Developing Groundbreaking Products to Augment Human Capacity: GlobalDWS Corporation

“Our engagement model begins with understanding the business need a client is trying to solve, or the new capabilities that they are trying to enroll.”

GlobalDWS Corporation is a leading international systems integrator and provider of cognitive services and innovative technologies specializing in AI, IoT, and service robotics to empower the modern workplace.

GlobalDWS-built Disinfection Service Robot (DSR) is an autonomous solution equipped with Ultraviolet C (UV-C) lights and viral disinfectant solution to provide sanitization to essential business and public workplaces without the risk of human intervention.

The company is based in Toronto, Ontario.

To highlight and further understand what GlobalDWS Corporation stands for and seeks to explore in this segment, I sat down with Rami Wehbe (co-founder), who serves as the company’s Chief Technology Officer.

Below is an excerpt.

Q. Tell us what inspired the creation of GlobalDWS Corporation.

Prior to our inception in 2013, we noticed a gap in the enterprise technology solutions market. We imagined how we could offer a transformational solution suite focused on human-centric solutions. Ultimately, it’s not about the technology, it’s not about the process; it’s about the people that our solutions will impact and help in their day-to-day lives. This has been our vision since day one.

Q. What makes GlobalDWS unique? And how does the company empower the modern workplace?

The current market is rife with silos; you don’t see many holistic approaches addressing workplace solutions. GlobalDWS’ innovative culture allows us to standout in today’s market and create solutions centered on user-empowerment and simplicity. In short, we are focused on the experience of technology rather than the technology itself. Another point of differentiation is our professional services methodology of how to integrate emerging technologies such as Cloud, AI, Robotics, RPA, and IoT to meet pressing business needs.

Q. Given that GlobalDWS is a leading international systems integrator and provider of cognitive services, how uniquely does the company address its clients’ needs?

Our engagement model begins with understanding the business needs a client is trying to meet, or the new capabilities that they are trying to enroll.  After we have a common-understanding of the situation, our team partners with the client to leverage design-thinking and agile methodologies to come up with a creative solution to meet both strategic and business objectives. This all comes before the initial conversation around the technology – there are no limits here – that’s why we leverage the experimentation process to hit the market and meet our clients’ needs within a competitive timeframe. From this solid foundation, we then establish a clear structure, a realistic roadmap, and set achievable, mutual goals for the project.

Q. What can you tell us about the innovative technologies GlobalDWS offers?

One thing we continue to be proud of at GlobaDWS is how we were able to build an entire Robotic Management System (RMS) from ground-up, and then integrate that with an intelligent IoT building system.

Using an innovative combination of AI, Sensors, IoT, Autonomous Navigation, and Virtual Assistants, we were able to integrate and design a sophisticated Smart-Building Ecosystem for modern workplaces. For example, Smart Sensors located throughout an office space can enable touch-free access to boardrooms with gesture control or monitor room occupancy and desk presence. As we return to the new normal in a post-Covid world,  new safeguards and capabilities such as these are essential for keeping employees safe, happy, and motivated as we begin to return to the office.. Additionally,  Service Robots deployed in the same office  could disinfect spaces automatically between groups or meetings, check-in visitors, automate the Covid-19 contact training process, and ultimately make for a much more efficient and productive working environment.

Other areas we are focused on reside in the education and long-term care sectors. For education, we’ve realized the potential for AI and Machine Learning to help automate student assessments – freeing up time for teachers so that they can have a renewed focus on individualized learning: something that remains a challenge in today’s crowded classrooms. On the other hand, we’ve seen the potential for accessible technology, mental health, and social engagement through Service Robotics in senior homes – particularly during the pandemic – and their utility for helping seniors stay engaged mentally, emotionally, and physically during times of isolation.

Q. That’s not all GlobalDWS does. What are its other focus areas?

At GlobalDWS, community engagement is very important to us. Our role in local education has been significant over the past year, collaborating with George Brown College to create North America’s first post-secondary Service Robotics certificate program. More recently, we had the honor of supporting aspiring technologists in the international market through virtual technology career sessions. On a global scale, our international hackathon focused on Service Robotics, ROBOCON, allowed us to connect with brilliant students, designers, and engineers to ideate the future of Robotic applications in core industries.

Empowering an inclusive innovation economy is another aspect of community support that we take pride in. Partnering with local organizations such as CILAR (Canadian Innovation Leaders Against Racism), Black Arts Innovation Expo (BAIE), and other community events, we are proud to promote opportunities in emerging technologies.

Q. From your perspective, how is the industry you serve currently evolving? And what are the trends in the different categories?

Based on the Global Automation and Robotics Market Report 2021, the Assistive Robotics Market will reach $21.3 billion by 2026, driven by healthcare and social needs. At GlobalDWS, we are working to bring more products and services (such as our DSR) that integrate AI, IoT, Cloud, and Robotics to solve business problems in more innovative approaches. And our experience of how to leverage Robotics and Automation in senior homes helped us optimize our products and services to empower our customers in their automation and optimization journey.

Q. Where do you stand as a company in the current market landscape? And how do you plan to stay ahead of the curve?

We believe that GlobalDWS is a leader in service robot and business automation solutions. We have developed groundbreaking products and services such as telepresence and reception service robots that integrate robots in business operations to augment human capacity. Our strategy is to partner with our customers and communities to articulate which business needs we can meet. Then, we leverage our research and development practices using talented resources in emerging technologies to figure out the most innovative and cost-effective solutions.

Rami Wehbe | Co-founder & CTO

Rami Wehbe is a senior technology strategist and program lead with more than 20 years of experience in IT strategy formulation, business strategy transformation, business scenario development, and innovation. He has profound knowledge of service architecture development, IT governance design, new technology evaluation, and IT risk management.

“At GlobalDWS, we are working to bring more products and services (such as our DSR) that integrate AI, IoT, cloud, and robotics to meet business needs in more innovative approaches.”