Corporate Connections is Mohamed Hareb Al Otaiba’s foray into the ever-dynamic office technology sector.

It is basically the earlier office equipment division, which has demerged from the parent and accorded the status of an independent entity, says Dinesh Sharma, general manager,
Associated with the world-reputed brand Nashuatec for more than 30 years, Al Otaiba has successfully secured a significant market share for its office equipment business and established Nashuatec as one of the leading brands in the UAE. Nashuatec, a part of the NRGI Group (a Ricoh company) are based in Guernsey, UK and the machines are manufactured in the Ricoh factories in Japan and elsewhere.
The comprehensive range offers solutions from the small and medium to the large office segments and from small to the high volume machines and network printing solutions. The product line includes a wide range of digital copiers, laser fax machines, color copiers, large format copiers and laser printers. 
Corporate Connections also supplies Bindomatic professional document binding systems from Sweden and a wide range of document shredders and conference cabinets from TK Team, Finland.
“The philosophy of the company is not just to provide hardware but to be a ‘Solutions Provider’. We recognize the emergence of the digital office and are offering Image Processing Systems integration approach that would add efficiency and simplicity to your document output, storage and retrieval systems,” says Sharma.
“It is important for us to first fully understand the needs of every customer before we provide them with document management solutions. After identifying these we ensure that we provide efficient and timely services. Testimony to our level of service lies in the quantum of business that comes through referrals and repeat purchases,” he adds.
Elaborating on future plans, he says: “We are aggressively looking at entering the Information Technology arena. The aim is to be able to offer Total Customer Solutions. In this effort, we will rope in more agencies that will enable us to enlarge our product line so that we can become a one-stop shop for all office needs. This may take us into the realm of office furniture, or areas like developing a business centre. Within six months, we hope to expand this division so that we can service our existing clientele and present a complete offering to our future customers.”
There are aggressive plans to tie up with various agencies to take this initiative forward on a regional level. According to Sharma, several proposals are in an advanced stage of finalisation and the new agency tie-ups would be announced soon.
“At Corporate Connections, the endeavour is to provide customised, quality solutions to all our customers backed by an exceptional pre and post sales service and support,” he says.
In his view, providing advanced document production and management equipment is only part of supplying customers with true office solutions. This is why Al Otaiba provides an integrated range of product and service solutions, designed to make a strong contribution to a customer’s overall efficiency, ultimately resulting in heightened productivity and profitability.
 According to Sharma, the service solutions include:
• Evaluation, assessment and consultancy: involves a full survey of each customer’s requirements, based on his business area, size and structure of organisation and objectives;
• Recommendations: dependent on individual customer requirements, it will offer advice on both individual solutions to specific needs or on creating fully integrated organisation-wide communications solutions. Corporate Connections is not limited to providing only its products, can also recommend, source, supply and service equipment from other manufacturers if it is more appropriate for individual needs;
• Rapid response service: Its field service teams, active in each emirate, responds rapidly to service calls, and also evaluate the performance of all equipment and ensure customers are kept advised of the latest developments in its range of products and services;
• Facilities management: When customers require an extension of its services, Corporate Communications also is capable of managing a range of document-related functions on their behalf, including mailroom, print-room and web presence management, Sharma points out.
“We recognize the emergence of the digital office and are offering an Image Processing Systems integration approach that would add efficiency and simplicity to the clients’ document output, storage and retrieval systems,” he adds.
With showrooms and service centres in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai, a comprehensive dealer network covers the Northern Emirates. Al Otaiba’s list of high-profile clients include various ministries such as Education, Justice, Interior and Police Departments, oil companies like Adnoc Ford, Total Abu Bukhoosh, educational institutions such as Wollongong University, British Council and The Al Ain University and corporate clients including Emaar, Etisalat, BP Middle East, Boeing and UNB.
Sharma continues: “Al Otaiba is totally committed to the concept of ‘Total customer Satisfaction’ and all our policies and actions are oriented towards achieving that.
“We strongly believe that one thing which differentiates a good company from the rest is its understanding and appreciation of the need to provide quality after-sales support. This covers all aspects, i.e. timely product delivery, installation, ongoing training and support, availability of supplies and spare parts, response time and machine uptime.
“Our claim to this is borne out by the fact that the majority of our business comes from repeat purchases from our large bank of existing satisfied customers, most of whom have been with us for many years with multiple machines in many different locations.”
The division has three different branches in UAE – in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain plus several dealers in different emirates.
All branches have a team of service engineers, headed by the respective service supervisor and the number of engineers per branch is based on the machine population, the ratio of the two “being carefully monitored to ensure minimum response time and maximum machine up time”, he says. Most of the technicians are mobile and carry essential spare parts with them. 
Corporate Connections has a computerised call logging, distribution and monitoring system to ensure efficiency in attending and completing calls and a custom-made software, which assists in online spares and supplies inventory management.
“Our average response time is four hours and in the unlikely event of a delay in machine repair we also provide backup standby machines,” he adds.