A MEASURED RESPONSE

Sakkeer Hussain, Director, Sales & Marketing, D- Link MEA discusses how the company has responded to Covid-19 challenges

Sakkeer Hussain Director, Sales & Marketing, D- Link MEA

How has the company reviewed and adjusted its workforce to work from home during the current lockdown due to Covid19?

The safety of our employees precedes any business matter, and that’s how it should be across any organization. D-Link Middle East implemented work from home policies much before the official lockdown in the UAE. Being a leader in networking and cloud solutions, we were able to swiftly and efficiently make the move. D-Link made sure employees had access to the corporate networks in a secure manner. We had several virtual meetings educating our staff about security and the importance of being extra alert during this time. Besides meetings for work, we are also ensuring employees have access to the right kind of sources when it comes to information about the pandemic. We share insightful credible articles on our company chatrooms. Our IT team has been the best, always on call, helping the staff set up their home offices.

What have been some of the challenges that you have overcome?

Keeping up employee morale when working from home, especially during a pandemic, can be a challenge. The first step we took was to assure our staff about job and business continuity and share information transparently. Lack of information and clear planning can end up leaving the workforce frustrated and on the edge.

We have also gone the extra mile and kept communication lines open for employees to discuss mental health. It is also important to have a structure even when working remotely. This is why we have daily morning team meetings, regular one-on-one calls and even have our casual Thursdays. Collaborative and engaging meeting apps allow us to feel connected.

Digital transformation has been key to successfully managing remote working. Was the company ready in quick time to make a successful transition? What are some of the tools you have adopted during the phase as a team to be digitally enabled?

ing securely, efficiently and successfully.

We are using GoToMeeting for our internal and external meetings. It has been very convenient and a great experience.

Do you see the role of digital marketing becoming more important during this phase? Is there a lot of relearning and reskilling expected from employees?

Digital marketing will dictate all future marketing campaigns and play a significant role. Earlier everyone knew digital marketing was the way forward but now we are forced to actually find innovation around it to stay differentiated.

Majority of the roles are able to function as usual as we have always been a digital-first firm. However, there are some designations that simply cannot work remotely. We were able to find new roles within the company for them during this time. All of us should be constantly learning and trying to add on to our skillsets in this fast-paced world.

Discuss some of the digital engagements you have executed/planned with partners/end customers?

We have strengthened our digital initiatives and issued several press releases announcing support and avenues of opportunities for our partners and customers. We continue to execute digital campaigns and promotions with our distributors. We have also made it possible for people to claim digital vouchers on specific product segments promotion and campaigns.

How are specific job functions like logistics and after sales support that is part of technology business impacted and being coped with?

It is not a 100% lockdown in terms of shipments. Although it is limited, there are incoming consignments that we have to manage. Adhering to government regulations, we have attained the required permits and approvals to keep our warehouses open during the lockdown. As per the rules, 30% staff can operate within a premise – we have made sure those staff who had to come in took all the necessary precautions and were monitored closely. We are able to offer after-sales support seamlessly through digital channels.

What special message in one line would you like to send out to partners and customers about overcoming the challenges presented during the current covid’19 crisis?

Use the time to prepare calmly for a digital-led business future. In every challenge, there lies an opportunity, pushing us to go beyond our comfort zones. Let’s try to identify that opportunity. Stay strong and stay safe as we ride out this calamity.

D-LINK URGES PARTNERS TO ADDRESS NEED FOR CYBERSECURITY SOLUTIONS DURING COVID-19

D-Link Middle East is urging regional channel partners to focus on cloud and network security solutions to help their customers navigate cybercrime in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, nations are gradually easing quarantine measures depending on the progress each country has made in curbing the spread of the virus. However, remote working is shaping up to be a long-term strategy for many companies in the foreseeable future.

The biggest challenge customers are facing today is ensuring their employees have easy, immediate and secure access to company data. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are increasingly taking advantage of the pandemic and are launching COVID-19 related cyber-attacks on vulnerable employees.

Sakkeer Hussain, Director, Sales & Marketing, D- Link MEA, said, “Channel partners should stay abreast of the current market scenario and be a step ahead to assist customers in their cybersecurity strategies for their infrastructures and networks. They are in a unique position to become customers’ trusted advisors during this time of crisis.

Over the years D-Link has made some significant business alliances that have amplified the vendor’s enterprise and SMB product portfolio, especially in the network security space. For example, the partnership with GajShield Infotech allows D-Link’s extensive network of value-added resellers and systems integrators to offer innovative solutions across unified threat management (UTM), data leak prevention (DLP) and email security solutions to their customer base. Gajshield UTM carries context-based network data leakage prevention (DLP), patent pending technology, BYOD security and enterprise cloud security.

“These solutions play a critical role for any organization, especially now that perpetrators are increasing their activities to take advantage of the chaos and uncertainty brought on by the pandemic. Partners should look at these areas where they are sure to add immense value to their customers. At D-Link Middle East, we are completely committed to our partners and continue to offer them support in every way we can,” added Hussain.