AI as a great equaliser - It can accelerate development, enhance sustainability, and give our youth opportunities that didn’t exist a decade ago.
Professionally, at IFS, we see AI reshaping asset-intensive industries—energy, utilities, construction, aviation, and telecom—by turning data into actionable intelligence.
Our role is clear: bring Industrial AI into the heart of mission-critical operations, not as a bolt-on, but embedded seamlessly into how assets, projects, and people are managed. This is where IFS differentiates itself—we don’t just talk about AI, we make it work for the moment that matters to our customers.
2. Which industries in the Middle East stand to benefit the most from IFS’s AI-driven solutions?
The short answer is, asset-intensive industries. Energy producers managing vast grids, aviation leaders maintaining fleets, construction firms building giga projects, or telcos rolling out 5G at scale.
Take Saudi Arabia’s utilities sector — AI can help optimise investment planning, predictive maintenance, and service reliability. In aviation, AI ensures safety and availability of critical assets. In construction, AI helps manage the complexity of multi-billion-dollar projects with thousands of moving parts.
From my vantage point, these industries are not just “beneficiaries” of AI, they will become leaders in setting the global benchmark for how AI is adopted in industrial contexts.
3. Can you share examples of how your technology is already making a measurable difference for customers in the region?
Absolutely. One of the stories I am personally proud of is our partnership with Milaha in Qatar, where we’re helping transform their maritime logistics operations with AI-enabled fleet and asset management.
In the UAE, our work with leading engineering and construction firms is allowing them to manage complex projects — on time and on budget — while reducing risks. And in Saudi Arabia, some of the largest utilities are exploring how IFS can enable reliability, investment planning, and long-term sustainability.
These are not just IT projects; they are national priorities. And the measurable difference is seen in reduced downtime, improved efficiency, and better service for citizens and end-users.
4. IFS recently acquired 7bridges, an AI-powered supply chain management provider. How does this acquisition strengthen IFS’s logistics and transportation optimisation capabilities?
If you think of logistics today, it’s not just about moving goods from point A to B. It’s about resilience, agility, and cost optimisation in an unpredictable world.
With 7bridges, we now have an AI-driven supply chain brain that plugs into IFS Cloud, giving our customers the ability to dynamically optimise routes, manage costs, and respond to disruptions in real time. For industries in the Middle East - whether it’s retail, energy, or critical infrastructure-this capability is game-changing.
It’s also personal for me. During the pandemic, when supply chains froze, many of us realised how fragile our global systems are. That experience shaped my conviction that intelligent, AI-powered supply chains are no longer optional—they are essential.
5. The partnership with Copperleaf enables end-to-end asset lifecycle management. How will this collaboration help strategic industries in the Middle East manage their assets and infrastructure?
The Middle East is undergoing an unprecedented wave of infrastructure and energy investments. But with trillions being deployed, the real challenge is not building more, but investing wisely and managing those assets across decades.
IFS Copperleaf brings world-leading Asset Investment Planning (AIP) capabilities. We can now give customers an end-to-end view—from strategy to execution. That means national grids deciding where to invest next, oil & gas players balancing safety with cost, or smart cities prioritising infrastructure for maximum impact.
This partnership is a direct response to the region’s need for strategic clarity in asset management. It’s about enabling countries to make not just decisions, but the right decisions.
6. IFS talks about Industrial AI and Agentic AI being seamlessly embedded in your offerings. Could you explain how these technologies go beyond traditional AI use cases in enterprise software? Where do you see the biggest opportunities for applying these technologies in the Middle East?
Traditional AI has been about automation—predicting failures, generating reports, or spotting anomalies. Industrial AI and Agentic AI go beyond that. They act, decide, and optimise in real time.
For example, Industrial AI in IFS Cloud can predict when a turbine is likely to fail, automatically schedule the right technician, ensure parts are available, and even optimise routes to reduce carbon footprint. Agentic AI takes it further—it learns, adapts, and becomes trusted digital co-workers for decision-makers.
In the Middle East, the biggest opportunities are in energy transition projects, giga city developments, and aviation safety. These are industries where the stakes are high, and where AI’s ability to make intelligent, context-aware decisions can transform outcomes.
7. The region faces a skills gap as industries transition towards automation and digitalisation. How do IFS’s AI solutions help bridge this gap and support the evolving workforce?
This is one of the issues closest to my heart. Every conversation I have with ministers, CEOs, or young professionals circles back to skills and employability.
IFS’s AI is not about replacing people — it’s about augmenting them. By automating repetitive tasks and providing decision intelligence, we allow engineers, planners, and operators to focus on higher-value work. At the same time, we are investing heavily in training programs with partners, building local capability, and ensuring the workforce of tomorrow can thrive in an AI-driven economy.
For me personally, it’s about creating opportunities for the next generation, including my own son. I want him to enter a world where AI empowers, not threatens.
8. Saudi Vision 2030 places huge emphasis on digital transformation, sustainability, and industrial diversification. How does IFS align with these objectives, and what role do you see for your solutions in this journey?
Saudi Vision 2030 is both a national roadmap and a call to action for companies like us. At IFS, our solutions directly support these pillars:
Digital transformation: IFS Cloud brings end-to-end digitalisation across asset, project, and service management.
Sustainability: Our AI-driven solutions optimise energy use, reduce waste, and enable greener supply chains.
Industrial diversification: From aviation to manufacturing, we’re helping Saudi industries compete globally.
What excites me most is the alignment of purpose. Vision 2030 is about creating a future for the next generation, and that resonates with my own philosophy: leadership is about leaving things better than you found them.
9. Over the past few years, IFS has been strengthening its footprint in the Middle East. Could you share some key investments or partnerships that demonstrate your long-term commitment here?
We’ve made several commitments: opening new offices in Riyadh and Dubai, hiring local leaders like Mohammed Sa’adeh in KSA, and forging partnerships with regional champions like SBM in Saudi Arabia.
Our partnerships with Deloitte, Accenture, PwC, and local system integrators are designed to create a sustainable ecosystem. And through initiatives like IFS Connect MEA 2025 in Riyadh, we’re not just showcasing technology — we’re investing in dialogue, co-creation, and customer success in the region.
10. What are the major highlights of IFS Connect MEA 2025? Any new product launches, partnerships?
IFS Connect MEA 2025 in Riyadh will be a milestone event. Over 500 leaders will come together, from ministers to CEOs to innovators. It will prove how the Middle East is ready to lead, not follow, in the AI era.
We will announce deeper partnerships in Saudi utilities, launch enhanced Industrial AI capabilities in IFS Cloud, and celebrate customers who are already trailblazing with us.
11. Looking forward, what are IFS’s top priorities for the Middle East over the next 2–3 years? Do you see more acquisitions or strategic partnerships on the horizon to expand your AI and industry-specific offerings?
Our priorities are clear:
1. Deepen industry leadership in energy, utilities, construction, aviation, and telecom.
2. Scale our AI footprint through Industrial AI, Copperleaf integration.
3. Build local ecosystems — partners, skills, and innovation hubs.
Acquisitions will remain a lever, but what excites me more are strategic partnerships that blend global expertise with local relevance. That’s how we will make AI real for this region.
And personally, I see the next 2–3 years as our opportunity to cement IFS as the partner of choice for the Middle East. It’s not just about technology — it’s about trust, relationships, and shared ambition.
For me, this journey is both professional and personal. Professionally, it’s about building an IFS legacy in the Middle East. Personally, it’s about ensuring that when my son looks back at this era, he sees a region that embraced technology, created opportunities, and built a sustainable future. That’s the story we’re writing with IFS and Industrial AI. - TradeArabia News Service
