Sep 30, 2009
Market Service: Global Business and Outsourcing Services
Xerox-ACS: Cloud Services Potential, or Dinosaurs Huddling Together for Warmth?
Dana Stiffler
Xerox is the latest in a long line of technology manufacturers to realize that its future lies in services, not products, particularly in the B2B value chain. Its acquisition of ACS makes sense when executives talk about synergies in document management and transaction processing, but key ACS businesses like broad finance and accounting BPO will likely languish post-transaction.
Sep 22, 2009
Market Service: Global Business and Outsourcing Services
Texas Two-Step: Dell To Acquire Perot Systems, Expand Portfolio for U.S. Small and Midsize Enterprises
Dana Stiffler, C.J. Wehlage
Dell's acquisition of Perot Systems greatly expands its services portfolio, making it a more formidable competitor against HP and IBM in the U.S. SMB market. To be competitive in other markets and on a global scale, Dell will need to make additional acquisitions.
Dec 18, 2008
Market Service: Global Business and Outsourcing Services
ERP Global Rollouts Continue Hot Streak, With Openness to Lite Apps and SaaS Increasing
Dana Stiffler
With discretionary technology spend evaporating and software and consulting markets slowing, there is one big-ticket initiative still moving ahead as planned: global ERP rollouts. Primary research conducted earlier this year forecasted sustained demand throughout 2008, showing it would ramp up into 2010. Continued client inquiry activity, even in the second half of this year, supports this demand curve. Buyers are looking for aggressive offshore effort ratios and alternative software delivery models to get functionality delivered faster and at more reasonable costs.
Sep 16, 2008
Market Service: Global Business and Outsourcing Services
Why BPO Providers Need To Acquire To Stay Competitive, Part 2
Phil Fersht, Mickey North Rizza
As the global services market continues its path toward rapid maturation, enterprises are evaluating more complex services that encompass both IT and business process services at a global level. Part 1 of this article series discussed recent acquisition activity in the BPO industry and evaluated growth opportunities for BPO suppliers. In Part 2, we'll discuss why acquisitions give BPO providers far more competitive bite in this industry than opportunistic partnerships.
Sep 6, 2008
Market Service: Global Business and Outsourcing Services
HP and EDS Finalize Merger, but Questions Still Remain
Phil Fersht, Dana Stiffler
HP's $13.9B acquisition of EDS is official, making it the largest-ever merger between two IT and business service providers. But questions remain about the structure of the new organization, its strategy going forward, and the future of some key products.
Apr 4, 2008
Enterprise Application Strategies
Outsourcing: The Rx For Stripping Out the Cost in the Healthcare Value Chain?
Phil Fersht, Hussain Mooraj
High costs plague the U.S. healthcare industry throughout its value chain, from R&D costs of the pharmaceutical companies to the heavy administrative costs of managed healthcare services. The industry desperately needs a catalyst to reduce the overall costs throughout the value chain and in the healthcare system in general. Outsourcing may be one answer.
Feb 22, 2008
Market Service: Global Business and Outsourcing Services
The NASSCOM Diaries, Part 2: 10 Short Features
Bruce Richardson
While we may have been able to produce a lengthy documentary based on our meetings and the NASSCOM sessions, I've opted to provide a set of 10 short features designed to capture the highlights. Sit back and relax. Enjoy the show.
Feb 7, 2008
Investment Research Strategies
EDS: Execution and Margin Improvement Focus Areas in 2008
Laura McCaughey, Dana Stiffler
EDS's 4Q07 and F2007 results disappointed, primarily reflecting some sizable deals that slipped from 4Q07 into 2008. Management stated that EDS already has been "downselected" for these big deals and described the pipeline as "strong." We continue to believe that the shift toward outsourcing is positive for EDS and its competitive landscape.
Sep 24, 2007
Market Service: Global Business and Outsourcing Services
Time Zones Do Matter: Rediscovering the Americas and Nearshore Delivery
Dana Stiffler
Though India dominates global delivery discussions today, nearshore and even domestic delivery centers are growing rapidly in importance. Numerous nearshore and onshore delivery center options are emerging for the U.S. market as global services players move to a delivery model that gives them locations across all three major time-zone windows: the Americas, EMEA, and Asia. This Report focuses on the current momentum in the Americas.
Sep 7, 2007
Investment Research Strategies
Follow the Money: Software Attracts Most Venture Capital Deals in 2Q07
Laura McCaughey, Jeffrey Freyermuth
Software attracted the highest number of venture capital deals in 2Q07 of any industry, as well as the highest number of first-time financing. Why are venture capitalists finding software so attractive, and which software segments are enjoying the most attention? We have some thoughts.