Arkas Holding CIO Mert Oruz spoke at the “Future of Energy and Technology” panel during the Izmir Meets 2025 Technology and Innovation Summit, where he discussed the breaking points of digitalization in logistics and maritime, the transformation journey of companies, and the future competencies required for young professionals.
Organized in cooperation with Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, Izmir Chamber of Commerce (IZTO) and Aegean Development Foundation (EGEV), and sponsored by IzQ Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, the Izmir Meets 2025 Technology and Innovation Summit brought together business leaders, entrepreneurs, technology experts and young professionals under one roof. The summit, which began with opening remarks by Izmir Metropolitan Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay, addressed many topics including artificial intelligence, urbanism, energy and digitalization in sports. Speaking at the panel titled “Future of Energy,” Arkas Holding CIO Mert Oruz recalled the transformation of the maritime and logistics sectors from steamships to the container revolution, emphasizing that today’s digital revolution is “rewriting the DNA of the industry.”
“The Breaking Point Will Occur in Companies That Place AI at the Center”
Oruz emphasized that digitalization has now moved beyond automation and is becoming central to business models. Stating that the combination of artificial intelligence, big data, cybersecurity and green transformation represents a critical breaking point for the sector, Oruz noted, “Digitalization is no longer just automation; it is the strongest weapon in competition. The most significant breaking point will occur when artificial intelligence and a data-driven decision-making culture are placed at the core of the business model.
Arkas’s Transformation Journey
Speaking about Arkas’s digital vision, Oruz explained that the transition to cloud technologies, strengthening data architecture, redesigning processes, and developing in-house digital capabilities form the foundation of this journey. Emphasizing both the technical and cultural dimensions of the process, he said, “We had the vision; the difficult part was creating the right roadmap and preparing the organization for it.”
Oruz highlighted that speed without strategy leads to chaos, while strategy without speed turns into a dream, noting that lasting success can only be achieved by those who can rapidly implement a well-crafted strategy.
A Call to Youth: “This Era Is the Greatest Opportunity in History for Young People”
Emphasizing that curiosity, willingness to learn, courage, communication, analytical thinking, adaptability, and ethical awareness are essential for young people to stay competitive in the digital age, Oruz said, “The digital revolution we are living through is faster, deeper, and more inclusive than all previous ones. A student attending university today will be working in jobs that do not exist yet within 10 years. The biggest risk is taking no risk at all.”
Explaining constant change with Heraclitus’ words, “You cannot step into the same river twice; because when you step in again, neither the river is the same nor are you,” Oruz underlined that young people must update their skills in line with this ever-changing world.
He added, “Success does not come without effort,” expressing his belief that the young people who read change correctly and work hard will be the ones to shape the future.
