At CorpCurrent, we had the priviledge to sit down with Umair Azam, Founder and CEO of Integration Xperts (IX), one of Pakistan’s most forward-thinking digital transformation companies. In a candid and insightful conversation, Umair took us through IX’s evolution from a niche consulting firm to a global tech enabler, tackling everything from Pakistan’s talent gap and brain drain to the company’s bold efforts in workforce development and international expansion. He challenged the notion of the tech industry as a “magical lamp,” instead framing it as a powerful engine that, with the right strategy, can drive long-term, inclusive growth for Pakistan and beyond. Catch the full exclusive interview below:
Q1. Can you walk us through the journey of Integration Xperts and outline its core business operations?
Umair Azam: Integration Xperts (IX) was founded in 2016 to bridge the gap between cutting-edge global enterprise technologies and the specific, evolving needs of businesses in emerging markets. In less than a decade, we’ve evolved from a niche consulting firm into a leading digital transformation enabler, with a footprint across the US, MENA, and ASEAN regions.
At our core, we specialise in enterprise integration, ERP modernisation, cloud adoption, AI, and data analytics. Our team of over 200 highly skilled professionals combines deep technical expertise with regional business insight to deliver high-impact outcomes. We’ve completed more than 100 implementations, supporting clients across industries in optimising operations, driving innovation, and enhancing competitiveness.
Our strategic partnerships with global technology leaders—including Oracle, SAP, Salesforce, Microsoft, and Google—enable us to deliver enterprise-grade solutions tailored to local and regional market dynamics. Whether deploying cloud-native architectures or enabling data-driven decision-making, we help organisations move with speed, scale, and resilience.
Q2. How has your experience been running a technology-enabling company in Pakistan? Could you also highlight some key challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Umair Azam: Running a tech company in Pakistan is both promising and challenging. The country has a young, tech-savvy population eager to embrace digital change. But the biggest hurdle is the talent gap—only about 10% of IT graduates are industry-ready. A lack of practical training and mentorship makes it hard to scale teams effectively.
To tackle this, we co-founded AshreiTech, aimed at training over 10,000 graduates in technologies like Oracle, SAP, Salesforce, and AWS—creating certified professionals ready for both local and global markets. The goal is to boost Pakistan’s IT exports and global competitiveness.
We also face broader issues like brain drain and infrastructure gaps. In 2023, many skilled professionals left the country, but we turned adversity into opportunity—adopting global delivery models and investing heavily in internal capacity. These strategies have helped us not just survive, but scale and thrive.
Q3. If there’s one thing you’re particularly proud of about IX as an organisation, what would it be?
Umair Azam: I’m immensely proud of the inclusive and empowering culture we’ve cultivated at IX. Notably, over 25% of our workforce comprises women—significantly higher than the national IT average of under 14%. This achievement reflects our commitment to diversity and to creating opportunities for underrepresented groups in tech.
We actively encourage women to rejoin the workforce and are proud to have working mothers as a valued part of our team. To support them, we offer flexible work-from-home options and have established an on-site nursery to help ease the transition back into professional life.
Furthermore, our dedication to continuous learning and professional development has enabled us to deliver complex digital transformation projects for clients globally. By fostering a culture that values meritocracy, inclusivity, and ongoing growth, we’ve positioned ourselves as a trusted partner in the global tech landscape.
Q4. The technology industry in Pakistan is often touted as a “magical lamp” waiting to be rubbed to fix many of the country’s economic issues. To what extent do you agree with this view?
Umair Azam: I agree that tech holds transformative potential for Pakistan’s economy—but calling it a “magical lamp” oversimplifies the effort required. In FY 2023–24, IT exports crossed $3.2B and the industry now employs over 600,000 people. With the right reforms, we could exceed $15B in exports within three years. But this growth isn’t automatic—it needs a national strategy, policy continuity, and digital ecosystem development across sectors like fintech, healthtech, govtech, and e-commerce.
We must learn from countries like Vietnam, where innovation aligned with policy and investment created long-term gains. Broadband access alone boosts GDP, and the Ministry projects tech could contribute 13% to GDP by 2025. Pakistan is rising in global innovation rankings and startup activity is strong—but without structured investment, modern infrastructure, and better access to mid-stage capital, we risk stagnation.
The tech sector isn’t a quick fix—it’s a powerful engine. With the right policy and private-sector collaboration, it can drive sustainable growth, jobs, and global competitiveness.
In my view, Pakistan’s tech sector isn’t a magical lamp—it’s a sophisticated engine capable of delivering sustainable growth, high-quality employment, and global competitiveness. The task before us is to keep that engine running through strategic policy, agile governance, and collaborative innovation.
Umair Azam, CEO at Integration Xperts
Q5. In your experience, are there things that the tech industry can do to unlock their economic potential further without requiring government support?
Umair Azam: Absolutely. While government support is beneficial, the private sector possesses significant untapped potential. Strengthening industry–academia linkages is crucial, as many universities currently do not equip graduates with the practical skills demanded by modern tech ecosystems.
Moreover, mid-sized tech firms can collaborate to pool resources, establish shared R&D centers, or jointly bid for global contracts. This collaborative approach mirrors the strategy employed by India’s IT sector in the early 2000s through organizations like NASSCOM.
Another key step is to move up the value chain. Relying solely on the traditional IT services export model limits growth. Instead, companies should focus on developing high-value services, building proprietary intellectual property, and forming strategic partnerships with global technology providers.
Upskilling teams to deliver premium solutions—especially in areas like cloud, ERP, cybersecurity, and AI—can open doors to resource augmentation contracts and significantly boost foreign exchange earnings.
Q6. IntegrationXperts has successfully pitched for — and implemented — cloud solutions in companies across the globe. How competitive do you find Pakistani tech companies, like yours, in regional or global markets compared to tech companies from other parts of the world?
Umair Azam: Pakistani tech firms—particularly those adhering to global best practices and compliance standards—are highly competitive in both regional and global markets. Specialization is key.
For instance, our expertise in Oracle, SAP and Salesforce has enabled us to compete effectively with firms from the Middle East and ASEAN regions, often winning contracts due to our domain-specific knowledge, agility, and cost-effectiveness.
According to Gartner’s 2024 report on cloud implementation trends, partners offering localized context and agility often outperform larger, less nimble vendors. This insight closely aligns with our experience, where our ability to tailor solutions to specific client needs has been a significant differentiator.
Q7. When working with companies in international markets versus companies in Pakistan, do you feel there’s a significant difference in approach to work? What has your experience been like?
Umair Azam: Yes, there is a noticeable difference in work culture and expectations between international and local markets. International clients typically operate with a highly structured approach—they expect milestone-driven delivery, tight alignment with service-level agreements (SLAs), and a strong emphasis on consultative, value-added engagement. The focus is not just on execution, but on strategic partnership and long-term impact.
In contrast, many Pakistani companies—particularly those rooted in more traditional industries—are still evolving in their digital maturity. For a long time, digital transformation was viewed as a one-time initiative, often limited to software implementation or basic automation. However, this mindset is gradually changing.
We’re now seeing a positive shift in the local landscape, with more organizations beginning to understand that technology is not a luxury but a necessity. Increasingly, businesses are recognizing that digital transformation is a continuous journey—one that directly impacts competitiveness, resilience, and future growth.
Q8. IntegrationXperts works closely with international software giants like Salesforce, Oracle, and SAP. In your view, how critical is Pakistan as a market for these companies? Is this generally a focus area for them, or are we tapping into residual regional interest to fulfil local needs?
Umair Azam: Currently, Pakistan is a promising yet underrepresented market for many global tech giants. For example, enterprise IT spending in Pakistan is growing at a compound annual growth rate of 8.2%, yet it still accounts for less than 1% of SAP’s or Salesforce’s revenue in the Asia-Pacific region. These companies often view Pakistan through a regional lens, grouping it with markets like the Middle East or South Asia.
This presents an opportunity for local partners like us to act as intermediaries—translating global capabilities into localized solutions that address specific market needs. As digital adoption accelerates, I anticipate that Pakistan will evolve from a peripheral market to a strategic focal point for these global players.
Q9. The backbone of any successful business is its people. However, Pakistan has faced a significant brain drain, while the pipeline for good-quality, hireable talent (through institutes and universities) seems difficult to crack for most companies. How is Integration Xperts addressing this challenge?
Umair Azam: At Integration Xperts, we’ve taken a deliberately proactive and sustained approach to this challenge. One of our flagship initiatives is the Future Leaders Program, which focuses on equipping fresh graduates with hands-on training in SAP, Oracle, Salesforce, DevOps, data science, and essential soft skills. Since our inception, over 200 individuals have graduated from this programme, and we take immense pride in the fact that many of them now hold strategic positions at leading organisations around the world. A significant portion of our current workforce has risen through this very programme.
We also believe that the talent pipeline can’t be fixed in isolation, so we work closely with universities to co-design curricula that align with real market demands. Additionally, we’ve launched mentorship programmes specifically for women in tech, because, for us, it’s not just about creating jobs — it’s about building sustainable, long-term careers.
Q10. Finally, Pakistan’s population is largely under the age of 30 (some estimate it to be as high as 60%). While the youth often cite a lack of job opportunities, many companies complain about a lack of quality talent. In your opinion, what skills are essential for the next generation to secure a place within your industry?
Umair Azam: This is a critical point. The issue isn’t just unemployment — it’s unemployability. At Ix, we look for three things in young professionals:
- Digital fluency — skills in cloud platforms, data tools, and enterprise applications like Oracle, SAP, or Salesforce.
- Soft skills — communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.
- Learning Focused mindset — because technology evolves faster than any degree.
According to a 2024 Gartner report, over 50% of IT job roles will require certifications rather than degrees by 2027. The next generation must adapt quickly, embrace hybrid work environments, and develop cross-functional expertise if they want to thrive.
TL;DR – Interview with Umair Azam, Founder of Integration Xperts (IX)
Founded in 2016, Integration Xperts (IX) has grown into a leading digital transformation company with global reach, specializing in enterprise integration, ERP modernization, AI, and cloud solutions. Umair Azam shares how Ix bridges the gap between global tech and emerging markets, while also tackling Pakistan’s pressing talent shortage through initiatives like AshreiTech and Ix’s Future Leaders Program.
Despite challenges like brain drain and policy gaps, Umair sees Pakistan’s youth and digital momentum as powerful assets. He’s proud of Ix’s inclusive culture—25% of the workforce are women—and believes Pakistan’s tech sector is more a “powerful engine” than a “magical lamp,” capable of driving economic growth if supported by strategy, policy, and investment.
Ix competes globally by being agile, cost-effective, and domain-focused, particularly in Oracle, SAP, and Salesforce implementations. Umair emphasizes the need for stronger academia–industry ties, upskilling, and moving up the value chain through IP development and premium services. He urges the next generation to master digital tools, soft skills, and lifelong learning to succeed in tech—both in Pakistan and on the world stage.