Zahid Group says its partnership with Infor and the launch an Innovation Centre of Excellence in Jeddah offers a raft of benefits including the speeding up of spare parts deliveries.
Jeddah-headquartered Zahid Group, whose operations span 14 sectors including construction machinery, has joined forces with enterprise software company Infor to establish a new Centre of Excellence (CoE) dedicated to industry-specific innovation.
The facility will focus on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), process mining, and process automation. It is designed to act as a hub for knowledge transfer, capability-building, and practical innovation, supporting both Zahid Group’s businesses and its wider network of customers, partners, and vendors.
According to the companies, the CoE will leverage cloud-based tools to enhance operational efficiency, improve productivity, and reduce costs, while creating tailored solutions for long-term competitive advantage. Early applications include using process mining to identify inefficiencies in live operations and deploying AI-driven spare parts planning systems to increase accuracy and reduce downtime.
The centre will also build a library of innovation use cases specific to equipment dealerships, while providing a platform for continuous improvement across Zahid Group’s businesses. Infor’s Advanced Services team will oversee the programme, delivering workshops, design-thinking sessions, and support through its Velocity Suite of automation and AI solutions.
Haytham W. Zahid, CEO of Zahid Group, said the initiative represented the latest step in the company’s long-standing commitment to digitalisation: “Since the 1980s, we have pursued digital enablement, followed by optimisation, with several strategic technology partners. Based on our successful deployment of Infor’s industry-specific cloud solutions, we are confident that this partnership will further our digital transformation and contribute to regional economic development.”
Infor CEO Kevin Samuelson added: “Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is propelling the nation toward a future defined by innovation and growth. This Centre of Excellence reflects Zahid Group’s commitment to digital leadership, and we are proud to partner in delivering measurable value to Zahid Group and the Kingdom.”
