CxO Insights: Shiraz Omar

“Real-time factories – connecting the shop floor to the top floor.”

Shiraz Omar: Faced with rising costs and labor challenges, U.S. manufacturers are embracing smart factory technologies to boost efficiency. A key trend is the use of IoT sensors and edge devices on the shop floor to stream real-time data into unified dashboards—connecting machines to management for shared, live visibility into equipment performance, output, and inventory. AI-powered predictive maintenance is also taking hold, using sensor data to anticipate failures before they cause downtime. Automation continues to scale, handling repetitive or precision tasks and freeing up human workers for higher-value work.

At the core of these advancements is the integration of OT (Operational Technology) and IT (Information Technology). Manufacturers are implementing cloud-based ERP and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) platforms to connect data from production to finance. At Fortude, we help clients create this shop-floor to top-floor connectivity by embedding real-time manufacturing insights directly into their ERP, enabling faster decision-making and greater agility in the face of demand shifts or supply chain disruptions.

In short, the manufacturers leading the way are the ones building fully digital, data-driven operations with a 360° view of their businesses.

“Practical pilots are everywhere – AI is becoming a daily co-worker.”

Shiraz Omar: U.S. businesses have moved past the AI hype and are now deploying it in practical, value-driven ways. In fact, more than three-quarters of U.S. executives say their teams are already using AI agents or assistants in some form. A common entry point is AI that augments employees, like coding copilots helping developers write and debug code, or customer service chatbots managing routine queries 24/7.

Often, these tools are embedded directly into everyday platforms—CRMs, office suites, analytics dashboards—so employees use AI throughout the day without needing separate apps. We’re also seeing early adoption of more autonomous agents, such as those handling inventory management or pricing adjustments based on real-time data.

Overall, companies are taking a phased, use-case-led approach: starting with AI applications that offer clear ROI, like automating manual tasks or surfacing insights faster. And so, AI is increasingly acting as a digital “co-worker,” freeing up human teams to focus on strategic work and paving the way for more ambitious transformations down the line.

“Controlled innovation – we put guardrails around AI.”

Shiraz Omar: It’s all about governed innovation. We help clients, especially in regulated sectors like healthcare, finance, and food & beverage, adopt AI securely and responsibly. We encourage experimentation with generative AI, such as prototyping chatbots or content tools, but always within a controlled environment to ensure compliance and mitigate risks.

Fortude brings a strong data governance framework to every AI initiative, setting access controls, anonymizing sensitive data, and establishing audit trails. In regulated industries, we ensure AI workflows align with legal and ethical standards, keeping systems within private cloud environments, using explainable AI when needed, and incorporating human oversight before final decisions are made.

We also support clients with clear AI policies, staff training, and continuous monitoring to catch issues like bias or errors early. This balanced approach allows organizations to tap into the power of generative AI, boosting productivity and customer experience while staying compliant and building trust for long-term scale.

Turning data into decisions – a 3PL’s transformation.

Shiraz Omar: One example that stands out is a fast-growing U.S.-based 3PL provider we helped transform through data and analytics. They had vast logistics data—trucks, routes, shipments—but it was scattered across systems, making reporting slow and insights hard to come by.

Our team conducted a full analytics health check and then built a modern data platform using Microsoft Azure. We consolidated their data into a centralized lake and introduced real-time dashboards and self-service analytics.

The impact was huge: executives now have instant visibility into KPIs across sales and operations, with predictive insights like more accurate shipping cost forecasts. Manual data prep was cut by 50–60%, freeing up data teams to focus on deeper analysis.
Self-service BI empowered business users to build their own reports, boosting agility and fostering a data-driven culture. This project became the foundation for their broader digital transformation—proof that with the right strategy, even the toughest data challenges can be solved.

“Mid-market transformation at scale – with data, automation, and AI leading the way.”

Shiraz Omar: Honestly, it’s the outcomes we’re delivering that get me excited. Fortude’s rapid expansion in the U.S. is driven by mid-market companies seeking a partner that can bring cutting-edge digital solutions—data, automation, AI—with a personal, business-focused touch. We’re helping 120+ businesses globally, many in the U.S., solve challenges once thought “unsolvable,” from poor supply chain visibility to manual, time-intensive processes.

With the right mix of cloud ERP, automation, and AI-driven analytics, we’ve helped clients unlock control and visibility like never before, whether it’s shop-floor to top-floor analytics or AI-powered forecasting that replaces guesswork with precision. Partnerships are a big part of this journey. From Infor and Microsoft to new alliances like Ettos in sustainability, these relationships help us deliver tailored, future-ready solutions, especially in areas like ESG traceability.

What excites me most is seeing Fortude become a true transformation partner—modernizing systems, unlocking insights, and scaling innovation for our clients. The growth validates our hands-on, client-centric approach, and we’re just getting started. With each project, we’re not just solving today’s challenges, we’re building what’s next.