Industry news

Analytics firm Gartner has revealed that Oracle has overtaken IBM as the second largest software vendor, as increased cloud uptake drives the technology firm’s growth.

Oracle posted $29.6 billion in revenue for 2013 compared to IBM’s $29.1 billion, with increased profits coming from greater cloud uptake and the rising perception of big data analytics. Microsoft continued to hold on to the number 1 spot with $65.7 billion in revenue.

Gartner research vice president Chad Eschinger said: “Global trends around big data and analytics with business investment in database and cloud-based applications helped to drive Oracle's top-line growth".

The report by Gartner revealed that global spending software increased by 4.8 per cent in total over 2013, with SaaS representing a major new player in the technology market.

Oracle to acquire mobile service provider Tekelec

Oracle opens new datacentre to support UK G-Cloud

Chinese based Alibaba Group, which specialises in e-commerce goods, has moved to invest $692 million to Hong Kong-listed Intime Retail Group.

The investment in retail infrastructure comes as the e-commerce group moves to develop nline-to-offline, bringing online services to retail infrastructure.

The investment comes as part of a series of recent acquisitions and purchases, with over $2.7 billion spent in recent months in a variety of markets, including media, communication and technology services.

The spree of large purchases come as the Alibaba Group prepares for an IPO in the U.S. which is set to be the largest technology listing ever, beating Facebook previous record from 2012.

B&Q and Screwfix owners move to implement SAP

Retailers struggle to meet customer expectations

Outsourcing services group Serco has had its contract with the London Borough of Enfield extended.

The contract to deliver ICT services has been extended for a further four year period until September 2019 and is valued at £20 million.

The renewed contract has been renegotiated to include transformative innovation projects, with much of the ICT work expected to go to Serco partner Sungard, which specialises in IT services.

Andrew Stafford, Enfield council’s cabinet member for finance and property, said: “This contract means that our ICT systems will continue to be fully integrated across all our sites and ensure we can continue to offer our residents the best service possible, as well as deliver significant savings to benefit the local council tax payer”.

Serco awarded £70 mil contract with Lincolnshire County Council

Serco sees stock rise after new CEO appointment

The Houses of Parliament have been hit by renewed IT issues following assurances that past IT problems had been resolved.

A report by Exaronews.com revealed that workers in Parliament were unable to access systems and had limited internet connectivity.

The IT failures came 90 minutes after a memo was posted assuring that past IT problems had been resolved. The blame for the previous IT disruptions had been laid on unnamed IT contractors.

In 2013, Joan Miller, the head of IT at the houses of Parliament said: “The services we have are secure, they add resilience. We have small applications that sit in the cloud, and it reduces my worry that the services are going to break.”

Parliament moves to replace ICT with new digital office

Old guard government IT suppliers attempt to compete against the G-Cloud

Technology companies including HP, IBM, Unilever and National Grid have announced their support of a nationwide mentoring scheme overseen by e-skills UK, which aims to create links between the technology industry and schools, in order to improve learning and skills in line with industry requirements.

The mentoring scheme is designed to also raise pupil awareness of the opportunities and roles available in the technology industry, aiming to increase applicants looking to enter the technology sector as well as helping to modernise the curriculum in line with the industry’s needs.

The scheme has seen success with an average application rate of three schools for each mentor and oversubscription in certain areas due to the high demand.

CEO of e-skills UK, Karen Price, said: “The mentoring scheme has been oversubscribed since its launch, which is testament to how keen educators and tech employers are to work together to enhance the student experience in computer science and IT."

BT creates over 1,000 apprenticeship and graduate positions

Skills gaps in outsourcing management

A new report has revealed that India is losing 70 per cent of its voice and call centre BPO business to competitors located in Eastern Europe and the Philippines as price and location see India lose ground.

The report, by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), highlighted that Indian BPO businesses could reduce losses to competitors by moving operations to smaller cities where savings could be achieved from lower training costs, cheaper travel, and cheaper real-estate.

Cost savings have seen Indian firms move to the Philippines, with skilled graduates and English speaking workers reducing the need for staff training.

Assocham secretary general D S Rawat said: "It is estimated that in the on-going decade India might lose $30 billion in terms of foreign exchange earnings to Philippines, which has become the top destination for Indian investors".

Outsourcing group Conectys expands in Philippines

Indian IT outsourcing exports predicted to grow by 13-15%

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) are to provide £410 million for council transformational programmes including shared services.

Councils set receive funding include East Sussex, Maidstone and Plymouth, with the £410 million being divided into lots through 2013 to 2016.

The funding will be made available to shared social care, health and IT services designed to transform public services.

Eric Pickles, Communities and Local Government Secretary, said: "This £410 million funding package will help to fundamentally change the way local public services are delivered to residents.”

“This funding will help councils to transform their services faster and provide a better deal for the taxpayer too.”

NAO report calls for public sector to become ‘intelligent customers’

Major cities create shared services mobile partnership

ISN solutions have received £4.6 million in funding from private equity firm Maven Capital Partners.

The IT firm, which specialises in providing outsourced services to oil and gas businesses, will use the investment to expand services and create a new office in Aberdeen, where Maven is based.

The IT firm has around 50 employees with annual sales of nearly £6 million.

David Greenwood, the managing director of ISN, said: "We have ambitious growth plans for the business, which will be backed by the extensive experience and resources of Maven.”

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed that it has employed the digital services framework to trial the beta version of Universal Credit (UC).

The transformational programme of UC will be digital-by-default, with the programme designed to improve the DWP and the welfare system through the consolidation of services and greater efficiencies.

The release of the beta version of UC comes after the Government Digital Service (GDS) pulled out from working with the DWP to facilitate the digital-by-default policy.

The DWP said: "DWP’s future development approach will be based on previous ways of working with GDS colleagues".

The Beta version will be rolled out to a small selection of jobcentre claimants later this year, with plans to release a full version to all customers after the trial period.

Government prepares to launch national IT procurement strategy

DWP move to scrap jobs website

NHS England has introduced new plans for IT service funding for GPs, the IT fund of £230 million will be used to upgrade current systems and services used by GP practices across England.

The funding plan is designed to provide increased funding while driving greater value for money and create centralised service.

Beverley Bryant, director of strategic systems and technology at NHS England, said: “This operating model sets out how we will achieve high quality primary care digital systems that support the provision of a more efficient, responsive and integrated service for patients whilst empowering them to have greater control over their health and care.”