CPI Business hosted this year's edition of SME Beyond Borders 2017, its annual conference dedicated to the local SME sector, last November 9, 2017 at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai. The seminar was accepted the aim to predict fads that will influence the method we function, live and communicate with each other - stressing on the value of designing the ideal techniques that will help transform the form of services in the future.

The event saw the participation of over 800 participants, including greater than 35 experts and policy-makers, which gathered to go over functional approaches to navigating a constantly changing world. The agenda consisted of a great deal of interactions throughout the day including a pitching difficulty for start-ups called Pitch Please The Incubator Challenge.

The conference was headlined by two worldwide keynote speakers - Tanmay Bakshi, the world's youngest app developer, author, IBM champion for Cloud and Honorary IBM Cloud Adviser, and Theo Priestley, a leading innovation evangelist, digital raconteur and futurist. Talking after his session, Tanmay Bakshi shared, "It is such an honour to be welcomed to this year's SME Beyond Borders conference, specifically when the theme is accepting the future. I'm rather overwhelmed by the commitment of all young leaders within the region to create positive change and impact."

Meanwhile, Theo Priestley claimed, "I am pleased to be able to share my perspective of exactly what the future will appear like. My session was indicated to motivate the guests to think of the future and address strategic preparedness to capitalise the chances used by digitalisation and automation in a way that benefits staff members, employers and culture, all at once."

Gina O'Hara Larsen, Co-founder and COO, CPI Business, said, "In a quickly altering global environment, SME Beyond Borders 2017 is a platform to examine exactly what exists in advance for us as local business owner. By providing insightful discussions on digital technologies including expert system, robotics and IoT, we are preparing local SMEs to grow in the future economic situation. We desire SMEs to be geared up with the ideal information to seize the opportunities of the future, instead of being daunted by it. The UAE has incredible leadership, preparation and vision for the future and there could be no much better place compared to here to perform technical innovations."

Karim Idilby, General Manager for Bupa Global Africa, India and the Middle East, said: The SME market research, which we recently performed with Oman Insurer Company (OIC), shows employee productivity depends upon happiness in the workplace. Taking this right into factor to consider, we want to assist SME companies comprehend what motivates their labor force to be more effective. Therefore, together with OIC, we have produced a Wellness Quiz which employees and companies can use to specify the wellness aspects that have to improve in the office to own boosted happiness, performance and eventually bottom lines.

"We're talking about the future at SME Beyond Borders 2017, and as Toyota, we are concentrated on looking in advance with new modern technologies. As market leaders, we believe our support to this campaign is essential. One of our major top priorities is to profit our customers better through unique offerings, in parallel with advertising innovation to cause positive change in an ever-evolving business landscape.", said Saud Abbasi, Managing Director of Toyota at Al-Futtaim Motors.

The event was put together by CPI Business in association with Providing Partner First Abu Dhabi Bank, Strategic Partner Etisalat Digital, Health and Wellness Partner Bupa Global and OIC, Official Automotive Allies Toyota and Al Futtaim Motors, Innovation Partner SAP, Airline Company Partner Etihad Airways, SME Commitment Program Etihad BusinessConnect, Business Allies FAMCO, Volvo and Hino; Strategic Allies Dubai SME, Rate SME and Al Murad Group; Support Companions Orient Planet Research, Wamda, Plantshop.ae and Beehive; Authorities Radio Partner Channel 4 Radio network; Physical fitness Partner The Cycle Hub; Broadcast Partner CNBC Arabia; and Media Partner Happenize.