Search through our UKHotViews and UKHotViewExtra articles plus complete research reports
Last week, we highlighted a return to growth for Sopra Steria’s UK business, as it turned around a 3.4% decline in H118 to a 3.5% organic growth in Q3 – see Sopra Steria Q3: The journey continues. Growth was largely put down to the business’ joint ventures: NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) and Shared Services Connect Limited (SSCL, with the Cabinet Office). By contrast, the H118 decline was also put down to SSCL – but in that case, it was the impact of one-off transformation revenue in 2017 not repeating in 2018, dragging down the numbers.
NHS SBS and SSCL have a large sway when it comes to the UK’s performance, as they account for around a third of the region’s turnover.
We recently caught up with John Neilson. He has a triumvirate of hats! - Sopra Steria’s Deputy CE; SSCL CEO and NHS SBS CEO. Our conversation centred on the performance of the joint ventures. In this latest UKHotViews Extra we analyse their progress and likely future and consider the impact on the performance of Sopra Steria UK. Subscribers, including those to UKHotViews Premium, can read the research note now…. If you are not yet a subscriber, please contact Deb Seth to find out more.
Posted by Georgina O'Toole at '16:19' - Tagged: publicsector centralgovernment jointventure health bps automation
The Money2020 event in Las Vegas, now in its 7th year, is the biggest and most important Fintech event in the world.
Last year, in our report on the 2017 event, we highlighted the overall impression of the fintech scene as increasingly a 2-speed world:
• On one side, the tech giants shaping the future by harnessing the full potential of digital technology, together with a new breed of cloud-based suppliers who have the agility to design innovative services that meet the demands of the new economy. Some of these suppliers have already become substantial and global businesses.
• On the other side, legacy banks and legacy suppliers struggling to overcome the constraints of their systems based on yesterday’s technology. Their change cycle-times are such that they will find it hard to keep up with the leaders and in many cases long term success will be represented by finding a sustainable role somewhere “down the stack” at an infrastructural (or, less kindly, dumb pipe) level.
This continues to be the over-arching impression, with one group struggling with the challenge of digitising legacy financial services, whilst the other is busy creating a new generation of digital financial services.
The 2018 event gave, as usual, valuable new insights into the state-of-the-art in key new technologies. It also provided clear signals about the direction and speed at which the financial services sector is being disrupted by digital.
SITS providers can help their clients by bringing these developments to their attention and helping them think through the implications. The SITS providers themselves will also find new market opportunities and challenges arising from these trends.
Subscribers to FinancialServicesViews can download our new and insightful report on Money2020 2018 here
Posted by Peter Roe at '08:47' - Tagged: cloud e-commerce payments banking identity blockchain
The TechMarketView Evening 2018 may seem like it was only yesterday but it was in fact last month that we welcomed some 200 leaders from UK tech to what has been widely proclaimed as our best event yet. You can now browse a selection of photos from the hugely popular evening on our Instagram page and, if you’re a subscription client, download the analysts’ presentations here.
The TechMarketView Evening 2019 promises to be just as unmissable and we’d love to see YOU there so mark your diaries now for the evening of 12 September 2019.
We will once again be taking over the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) building in London from 6.30pm for what will be our seventh annual flagship event. You can expect another enjoyable evening with plenty of time for mingling over drinks, an hour or so of insight from our expert analyst team and guest speakers, and further opportunities to network over a sumptuous three-course dinner.
To be amongst the first to be notified when early bird tickets go on sale please email Tina Compton at our event management partners tx2Events.
If you would like to be considered as a sponsor for the event– we have multiple levels of sponsorship available to suit organisations large and small – please email info@techmarketview.com for more details.
Posted by HotViews Editor at '08:00' - Tagged: events
You can blame South Western Railway for the fact that I'm writing about this event. It should have been two of our far more qualified Research Directors who really understand all this stuff. Unfortunately, their plans to attend Wednesday's briefing were thwarted, being as they live along various points of the strike-ridden (and signal failure-prone) line.
The gig I found myself unexpectedly attending (as I live in Ealing, and the Piccadilly line was working fine) was the London Analyst Event held by DXC Technologies, the love-child born of the coupling between various bits of industry stalwarts HPE and CSC.
But here's the thing. If you want to read my musings on the event, you'll need to be a subscriber to any of our research streams or our UKHotViews Premium service. The cognoscenti can click here; everyone else must remain in blissful ignorance.
Posted by Anthony Miller at '07:00'
Merger and acquisition activity in the UK software and IT services (SITS) sector in Q3 was down from the higher levels seen in Q2, . There were 94 UK buyers and 82 UK sellers including 49 domestic deals in Q3, according to data from corporate finance firm, Regent Partners.
Demand for IT services companies accounted for 52% of all UK SITS deals, down from 62% in Q2, although vertical software providers were the largest single target sector at 22% followed by consultancies and SIs at 20%, and vertical solutions providers with a 15% share. Managed services and enterprise software each accounted for 10% of the UK SITS deals.
Subscribers to the TechMarketView Foundation Service can see the detail and the numbers in our latest quarterly review, IndustryViews Corporate Activity Q3 2018.
Posted by HotViews Editor at '07:00' - Tagged: acquisition
As Quantum computing finally moves from theory into testing there is a lot of expectation on its shoulders. The promise of feats that would not be possible with current computer architectures, solving problems that would otherwise take an enormous amount of time and compute power to process, is creeping closer.
In the ‘Quantum Technology Preparation: What is the Investment, Where is the Activity?’ report from the Enterprise Software & Application Services (ESASViews) research stream we probe the quantum technology landscape. This research note examines investment levels and sources, highlighting where the supply-side activity is, and based on supplier activity, posits an initial view on the industry sectors likely to be early beneficiaries of quantum technology.
‘Quantum Computing: Assessing the Potential for the Next Decade’, from InfrastructureViews, examines the current status of the quantum computing ecosystem, what the key applications are likely to be, and what the outlook is for quantum over the next five to ten years.
Even though a commercially viable general purpose quantum computer is some years off, there is everything to play for in the emerging quantum technology sector, so governments (several of whom have declared quantum capability a national priority), suppliers and enterprises all need to be preparing now.
In case you missed them, TechMarketView subscribers can add to their quantum market knowledge by downloading the following two reports:
If you’d like details about our subscription services please email Deborah Seth.
Posted by Angela Eager at '09:10' - Tagged: markettrends quantum
After showing some improvement in Q2, most of the UK tech indices we track fell back again in Q3. The FTSE SCS index, a proxy for UK listed software and IT services (SITS) companies was down 2.2% in Q3 resulting in a fall of 21.9% YTD. The quarterly fall was more than that of the broader FTSE 100 index which was down 1.7% in Q3 indicating a less positive sentiment towards UK SITS stocks.
Subscribers to the TechMarketView Foundation Service can see the detail and the numbers in our latest quarterly review, IndustryViews Quoted Sector Q3 2018.
Posted by HotViews Editor at '07:44'
The Government has outlined what it believes is required to enable the health and care sector to make more effective use of technology. The Future of Healthcare: Our Vision for Digital, Data and Technology in Health and Care policy paper was launched at GOSH DRIVE (see GOSH launches new digital hub) by Secretary of State Matt Hancock yesterday, extending many of the messages he has been promoting since taking the role in July (see Hancock announces NHS technology priorities).
The policy paper says, “…the state of online services, basic IT and clinical tools in health and care is far behind where it needs to be”, that systems “don’t talk to each other, fail frequently and do not follow modern cyber security practices” and calls for improvements to the digital architecture of the health and care system.
The new vision is based on the adoption of open standards, interoperability and the need to take a more modular approach based on off-the-shelf technology and an assumption that all services should run on public cloud. More...
Subscribers to TechMarketView’s research services, and our UKHotViewsPremium service, can read further details here.
Posted by Dale Peters at '10:22' - Tagged: nhs health policy
Befuddlement is restricting adoption of AI/machine learning. CIOs sense the value but struggle with the detail of identifying use cases, deployment unknowns and determining value. The technical nature of many AI/machine learning discussions does not help the cause either so it was refreshing to talk to Kevin Sweeney, group IT director at Irish recruitment firm Cpl. He went straight to the heart of the matter: “the business is not demanding AI but it is demanding results”.
Dublin based Cpl is Ireland’s largest recruitment agency and a global provider of staffing, recruitment, training and outsourcing services. The latest research from the ESASViews research stream follows Cpls’ AI/machine learning road trip, providing insight into how the company is using the technology for practical outcomes, from productivity improvements and reputation enhancement.
With its emphasis on practicalities and success factors, this report is valuable reading for enterprise and suppliers. Subscribers can click to download ‘End User Insights: Uncovering AI/Machine Learning Deployment Success Factors’.
For TechMarketView subscription enquiries please contact Deborah Seth.
Posted by Angela Eager at '08:53' - Tagged: saas software digital enduser machinelearning
Our latest edition of the Quarterly Research Summary Q3 2018 is now available for download. Make sure you’ve not missed anything in the last quarter by reading through our handy quarterly summary. We’ve published rather a lot, from Funding Trends and Patterns in AI/Machine Learning to our preliminary review of the Government’s Digital Marketplace sales figures.
Posted by HotViews Editor at '00:00'
The UK software & IT services (SITS) market presents a paradox. Viewed in its entirety, it has stagnated in real terms. Barely a day goes by, however, without more news of technology’s transformational impact on every sphere of human activity. Tech giants now dominate lists of the world’s largest companies and, every year, approaching two million new tech start-ups join the global digital gold rush. The anecdotal evidence suggests that we should be witnessing market growth rates not seen since the halcyon days of Y2K and the dotcom boom. So why aren’t we?
Click to download Legacy vs. New: An Alternative Analysis of the SITS Market for the Digital Era for both answers to this question and fresh insights into the dynamics that are reshaping the SITS arena.
In this paper, we apply a different lens to the SITS marketplace. Complementing the traditional horizontal tower view with an additional ‘Legacy vs New’ segmentation, we reveal a much clearer picture of the forces at play. We analyse how the balance of the market is evolving, identify the impacts that this is having on the suppliers within it, explore the possibilities for growth acceleration, and consider the essential attributes of tomorrow’s SITS winners.
If you are an existing subscriber to our Foundation Service, InfrastructureViews, ESASViews, BusinessProcessViews or SecureConnnectViews you’ll know you can access the report by clicking the link above. If you’d like to discuss an extension to your existing subscription or would like details of how to subscribe to TechMarketView, please email Deb Seth.
Posted by Duncan Aitchison at '09:26' - Tagged: sits research digital
BT Group’s enterprise services division has experienced steep declines in revenue and EBITDA, and its new(ish) CEO Bas Burger was appointed to oversee a restructuring designed to fundamentally transform the business with a new organisational approach, a shift to a software defined architecture and a focus on a smaller number of core markets.
Our HotViewsExtra report provides a detailed analysis of the ten strategies BT Global Services (BTGS) is pursuing to effect that turnaround, weighs up their chances of success, and compares BTGS’ approach to those of other global managed network service providers taking a similar path. More …
Posted by Martin Courtney at '09:12' - Tagged: cloud networkservices transformation cyber SD-WAN telecoms BTGlobalServices
Managed Services Provider, IT Lab, has acquired Microsoft partner, Content and Code, for an undisclosed sum. The new combined entity will have turnover of almost £60m and 550 staff in London, Manchester and Cape Town.
Content and Code, founded in 2001, is a Microsoft specialist and claims to be the UK’s largest SharePoint consultancy. Revenue in FY17 was £12m, with an operating margin of 15%.
Tim Wallis, founder of Content and Code, will become Chief Digital Officer at IT Lab and will lead the future relationship with Microsoft. IT Lab’s Peter Sweetbaum remains CEO.
The combined business will now be able to provide a range of professional and managed services across the core Microsoft technology stack of Office365, Azure, Dynamics 365 and SharePoint. More.....
Posted by Kate Hanaghan at '09:51' - Tagged: acquisition cloud digital sharepoint
Applications close TODAY, Friday 5th October.
If you believe that your business could grow faster but are not sure how to do it – or you are pondering an eventual exit – then here's a fantastic opportunity to get expert practical advice absolutely free.
The TechMarketView Great British Scaleup programme has already helped founders and CEOs of nearly 30 UK tech SMEs such as CloudTrade and Pivotal iQ achieve landmark results and set many others on their growth journeys.
All you have to do is apply for a place in the next Great British Scaleup event, which is being held on Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th November at the London offices of Great British Scaleup Programme Official Supporter techUK.
You will spend 90 minutes in closed session with TechMarketView Managing Partner Anthony Miller and other top TechMarketView Research Directors, along with experienced advisors from Great British Scaleup programme Advisory Sponsor, ScaleUp Group, the team of successful tech entrepreneurs that have been responsible for accelerating growth and achieving successful exits at many well-known tech companies.
We will assist you to identify the obstacles to growth and offer pragmatic options for helping your business achieve its potential. You will also have your company rated on our proprietary ScaleUp Growth Index® scorecard so you have an objective measure by which you can track your scale-up progress.
Your business will also get huge exposure by being featured in TechMarketView UKHotViews, arguably the most influential daily commentary on the UK tech scene and beyond.
It's easy to apply – just fill in the application form on the TechMarketView website here by close of business, TODAY, Friday 5th October 2018. There is no charge to participate.
There's more information on the Great British Scaleup page on our website or if you have any queries just call or email Anthony Miller (020 3002 8463 amiller@techmarketview.com).
Posted by HotViews Editor at '06:00'
Eggplant was one of our Great British Scaleup candidates earlier this year – see Great British Scaleups Programme: GBS4 candidates. Having watched the company over several years and seen a step change in its strategy over the last twelve months, we recently caught up again with CEO John Bates and CTO Antony Edwards to learn more about the UK arm of the business, as well as to investigate its public sector footprint.
To recap, the software testing product and solutions provider caught our eye as it has realigned its strategy with the direction of the market to become more relevant to its customers and prospects. Eggplant's strategy is to test the CX as well as the code, to improve business outcomes. Read more...
Posted by Georgina O'Toole at '11:10'
Applications close this Friday 5th October.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to accelerate your company's scale-up journey by applying for our fifth Great British Scaleup Programme event (GBS5) to be held on Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th November at the London offices of Great British Scaleup Programme Official Supporter techUK.
Successful applicants will be invited to participate in a CEO-level, confidential 90-minute workshop session with TechMarketView research directors and executive advisors from Great British Scaleup programme Advisory Sponsor, ScaleUp Group, the team of successful tech entrepreneurs that have been responsible for accelerating growth and achieving over £4b in successful exits at many well-known tech companies.
The workshop session will assess your company’s potential and scalability using the ScaleUp Growth Index®, a proprietary scorecard which identifies areas of your business that might be an inhibitor to achieving extraordinary growth. Unlike traditional company scorecards which focus on past financial performance, the ScaleUp Growth Index® assesses your company’s future scale-up potential and identifies areas to address to become Global Champions.
Here's a couple of the Great British Scaleup success stories we can tell you about:
And there's more good news stories to come!
In our experience, the companies that stand to benefit most from the Great British Scaleup programme are typically generating single-digit millions in revenues and already growing at double-digit rates, but are finding themselves resource-constrained, especially cash.
If this sounds like your business today – or might well be in the next 12-18 months – then please apply by filling in the application form on the TechMarketView website here by close of business Friday 5th October 2018. There is no charge to participate.
There's more information on the Great British Scaleup page on our website and if you have any other queries about the Great British Scaleup programme, please drop a note to gbs@techmarketview.com.
Quantum computing is finally moving from theory into testing. It is bringing the promise of feats that would not be possible with current computer architectures, to solve problems that would otherwise take an enormous amount of time and compute power to process, a tad closer.
Today, TechMarketView launches a quantum technology research double bill:
• Quantum Technology Preparation: What is the Investment, Where is the Activity?
• Quantum Computing: Assessing the Potential for the Next Decade.
The ‘Quantum Technology Preparation: What is the Investment, Where is the Activity?’ report from the Enterprise Software & Application Services (ESASViews) research stream probes the quantum technology landscape. It examines investment levels and sources, highlighting where the most supply-side activity is, and based on supplier activity, posits an initial view on the industry sectors likely to be early beneficiaries of quantum technology.
Even though a commercially viable general purpose quantum computer is some years off, there is everything to play for in the emerging quantum technology sector, so governments (several of whom have declared quantum capability a national priority), suppliers and enterprises need to be preparing now.
If you are not a current TechMarketView subscriber and would like details about our services, Deborah Seth (dseth@techmarketview.com) will be happy to help.
Posted by Angela Eager at '09:17' - Tagged: software infrastructure AI machinelearning computing
For the last 20 years multi-sourcing has been the de facto strategy for most UK companies seeking to externalise the supply of IT services. Over the past twelve months, however, there have been signs that this default position is coming under severe scrutiny. Faced with the myriad risks, uncertainties and challenges created by the digital revolution, an increasing number of IT services buyers are once again considering whether single source strategies will now prove the more effective option.
Click to download Back to the Future – are the dilemmas of digital driving a return to single sourcing? for insights into whether we are seeing the early indicators of a material shift in the enterprise IT sourcing model or simply witnessing more symptoms of a market in flux as both buyers and sellers grapple with the practicalities delivering digital transformation at scale.
The report examines the forces that are challenging the multi-sourcing paradigm, considers the new “must haves” of market relevant outsourcing arrangements and explores the potential for a resurgence of single sourcing. It also looks at what such a change in buyer behaviour could mean for the suppliers in this market.
If you are an existing either ESASViews or InfrastructureViews subscriber you’ll know you can access the report by clicking the link above. If you’d like to discuss an extension to your existing subscription or would like details of how to subscribe to TechMarketView, please email Deb Seth.
Posted by Duncan Aitchison at '08:34' - Tagged: outsourcing applications research infrastructure
