In the heart of Dubai’s vibrant tech scene, the next episode in our international podcast series highlights the spirit of innovation and collaboration at Aforza. In our latest episode, we had the pleasure of hosting Abdul Rehman, Technical Consultant at Aforza, whose Salesforce expertise has proved invaluable in his time at Aforza.

Since joining Aforza in August 2023, Abdul has been instrumental in bridging the gap between clients’ unique requirements and the implementation of professional services. Growing up in the historic city of Lucknow, renowned for its rich culinary heritage, Abdul brings a blend of cultural richness and technical acumen to his role.

With a background in computer science and IT, Abdul’s journey includes various areas, including Salesforce Commerce Cloud and Salesforce Service Cloud. His proficiency as a Java developer and experience in Android development helped his seamless transition to working with Salesforce technologies.

In a previous role, Abdul became interested with Aforza, seeing its robust foundation built on Salesforce and Google Cloud. Abdul acknowledges its versatility in catering to diverse customer needs.The seamless offline functionality and rapid synchronization capabilities underscore Aforza’s commitment to enhancing user experience and efficiency across the Consumer Product industry. And, he notes how the integration of image recognition capabilities further increases Aforza’s value proposition in the market.

For anyone considering a role at Aforza, Abdul shares some valuable insights. Emphasizing the importance of teamwork, he highlights Aforza’s collaborative environment, where every team member is empowered to contribute and communicate freely. “We handle the client, we handle the issues, and we solve them together.” Competence in technology is a prerequisite, coupled with a willingness to embrace new challenges and emerging technologies with enthusiasm. 

In summary, Abdul’s experience highlights the what makes Aforza unique – a blend of technical prowess and collaborative spirit. As Aforza continues to innovate, Abdul’s story can serve as inspiration for tech enthusiasts looking to make their mark in the field! Watch the full podcast below, or to listen on the go, you can subscribe to the series on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Over the past 5 months, Saira Anjum has become an integral part of Team Aforza, bringing her unique background and expertise to her role as a Support Engineer. We’re delighted to work with Saira in our Dubai office, and it was extra special to get the opportunity to sit down and discuss everything from her career to what she values about Aforza as a place to work. And, as the release episode coincides with International Women’s Day, what better time to not only highlight one of our newer female team members, but to do so on an international platform.

Surprisingly, Saira didn’t start her career in IT or any technical field. Instead, she began in the banking sector, gaining invaluable experience in customer-facing roles and business processing. After a fulfilling tenure in banking, Saira shares how she took a decade-long break to focus on her family.

However, she retained her passion for working with customers as she followed an interest in the growing segment of cloud CRM, she ventured into the world of Salesforce, immersing herself in Trailhead courses and furthering her knowledge through dedicated training programs.

Saira shares how Salesforce’s 360-degree views and CRM processes sparked her enthusiasm for the cloud. And how, under the guidance of an inspiring coach, she delved into hands-on projects, honing her skills and deepening her understanding of the platform.

Additionally, the transition to Aforza has marked a significant milestone for Saira. Despite initial nerves about re-entering the workforce after 10 years, she found the experience to be nothing short of amazing. From the conversational interview process to the supportive environment, she shares how Aforza has welcomed her with open arms.

“It’s all about communication,” Saira emphasizes, discussing on the importance of fostering trust and rapport with customers. At Aforza, this mentality is ingrained in our culture, fostering a sense of ease and collaboration among team members.

Curious about what a typical day looks like for Saira? In this episode, she tells us how her role is dynamic and multifaceted; from troubleshooting technical issues to providing tailored solutions for clients. Each day presents new challenges and opportunities to make a meaningful impact.

For those considering a role at Aforza, Saira offers invaluable advice: focus on the people and the environment. Aforza stands out not only for its innovative solutions but also for its supportive and inclusive culture. With an open-door policy and a team of passionate individuals, she shares how motivation to come in every day comes naturally.

Watch below for the full discussion we had with Saira, and stay tuned for more episodes of the Aforza Insights series. To listen on the go, subscribe to the series on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

In our latest podcast episode (the first recorded internationally) we caught up with Sameer Jaffery, Dubai-based Aforza Solution Consulting Manager. Sameer joined the Aforza team about 8-9 months ago, bringing with him over a decade of experience in the IT industry. With a background as the ‘go-to-guy’ for colleagues with technical questions, progressing from a developer to an administrator to a consultant, he can connect with both sides of a product conversation.

Recently, Sameer also attended Gulfood, the largest food and beverage event in the world held in Dubai. He was impressed by the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation displayed by participants from across the globe, and attended a number of meetings with members of our global team who were on-site.

During the episode, Sameer highlights the unique position Aforza holds in the GCC region. Unlike other fragmented solutions in the market, Aforza offers a complete, connected platform that integrates planning to execution on the Salesforce & Google Cloud Platforms. This end-to-end solution streamlines processes for consumer goods companies, driving efficiency and innovation.

Lara Giles is a recent (and welcome) addition to the Aforza’s London Waterloo offices, coming all the way from Sydney, Australia. She comes to the company with an extensive background in Consumer Goods, most notably at Arnott’s, a major player in the Australian grocery market. Her roles spanned demand planning, finance, and IT implementation, which is where she first gained exposure to the Aforza tool. Intrigued by its potential, Lara decided to explore further upon moving to London.

Transitioning into her new role of Solution Consultant, Lara shares how she has found herself welcomed into a collaborative environment at Aforza. The advantage of a smaller team allowed her to dive in hands-on, creating a sense of involvement from the get-go. Structured onboarding sessions and platform training sessions with the team have ensured Lara’s seamless integration, despite her initial lack of familiarity with Salesforce.

Beyond professional development, Lara notes the genuine warmth of her colleagues, who not only guided her through Aforza’s solution & capabilities but also extended their hospitality by recommending local eateries and attractions in London, easing her transition to a new city.

So far, a standout for Lara has been the Aforza platform’s REX connectivity with TPM. She appreciates how Aforza seamlessly brings these two worlds together, recognizing its potential to rapidly provide significant value to businesses. Drawing from her prior experience, Lara notes that even with a fantastic sales team, it’s not always straightforward for corporate entities to gain visibility into ground-level operations.

In summary, Lara’s podcast offers insights into her journey from Australia to Aforza in London, detailing her background, early experiences, and first impressions of the products. It provides a glimpse into the seamless integration of Aforza into her professional life and the value she sees that it holding for businesses.

Andreia Diaconu, originally from Romania, has had an extensive career that spans across the Consumer Goods industry, with time spent at P&G, and the Consumer Healthcare demerger from Johnson & Johnson known as Kenvue. Beginning her career as a key account representative, going door-to-door with a PDA in hand, she knows the reality of the FMCG industry. Throughout her journey, she identified a recurring challenge in every sales tool she encountered – they were never fast or efficient enough.

As Andreia discusses in the podcast episode, she realized that FMCG success lies not only in being the smartest or the hardest worker but also in logistics and technology. She emphasizes the role of technology in enabling businesses, stating, “The FMCG business is a lot about people; technology enables it. You don’t outwin your competition by being far smarter or the hardest worker in the room, it helps, but it’s always the logistics that wins and tech comes in to that.”

Coming to the close of her second week at Aforza, Andreia notes her appreciation for the individualized focus she’s received during her onboarding. From the 1-1 interview style with Aforza’s Co-Founders, the recurring emphasis on the ‘Human factor,’ and the pivotal role of ‘Trust’ in the process, it has been a persistently positive experience.

Keen on learning even before officially joining, Andreia conducted 8-10 demonstrations during her interview process after gaining access to a demo account. This is both a testament to her dedication to the recruitment journey and to the ease with which Aforza can be used by anyone – in her own words, “If it works for me, it definitely works for someone else”.

She describes the team vibe as one that makes it feel like “Aforza belongs to everybody”, which encourages passion among its members.

To hear more about Andreia’s experiences, her unique perspectives and the value of time for the Consumer Goods industry, watch the full podcast below. Or, to listen on the go, you can subscribe to the series at Spotify & Apple Podcasts.