Raza Abbas began the session by tracing his professional journey from graduating in 2005 from NED University to becoming Head of IT at Unilever Pakistan. Starting with a deep interest in computer science and early hands-on experience in development and database management, he emphasized how the technological landscape has shifted—from transactional data systems to today’s AI-driven ecosystems.
He highlighted the increasing speed of digitalization in consumer packaged goods (CPG), pointing out that while the sector used to rank mid-tier in digital maturity, the pace of change in areas like customer experience, supply chain, and consumer engagement has rapidly advanced. According to Raza, keeping up with this transformation requires sustainable, scalable innovation that brings the entire organization along.
He reflected on a pivotal transformation project from a previous role, where he led the implementation of Salesforce automation and ERP for a business servicing 300,000 retail outlets. The organization transitioned from paper-based invoicing to fully digitized systems, despite challenges around technology adoption and smartphone literacy. The project, spanning two years, ultimately enabled real-time data visibility and built a strong foundation for data modeling, decision-making, and long-term strategic planning.
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At Unilever, he explained, IT is positioned at the core of the business transformation agenda. He described the formation of a Digital Council, made up of IT and senior management committee members, which collaboratively sets digital priorities. Globally, Unilever is pursuing a data-first strategy, and Pakistan has made significant progress in digital maturity—moving into the “emerging” tier by leveraging AI, machine-based decision-making, and digital supply chain operating systems.
A core part of this digital transformation includes employee upskilling. The company uses platforms like Degreed to assess and guide skill development across digital capabilities. Raza emphasized the importance of preparing the workforce not only for current technology but for what lies ahead.
Unilever Pakistan’s digital roadmap focuses on embedding AI, IoT, and touchless decision systems across operations. From cloud-first infrastructure to internal GPT tools, the IT team is working to reduce manual dependencies and boost data-driven productivity. AI is no longer a buzzword but a deeply integrated aspect of both consumer experience and internal processes—from demand forecasting to product recommendations and employee enablement.
He also addressed the growing importance of cybersecurity, especially with full cloud migrations now complete. He stressed that security is now embedded “by design,” supported by global platforms and compliance systems.
Reflecting on the broader ecosystem, Raza shared how agility and local partnerships became crucial during hardware procurement challenges due to import restrictions. These pressures led to innovative sourcing approaches, echoing lessons learned during the COVID-19 era.
He closed with a message to tech professionals: continuously align your understanding of business goals with evolving tech trends. Staying updated and business-savvy is what allows IT leaders to truly drive transformation.
