The economic shake-up has forced companies across the region and the world to re-think their business strategies going forward in order to survive and grow in this challenging environment. In the months ahead, companies need to be looking for not only cost effective ways to manage their business, but also smart options to help them do more with less. Technology, interestingly, is well placed in the sweet spot to help them do both.

With a view to foster a unique networking and learning session, Mercator and Emirates Group IT - who design, build, operate and support the critical business information systems for the Emirates Group - recently held their first CIO Forum at the Emirates Group Head Quarters in Dubai; attendees were also invited to take an exclusive tour of the Emirates Airline Network Control Center.

Positioned as a platform to guide business reinvention by discussing key business issues and sharing ideas and experience, the conference offered industry executives key insights into emerging technologies, IT strategies and best practice stories from leading regional CIOs, Senior Management from Emirates Group IT, Mercator and strategic technology partners - Microsoft, IBM, Cisco and Oracle.