ABM Group IT head Dominic Kebenei is on a mission to embed technology in every facet of the business. As a champion of digital transformation, he believes innovation is the lifeblood of any forward-looking organisation.
For Dominic Kebenei, the last three years at ABM Group have been an insightful journey filled with new challenges every day. He has kept a laser focus on empowering the business by transforming its traditional ways of operating, eliminating paperwork, and easing decision-making by tapping into technology. Since he joined the battery manufacturer in 2022, the company has had several milestones, all driven by innovation.
“We have enabled our customers to place orders digitally and linked a lot of processes on the manufacturing side, where we’re able to trace them all the way to the market. We are now exploring AI solutions and transitioning to cloud-based IT infrastructure, moving away from traditional server setups. We have also put in place a robust IT security framework to safeguard ourselves against cyber breaches,” he says.
When he took on the role of group head of ICT at ABM Group, Dominic saw it as a golden opportunity to expand his horizons. Most of the companies he had worked for previously operated solely within Kenya, limiting his regional exposure. This role, however, offered the chance to oversee operations across multiple companies (ABM, Chloride Exide Kenya, Chloride Exide Tanzania and Chloride Exide Uganda) operating in multiple countries, a challenge he was keen to embrace. His achievements at ABM Group are a result of his long-standing passion for innovation, a journey he embarked on more than a decade ago.
“I am a graduate from Jomo Kenyatta University, one of the top technology-led university institutions in Kenya. The university had many collaborations with different foreign countries for the exchange of programs. Pursued my undergraduate degree in information technology (BSc.IT), passing quite well and earning first-class honours. Later, I pursued a master's degree from the same university,” he shares.
Dominic started his career in the banking industry, working with Equity Bank for a short period. Here, he gained his first experience in systems, automation, innovation, and cybersecurity, a focus that continues to define his career to this day. He then worked at Techno Brain Group before joining The Standard Group Plc, Kenya’s largest and the oldest media house, where he led several initiatives, including rolling out key systems and introducing a major ERP project that transformed the business.
Competitive edge
“I then moved to the cement industry as the head of ICT, for five years, focusing on putting IT at the centre of every business operation,” Dominic says.
Fourteen years after the start of his career, Dominic still sees digital transformation as the key to staying competitive. From his perspective, customer experience is the driving force behind technological innovation. He predicts that businesses that fail to evolve will inevitably be left behind, a development he attributes to a shift in business dynamics.
“Pervasive advancements in technology across the organizations have forced all organisations to rethink their approach to IT. Customer loyalty for brands is gone. The customer of today is more knowledgeable, compared to yester years. Customers use tech to gather information online of what they want to buy before they can actually purchase, woe unto you if you’re not available online. The new generation (GenZs) are now leveraging more and more AI tools in nearly everything they do today.
“Everyone wants to have everything at the click-of-a-button. Use of paper money will go away as more customers embrace mobile and e-wallets in their day-to-day transaction therefore as a CIO you need to ensure the business is already there,” he says.
In Dominic’s experience, cybersecurity is the flipside of tech-driven change. He advises IT leaders to set up adequate protections against cyberattacks which are on the rise. He is also alive to the need for complying with country-specific laws that regulate data processing and protection.
A new order
To support and propel IT as a value creator today and into the future, IT executives must hone and master new competencies. Dominic is intent on overhauling the traditional way of doing business. Under his leadership, ABM Group ICT department has adopted cloud strategy.
“On the consumer side, we have rolled out digital channels (self-service) for our customers – use of e-commerce and mobile apps. Our customers are now able to send their orders anywhere anytime as well as having real-time access to their accounts resulting in significant improvement on our customer experience,” he explains.
Dominic's passion for technology is an all-encompassing force in his life. When he steps away from work, he finds solace on his farm away from the capital, where enjoys spending time with animals to unwind. But even in this seemingly unrelated realm, he sees opportunities to innovate.
