News

Friday 16 May 2025

Roc addresses Construction inefficiencies with launch of Coria software house inaugural product – Digital Cost Assurance

RocRoc has launched Coria – a Roc company, focused on developing intelligent automation solutions that address pervasive industry problems at scale. The name itself—a re-arrangement of Roc AI —reflects the company's commitment to embedding artificial intelligence within its solutions while maintaining a distinct yet complementary brand identity to its parent.

The inaugural product from Coria is a Digital Cost Assurance platform, developed over three years in close collaboration with National Highways and other key players within the UKs major infrastructure and construction industries. This solution targets the endemic cost control and transparency issues plaguing major government-commissioned infrastructure projects in the UK, spanning road, rail, energy, defence and health, but the list goes on.

What distinguishes this platform is its ability to establish standardised rule sets and processes for continuous cost submission and supply chain payment acceleration. This approach delivers benefits across the construction ecosystem, including complete audit trails,  with the ability to audit 100% of project data rather than the current estimate of 20%.

Coria has implemented a pragmatic two-phase commercial strategy. Initial engagement begins with a low-code platform that can be rapidly deployed for proof-of-value projects, allowing clients to trial the solution using their own data within specific workstreams. Once value is established, clients can transition to the high-code SaaS platform for full programme deployment, ensuring minimal disruption to existing processes.

The company has identified three primary market segments: government infrastructure buyers or ‘client advocates’ seeking better fiscal control, global consultancy firms (such as Mott MacDonald and Mace, and tier-one construction suppliers such as Balfour Beatty and Skanska who stand to benefit from better use of limited resources reduced overheads and improved cash management capabilities.

A key technological differentiator is the tool’s AI overlay, which employs machine learning to progressively improve accuracy through usage cycles. This allows the system to evolve from requiring significant manual intervention initially to increasingly automated operation, shifting human focus from finding problematic data to addressing issues already identified by the system.

The platform's development has been informed by industry expertise, with team members bringing experience from organisations like HMRC and major infrastructure projects. This domain knowledge has been crucial in creating a solution that Roc believes sets it apart from the competition.

Market reception has been enthusiastic, with one government infrastructure buyer reportedly asking, "Where do I sign? This is what we need." The company emphasises that the platform delivers a value proposition rather than merely cost savings, with current users exploring the potential for incentive mechanisms such as 110% contract value payments for suppliers demonstrating compliance and transparency.

While Digital Cost Assurance is initially focused on UK infrastructure projects aligned with NEC4 standards, Coria has identified expansion opportunities in both domestic utilities sectors and international markets where regulatory frameworks share a high degree of commonality with UK standards, including France, the US, and Australia.

As a Roc company operating independently from industry participants, Coria positions itself as a neutral provider capable of changing the sector without preferential treatment or competitive conflicts—a refreshing approach in a market traditionally dominated by industry-specific solution providers seeking competitive advantage.

Posted by Marc Hardwick at '09:40' - Tagged: construction   costmanagement   new business  

Thursday 15 May 2025

*UKHotViewsExtra* Atos 'Genesis': Birthing a new beginning

Atos logo - bright blue cursive block fontThe term 'Genesis' carries significant weight across multiple disciplines. At its core, it represents "the miraculous processes of creation, reminding us that every moment holds the potential for new beginnings and extraordinary transformations" (Source: Pages of History). It's a fitting name, then, for Atos' new four-year strategic and transformation plan, unveiled by CEO Philippe Salle at the company's Capital Markets Day on 14 May 2025.

With the company's financial restructuring behind it, Salle is positioning this plan as nothing less than a rebirth – a chance to reimagine what Atos can be in the market and how it delivers value to clients. The ultimate goal: to establish Atos as a "global AI-powered technology partner delivering secure end-to-end digital journeys."

But can this Genesis truly represent a new beginning for a company that has weathered significant challenges? And more importantly, can it deliver the clarity of purpose and market positioning that has sometimes eluded Atos in the past?

In this latest UKHotViewsExtra, Atos 'Genesis': Birthing a new beginning, our Chief Analyst, Georgina O'Toole, answers these questions, looking at the company's simplified organisational structure, its ambitious financial targets, and the strategic bets it's making on AI and innovation. She also explores how Atos could transform its portfolio of capabilities into a compelling value proposition that resonates in an increasingly competitive market – one that enables clients to be "future ready" in an uncertain world.

TechMarketView subscribers can read the full analysis here.

If you don’t have a TechMarketView subscription – or are unsure if your organisation has corporate access – and would like to gain access to this and other in-depth analyses, please contact Jean-Luc de Jonge to find out more.

Posted by Georgina O'Toole at '09:16' - Tagged: strategy   corporateactivity   IT+services  

Thursday 08 May 2025

TechMarketView’s MRI Leading Pack of suppliers

Congratulations to those suppliers that have made it into the Leading Pack for this year’s Market Readiness Index (MRI) report: Market Readiness Index: The Road to AI Part 2

The MRI report is one of the core research outputs for our Tech User Programme (TUP) for CIOs and other senior tech buyers. It is based on a proprietary assessment leading pack logomethodology developed by our analysts to understand and quantify the performance of tech suppliers.

This edition has been specifically created to enable senior tech buyers to ascertain their compatibility with the leading UK IT Services providers in order to support their AI journey.

By applying our highly regarded, rigorous research approach, TechMarketView analysts have assessed suppliers across six areas as they pertain to AI: Corporate Resilience; Suitability of Offerings; Skills & Resources; Partner Ecosystem; Industry Expertise; and Delivery & Execution. This involves undertaking multiple in-depth research interviews with various functions/leaders within the supplier organisation to gain an extensive understanding of strategy, capability, investments and so on. Much of this information is not available in the public domain, and combined with our proprietary data and analysis, enables our analysts to construct unique profiling of suppliers.

Market Readiness Index: The Road to AI Part 2 is a combination of scoring and in-depth profiles giving a realistic and honest appraisal of the readiness of each supplier to address the AI – and in particular the Generative AI – needs of the market.

Those in this year’s cohort sit within the second half of the Top 20 ranking players in the UK market (based on TechMarketView analysis). They are: BT Group, CGI, Deloitte, Fujitsu, Kyndryl, NTT Data, PwC, Sopra Steria, Tech Mahindra, and Wipro.

The 2025 Leading Pack

We’ve pored over the data and scoring, grilled the vendors, and spoken candidly with buyers and can now reveal that the Leading Pack (i.e., those suppliers exceeding the average score for the overall group in each category) consists of: Deloitte, PwC, NTT Data, and Wipro. Big congratulations!

Nonetheless, we highly recommend that you read the full report to understand the narrative behind the scoring and which suppliers are best suited to your aims and culture.

And read The road to AI: Mapping the readiness of the Top 10 IT & Business Process Services Suppliers, for the complete picture on the Top 20.
 

If you are not a member of our Tech Buyer community, you can purchase the report by contacting Deb Seth.

Posted by HotViews Editor at '09:37' - Tagged: AI   MRI  

Wednesday 07 May 2025

*NEW PODCAST* Totally Sust #11: Scaling soil carbon markets

Totally Sust #11 thumbnailThe latest episode in TechMarketView's series of Totally Sust podcasts sees SustainabilityViews’ Research Director, Craig Wentworth, interview Kanika Chandaria (Climate Lead at Agreena) and Thomas Gent (regenerative famer and founder of Gentle Farming) about how Agreena connects farmers implementing regenerative practices with corporations seeking to meet sustainability targets; and how Gentle Farming’s experience (practicing no-till farming since 2008) shows that regenerative agriculture isn't just environmentally sound – it's financially viable.

Tune in to discover how Agreena has scaled its platform to operate across 20 countries with 4.5 million hectares under management (and partnerships with over 2,000 farmers). Learn about its cutting-edge measurement technology that combines satellite imagery with soil sampling to verify carbon sequestration with scientific rigor, building trust in environmental outcomes.

The conversation offers valuable insights into how regenerative farming delivers multiple benefits beyond carbon (including increased biodiversity and greater resilience against climate extremes), while exploring practical pathways for both farmers considering the transition and corporations looking to support sustainable agriculture in their supply chains and sustainability strategies.

A 6-minute snippet of the podcast is available to stream for free now on SoundCloud and Spotify (or you can click on the image link below).

Subscribers to our SustainabilityViews research stream, however, can stream or download the full 40-minute version of the episode. If you are not yet a subscriber, or are unsure if your company has a subscription, please contact Belinda Tewson to find out how you can access the research.

Posted by Craig Wentworth at '09:59' - Tagged: podcast   carbon credits   soil carbon   RegenAg   regenerative agriculture   regenerative farming  

Wednesday 07 May 2025

*NEW RESEARCH* TechMarketView’s Tech Confidence Index highlights rising economic challenges for UK firms

This morning, TechMarketView is launching the results of its Spring 2025 Edition of its Tech Confidence Index – please download your copy now here (no subscription required).

Our bi-annual report provides insights into the confidence and sentiment of the UK technology sector, with findings indicating a more cautious outlook for 2025. The overall TCI score has declined from 6.5 in Autumn 2024 to 6.1 in Spring 2025, reflecting increasing economic and geopolitical pressures.

TCIIn a major survey of UK technology business leaders, including CEOs, VPs, MDs and Sales and Finance heads, TechMarketView sought opinions on the current and future economic landscape. The findings form part of our Tech Confidence Index that we publish twice a year.

Government policy and industry sentiment

The Spring 2025 Tech Confidence Index reveals that UK tech businesses are feeling the strain of a tough economic climate. 61% of respondents rated current UK business conditions as “neutral” or “poor.” Equally, optimism about the future has declined, with only 45% of respondents expecting business conditions to improve over the next 12 months. This marks a significant drop from 60% who expressed optimism in Autumn 2024. Falling demand and declining sales emerged as the top concern, cited by 57% of respondents.

Confidence in government policy as a driver of success in the tech sector has also weakened further. Only 24% of business leaders now view the government’s impact on the tech industry as positive, compared to 43% six months ago. Respondents highlighted specific challenges, including rising National Insurance Contributions as impediments to growth.

Strategic investment priorities

Despite the economic pressures, UK tech businesses remain committed to innovation and investment in key growth areas. 84% of respondents reported plans to invest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI (GenAI) over the next 12 months, solidifying its position as the top investment priority. Other major areas of focus include digital transformation (51%), automation (48%), and cybersecurity (40%), highlighting a continued drive toward technological advancement and operational efficiency.

Intensifying skills shortages

Skills shortages are increasingly impacting UK tech businesses, with 54% of respondents reporting that talent gaps are affecting their ability to perform. This figure has risen from 46% in Autumn 2024, reflecting a growing challenge in the sector. The most critical skills in demand include software development (29%) and AI expertise (19%), underlining the importance of fostering technical talent to sustain growth.

The role of emerging technologies

AI and GenAI continue to lead the way as key drivers of growth for the sector, with 84% of respondents identifying them as pivotal. Other significant technologies include data and analytics (58%) and automation (48%), underscoring the importance of digital transformation in maintaining competitiveness.

The Tech Confidence Index remains an essential benchmark for understanding market sentiment and guiding strategic planning for the UK tech sector. Download your copy of the full report here.

Posted by Marc Hardwick at '07:47' - Tagged: newresearch  

Thursday 01 May 2025

*NEW RESEARCH* Trustmarque: Optimising technology value through a regional focus

Trustmarque in public sector report coverIn our latest PublicSectorViews report – Trustmarque’s Public Sector regional-based strategy: Optimising technology value in communities - we examine how Trustmarque is carving out a distinctive position in the UK public sector tech market through its regional-based strategy.

Under Chris Jones' leadership as Head of Public Sector, Trustmarque has evolved its positioning from a traditional VAR to an "optimisation partner" for public sector organisations - a strategy detailed by CEO Simon Williams last summer (see *UKHotViewsExtra* Trustmarque: The Optimisation Partner | TechMarketView). The company's impressive 50/50 split between product and services revenue reflects this strategic shift.

How is Trustmarque differentiating itself in a competitive landscape that includes traditional VARs like Phoenix and Bytes, while also competing against larger systems integrators? What challenges does its regional approach face as it expands across the UK?

Our analysis explores Trustmarque's proprietary tools, regional successes, and future growth potential as public sector organisations continue their digital transformation journeys despite ongoing budget pressures.

TechMarketView PublicSectorViews subscribers can download the report now. If you are not yet a subscriber – or are unsure if your organisation has a corporate subscription – please contact Belinda Tewson to discover how to access this detailed research and far more besides.

Posted by Georgina O'Toole at '16:14'

Thursday 01 May 2025

Save the date!

We are delighted to announce the return of our Autumn networking event, An Evening with TechMarketView on Thursday 2nd October 2025.

An image of attendees at 'An Evening with TechMarket View' 2024

Join us for this evening reception at the Mall Galleries on The Mall, London, from 18:30-21:30. Enjoy drinks and canapés while connecting with peers, colleagues and friends from the tech sector, and, engage in conversations about current industry developments with members of the TechMarketView team.

During the evening you'll also have the opportunity to enjoy a Private Viewing of Hannah Shergold's exhibition. Scientist-turned-sculptor-turned-Royal Army pilot-turned-painter, her exceptional artwork is inspired by an incredibly unique background and features in some of the most influential collections around the world.

'An Evening with TechMarketView' is a premier annual networking event, bringing together the movers and shakers from across the tech sector. Don't miss this opportunity to build new relationships, strengthen existing partnerships, and gain exclusive insights from our respected analyst team.

Please save the date in your diary - further information and booking details will be available shortly.

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Download our brochure here or contact Deb Seth at dseth@techmarketview.com to find out more about our available packages.

Posted by TechMarketView Team at '09:33'

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