Smart City Profile: Düsseldorf

Siraj Aziz

Senior Research Associate

As part of Omdia's research operations team, Siraj assists in providing research and analysis support for various research products (subscription-based, ad-hoc, and consulting) in transformative technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and 5G across sectors such as retail, manufacturing, and security technology.

Prior to joining Omdia, formerly IHS Technology, Siraj worked as a research assistant at the University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. He had brief assignments as a research intern at the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) and Securities Commission Malaysia. Previously, at legacy IHS Technology, Siraj served as a research analyst, covering the Smart Cities Project Database, Fintech Scorecard, and AI Start Up Funding Tracker, among other products.

Siraj holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Kent, UK. In October 2019, he graduated with a master’s degree in development studies from the University of Malaya.  

Josh Builta

Research Director, AI & IOT

As director of Internet of Things (IoT) research at Omdia, Josh manages a global team of analysts who produce insightful market intelligence on the IoT market. He guides the team’s strategy, research agenda, and commercial planning. Using industry contacts and granular data, Josh provides clients with actionable advice to uncover opportunities in the IoT space.

With over a decade of experience in the IoT industry, Josh has worked on topics ranging from hardware components to connectivity technologies and vertical market use cases. Prior to joining Omdia, he served as vice president of product management at Ingenu, formulating the company’s product roadmap and guiding cross-functional teams. From 2010 to 2016, he led IHS Markit’s coverage of the IoT market and guided the launch of the first IHS IoT Intelligence service. Josh’s previous experience also includes serving government and military officials as a national security intelligence analyst. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.  

John Canali

Senior Analyst, Service Provider IoT Strategies

As part of Omdia's Internet of Things (IoT) practice, John is based in Boston. His specialist areas of coverage include service provider IoT strategies, IoT platforms, IoT product and go-to-market approaches, and key IoT vertical markets, including connected cars.

Prior to joining the Omdia (formerly Ovum) IoT team in 2019, John spent over five years working in product management and product development with AT&T's IoT organization. He provided commercial and market support in areas including connected cars, fleet solutions, smart cities, and smart homes. Before joining AT&T, John was an analyst with Strategy Analytics, focusing on connected car markets, technologies, and opportunities. John holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Trinity College in Connecticut and a Master of Science with distinction in international strategy and economics from the University of St Andrews in Scotland.