IT Awards Blog

How a Stevie Awards-winning IT Company is Helping the National Association for the Blind

Posted by Liz Dean on Tue, Jul 02, 2013 @ 01:26 PM

Aslam Khan, President of Octaware Technologies in Mumbai, India, is Chair of The 2013 International Business Awards Final Judging Committee for the IT awards categories, new product awards categories, and product management awards categories. (The International Business Awards are the world's premier business awards competition. The final extended entry deadline for the 2013 IBAs is quickly approaching on 10 July. If you haven't already done so, you can request your entry kit here and it will be emailed to you right away. No additional late penalties or fees will be charged in association with the deadline extension.) 

Aslam Khan, President, Octaware Technologies Here we talked with Aslam about how his company is helping the visually impaired.

Aslam firmly believes that a business should not simply try to build assets for itself but for society as a whole. His credo is: “Success is not what you gain or possess, it’s in making others successful.” We asked him to explain one of the ways his company is achieving this.

Your company, Octaware Technologies, has an active CSR program. Which of the many projects in which your company is involved has given you and your staff the greatest fulfillment?
We successfully implemented the concept of employing blind or visually impaired people who have completed their studies and are computer literate. Senior QA consultants at Octaware developed courseware for the National Association for the Blind (NAB)’s Employment and Training program, and trained the NAB trainers at Octaware’s Mumbai development center.  The NAB trainers were then able to train visually impaired professionals at the NAB’s Manesar Center.

Our association with the NAB has paid great dividends. Introductory courses in software testing and Internet-based applications have so far been pivotal in creating employment for over 25 visually challenged agents. The NAB center is working actively to create employment for around 50 trained and skilled visually impaired professionals by the end of this year. (You can read more about this project on the Octaware website.) 

What item of news recently caught your eye and why?
The news of the courageous efforts of soldiers to rescue people stranded in recent devastating floods and landslides in northern India. The Indian Army’s selflessness and sacrifice has touched the hearts of our entire nation.

(If you want to help, the Indian Red Cross and the American Red Cross are organizing relief operations in the area.) 

If you could choose another profession, what would it be?
Teaching: this is a profession that allows people to make a difference, to do good things, and to make an impact on the world by helping people shape their lives. 

As someone at the top of your profession, what keeps you inspired or makes you hit the ground running in the morning?
The desire to fulfill the dream of building a successful organization that will contribute, directly or indirectly, to elevating and improving the quality of life for many people is what drives me to do better every day.

About Aslam Khan:
Aslam Khan is the President of Octaware Technologies. He is a business strategist who oversees the definition and execution of the company’s strategy. His aim is to establish Octaware as a major global player providing first-class IT solutions and services.

Aslam has over 17 years of experience in technology, strategy, business development, and entrepreneurship. Before forming Octaware, he was a Director of AskMe Software. He initiated the subsidiary of AskMe Corporation-USA in India, which became one of the most profitable and fastest growing IT companies in Pune. Prior to joining AskMe, Aslam worked at Microsoft Corporation in the USA, where he was a lead developer on the Windows 2000 family of products. Before that, Aslam worked at CitiBank N.A, Japan, developing software for the financial trading platform. Aslam holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Mumbai University. 

About Octaware Technologies:
Octaware Technologies is a software development, enterprise solutions, and consulting firm known for excellent project management, delivering high quality solutions, and exceeding the expectations of its customers. With offices in Mumbai, Seattle, Doha, Riyadh, and Lagos, and with development centers in Mumbai and Pune, Octaware is dedicated to helping its clients improve their business productivity by building and implementing comprehensive and cost-effective solutions.  For more information go to www.octaware.com.

Tags: International business awards, it awards, new product awards, product management awards, Aslam Khan, Octaware Technologies

4 Tips for Winning IT Awards in The 2012 International Business Awards

Posted by Liz Dean on Wed, May 30, 2012 @ 01:54 PM

As the final entry deadline for The 2012 International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition, approaches on 27 June, we wanted to provide you with several tips for submitting winning IT awards entries. (If you haven't yet done so, you can request your entry kit here.)

To make the most out of your IT award entries, we suggest the following tips:

1. Review the corporate awards categories.

There are three award categories that are specifically labeled as information technology The Stevie Awardsawards:

  • Information Technology Department of the Year
  • Information Technology Team of the Year
  • Information Technology Executive of the Year

We have several other award categories that may be of interest to IT professionals including our website awards categories, app awards categories, video awards categories, and live event awards categories.

2. Review the entry submission criteria.
Information to be submitted online for these categories include:

  1. An essay of up to 500 words describing the nominee's accomplishments since January 1 2011
  2. A biography of the nominee or the leader of the nominated department or team of up to 100 words
  3. Optional (but highly recommended), a collection of supporting files and web addresses that you may upload to our server to support your entry and provide more background information to the judges

3. Download our 10 Tips for Winning Technology Awards tipsheet. 
Our tipsheet will provide helpful tips and tools for making the most out of your entries

4. Review past winners' entries.
The 8th Annual International Business Awards were presented in October 2011 in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. 2011 IT award honorees included Quality Systems, Inc., PetRays, and Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters.

Winners of the competition will be celebrated at the ninth annual awards banquet on Monday, 15 October at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Seoul, South Korea.

Get instant IBA updates; join us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Tags: business awards, corporate awards, app awards, live event awards, website awards, International business awards, it awards, technology awards, it award, information technology awards, tech awards

3 IT Awards Categories in The 2012 International Business Awards

Posted by Liz Dean on Mon, May 07, 2012 @ 09:42 AM

The entry deadline for The 2012 International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards competition is quickly approaching on 16 May. (All individuals and organizations worldwide may submit nominations to The International Business Awards. If you haven't already done so, you can request your entry kit today.) Here we highlight three IT awards categories to help showcase your organization's emerging technology successes.

2012 IBA IT award categories include:

  1. Information Technology Department of the YearInternational Business Awards
  2. Information Technology Team of the Year
  3. Information Technology Executive of the Year

Information to be submitted online for entries in these categories include:

  • An essay of up to 500 words describing the nominee's accomplishments since January 1 2011,
  • A biography of the nominee or the leader of the nominated department or team of up to 100 words, and
  • Optional (but highly recommended), a collection of supporting files and web addresses that you may upload to our server to support your entry and provide more background information to the judges.

The 8th Annual International Business Awards were presented in October 2011 in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates. 2011 information technology awards winners included PetRays, Quality Systems, Inc., and Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters.

Entries submitted after 16 May, through the final entry deadline of 27 June, will be assessed a late fee in addition to any entry fee. 2012 Finalists will be announced late July and 2012 IBA winners will be announced at the Seoul, South Korea awards ceremony on 15 October. Click here to see the complete IBA calendar.

Want more ways to highlight your organization's IT efforts? We have several corporate awards categories that may be of interest including: app awards, live event awards, video awards, and website awards.

Tags: business awards, corporate awards, app awards, live event awards, video awards, website awards, International business awards, it awards, it award, information technology awards

How a Technology Innovation Winner Helps Reduce Crime in the UAE

Posted by Liz Dean on Fri, Mar 23, 2012 @ 04:40 PM

Abu Dhabi Police - General Headquarters of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, won a Stevie® Award for IT Team of the Year in the information technology award categories of The 2011 International Business Awards, the world's premier business awards program. (The 2012 IBAs are now open for entries. Request your entry kit here and submit entries by the April 11 early-bird deadline for discounted entry fees.) Here we look at how the IT award winning team transformed the Abu Dhabi Police's (ADP) communications system.

Abu Dhabi PoliceThe Problem
Abu Dhabi Police's communication system was no longer keeping up with current security and emerging technology demands, leading to increased security risks. ADP's communication system had limited coverage, a lack of integration across all of Abu Dhabi, and an inadequate information security system, causing information leaks due to eavesdropping on police conversations.

The Project
The IT awards winning team, composed of four members with no less than ten years experience and previous knowledge of the current system, was given the task of updating ADP's system. The four had to research various solutions, select the best system, and monitor all of its development and operations.  The new system had to meet technology innovations including:

  • Ability of reducing processing time and increasing customer satisfaction,
  • Coverage of the Emirate's land and sea (95% coverage was initially targeted), and
  • Security for the protection of Police Operations privacy.

The Solution
After several inquiries and significant research, the tech awards winner decided to introduce TErrestrial Trunked RAdio (TETRA) as ADP's new communications system. TETRA's capabilities include:

  • Collective voice communications,
  • Wireless telephony, and
  • Data services.

The Results
Through ADP's introduction of TETRA, the communications system has become the first integrated wireless system in the Arab world. TETRA has contributed to better crime control and safer roads - advancing the UAE to the 11th most reliable police force in the world according to the 2011 World Economic Report. ADP's TETRA system has helped the police force in several ways, including:

  • Automatically identifying the location of the police patrols and the person making the call.
  • Automatically identifying the location of chased cars and illegal drivers.
  • Allowing decisions to be made on site without having to be in the command and control center.
  • Enabling coordination between paramedics and victims.

Other benefits include:

  • The TETRA communication system is a cost-effective system reducing maintenance costs by 32.9%
  • TETRA has contributed to higher customer satisfaction:

            o  Customer satisfaction with the security levels reached 94.8%
            o  Satisfaction of businessmen with the security levels reached 97.5%

  • Crimes per 1,000 residents was reduced to 0.6 %
  • Percentage of solved crimes reached 96.6%
  • Current coverage: 98% of Abu Dhabi
  • Since its implementation, there have been 0 security violations
  • Satisfaction with the clarity of the voice is 100%
  • Availability of communication channels when calling: 98.47%

About Abu Dhabi Police
The Abu Dhabi Police - General Headquarters is located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The police department strives to make a safer society by preserving stability, reducing crime and contributing justice to the general public. The force values are integrity, honesty and respect for all human rights. The force serves with responsibility, tact, kindness and promotes teamwork and recognition of the contributions of both individuals and teams on the force.

Tags: IT team of the year, information technology award, business awards, International business awards, it awards, it award, tech awards, technology innovation, emerging technology, technology innovations, Abu Dhabi Police