News Desk |
Hamdard Pakistan is committed to staying with the times as it seeks to revamp its multinational and domestic presence through technological and branding strategies. At a signing ceremony held on the 13th of December in its corporate headquarters of Karachi, high-ranking executives announced their latest move towards digital business transformation and automation.
In attendance were Usama Qureshi (Managing Director and CEO), Mrs. Sadia Rashid (Chairperson), Ms. Fatema Munir Ahmed (Mutawallia for Hamdard Pakistan) and Farrukh Imdad (Director General Hamdard Foundation Pakistan). The implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning solutions specifically the SAP S/4 HANA model was brought underway.
Time is more important in today’s world and it will be a challenge that Hamdard continues to meet not by preserving legacy but by modernizing its vision.
During his speech at the occasion, Mr. Usama Qureshi, outlined his vision for transforming Hamdard Pakistan into a ‘Progressive Organization’. The goal was to stay relevant with contemporary social norms while imparting its values in the consumer market and improving company capabilities. With outdated decentralized systems, data and customers are costlier to acquire, retain and assist.
SAP technology would leverage centralized strengths, communicate data insights in real-time and boost the company’s overall agility. Hamdard would reap the benefits of increased efficiency, higher productivity, streamlined operations, and improved customer relations. The introduction of an SAP is everything the company needed to keep itself relevant and competitive in the fast-paced domestic and global markets of today.
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Guests at the event, Irfan Shaikh (WEMYT CEO ) and Mr. Saad Kaliya (partner at AF Ferguson & Co.) shed some light on their share of the teamwork that lies ahead in this project. Director Information Technology, Mr. Hasnain Eqbal was also present at the occasion and took the audience through some blow-by-blow representations of the SAP model implementation plan.
The campaign to bring the Hamdard group of companies up to speed was kick-started around 18 months ago. One of Pakistan’s very own, Hamdard is among the oldest and most prestigious of the country’s organizations. Established in 1948 by Eastern medicine scholar and philanthropist; Hakim Said, Hamdard has grown to include libraries, University, Research Foundation and market presence in 33 countries.
The implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning solutions specifically the SAP S/4 HANA model was brought underway.
In January of this year, Hamdard conducted its first Hakim Said Awards Ceremony at Mohatta Palace Museum in Karachi. Around 800 people and key personalities from various disciplines (literature, arts, culture, sports, education and health) were invited, acknowledged and rewarded for their contributions in the same spirit Hakim Said did.
Another major focus of the overhaul campaign was Hamdard’s flagship product; Rooh Afza – literally translating to ‘Soul Nourishment’. As an indigenous brand of Pakistan, the ‘Elixir of the East’ is made from natural products only and is globally popular as well as being a local staple in almost all households. For the future, the company is working introducing new variants in product SKUs, including sugar-free and low calorie Rooh Afza as well as tackling counterfeit products.
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Qureshi acknowledges the generations of loyalty that stands behind the Hamdard brand name which holds significance for proponents of Eastern medicine. However, owing to contemporary social culture of quick fixes, there is a widening gap between the brand, its products and today’s consumer. Time is more important in today’s world and it will be a challenge that Hamdard continues to meet not by preserving legacy but by modernizing its vision.
The Hamdard Dawakhana is also looking to secure its status as a preferred employer by providing platforms for learning and growth at Hamdard institutes. Qureshi concludes; “The urge to succeed and being adaptive to modern times calls for a brighter tomorrow, a tomorrow which is empowered and backed by values of Hakim Mohammed Said.”