Industry news

New research has found that business leaders are being over-confident in their opinions on how well their organisations are handling and adapting to new technology.

The research from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) found that while 92 per cent of respondents said that speed was part of their business culture, only 24 per cent were found to be in organisations that were able to rapidly adapt to new changes.

The study reported that: “The study found that the real rate of change is masked by challenges and bottlenecks inside companies."

Barriers to improved agility and the faster adoption of new technology were found to include a lack of standardisation across organisations and an inability to link technological services and platforms together.

Another major barrier to the adoption of technology included gaps between digitally literate employs and traditionally minded managers who lacked the required skill-sets to push new technologies.

Phil Keoghan, CEO of Ricoh, which sponsored the research, said: “the pressure and perceived complexity of changing business operations from traditional to digitally-focused ways of working is obscuring the true rate of success.”

SMEs ignoring mobile limits growth

Healthcare CIOs do not trust government to deliver innovative IT

Outsourcing giant Atos will be responsible for the removal of personal data from GP records under the NHS patient data-sharing scheme.

Under the service Atos will extract data from GP records which will then be linked with data from hospitals, creating a link between GP and hospital patient information and allowing for a more complete overview of a patient’s medical history.

Information which will be collected by the French outsourcing frim includes family history, diagnoses, prescription details and vaccination history.

The patient sharing scheme has been met with concern regarding data protection issues due to past breaches and issues regarding anonymised record sharing outside of the public sector.

Atos moves to exit disability assessment after death threats

DWP moving to find alternatives to Atos according to leaked documents

The UK government has awarded £1.5 million to support public open data initiatives and training programmes in a bid to improve transparency and encourage data sharing in the private sector.

The funding comes from the Open Data User Group (ODUG) in the form of the Release of Data fund, with the £1.5 million total being increased over the following years.

Programmes that have been awarded funds so far include an open data training programme for 120 government procurement officers, the creation of online training material and a local data census which is designed to highlight areas that lack data coverage.

Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, said: "Open Data is a raw material for economic growth, supporting the creation of new markets, business and jobs and helping us compete in the global race. To ensure this agenda continues to thrive, we are supporting a number of projects which will drive forward this culture of openness."

David Cameron urges businesses to publish open data

Government launches national data infrastructure

Wipro has been selected to provide IT and BPO services to Carillion, a UK provider of integrated support services.

The ten year contract will see Wipro deliver cost and operational efficiencies through the delivery of transformational services.

The contract will cover Carillion’s IT, F&A and BPO services, with services being rolled-out to Carillion sites in other locations such as the Middle East and Canada.

Carillion Group Finance Director, Richard Adam, said: “We are looking forward to working with Wipro to develop this strategic partnership which will help to support the delivery of excellent service for our customers, and open up exciting new business opportunities for both companies.”

Arjun Ramaraju, Vice President, Engineering and Construction, Wipro said, “We are delighted to have been chosen by Carillion as their global strategic outsourcing partner. We are confident that we will be able to drive value for Carillion”.

Wipro moves to acquire US mortgage consultants

Wipro announce strong Q2 results with 28% net growth

Capita has won a contract with housing managing company Cornwall Housing to provide software services over a ten year period.

The contract will include the delivery of a software suite, alongside training and management services.

The Capita software will provide Cornwall Housing with data access and storage capabilities for information on customers and the 10,000+ properties that Cornwall manages.

The head of resources at Cornwall Housing, Emma Blatchford, said: “Capita’s software will underpin the day-to-day management of our properties and will help streamline and enhance the services that our residents use and receive

Capita awarded £110 million NHS Scotland contract

Capita purchase management company Retain International

Research carried out by Accenture has found that mobility has risen to become a high ranking priority for companies, with 77 per cent now ranking mobility as one of their top five priorities.

The global study of 1,500 executives across 14 countries, found that 43 per cent of respondents placed mobility as either their number one or number two top priorities.

Following behind mobility in terms of importance the survey revealed that big data analytics and connected products were the next most prioritised tools, with respondents identifying these factors as being significant in driving future sales.

Jin Lee, global managing director of Accenture Mobility, said: “Mobility was the forerunner to many of the digital technologies that are now being adopted, and businesses can learn from mobility leaders’ successes as to what they need to do to make their adoption of analytics, social or connected products successful."

Enterprises set to take back the top spot

Cloud market revenue to reach nearly $20 billion by 2016

Labour has criticised the owners of British Gas for warning that a planned energy price freeze by Labour could lead to uncertainty and could raise the spectre “of the lights going out”, according to Centrica chairman Rick Haythornthwaite.

Shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint said that plans to introduce a 20-month freeze on energy prices should labour come to power after the 2015 election would not result in an energy crisis.

Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, Ms Flint said: "I think Centrica is scaremongering on this issue. I don't think the price freeze is going to contribute to the lights going out."

She added that: “Do they like the price freeze? No, of course they don't. This is about making sure we can give something back and where the price freeze can settle the market."

British Gas award £600 million contract to smart meter manufacturer

High supply costs hit Centrica profits

G4S is facing new allegations of fraud and overcharging following claims in court by an employee whistle-blower.

Court proceedings detailed by the Financial Times have revealed allegations of overcharging by and insider trading.

Ex-employee Malcom Batki, who had lost his unfair dismissal case alleged in court that G4S had used internal charging to hide the extent of profits from government contracts while negotiating further business. He also claimed that G4S chief executive Nick Buckles engaged in insider trading.

The claims are now being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office according to FT sources.

G4S said that it was taking the claims “very seriously”, while Mr Buckles denied that any illegality had occurred.

G4S and Serco criticised by government watchdog

MoJ rejects £24 million overcharge payment from G4S

Belfast City Council has voted in favour of outsourcing the management of the city’s leisure centres.

Under the move, 300 staff employed at the leisure centre will be transferred under a new operator.

While unions were critical of the move councillor Gavin Robinson said that outsourcing move was necessary in order to improve the affordability of the leisure centres

Bumper Graham, of trade union Nipsa, said: "We accept a need to modernise, but there is no need to create a new model. This could affect a significant number of staff."

Mr Robinson said that: “Sustaining the business is key to protecting existing jobs, providing career development opportunities, and enabling the creation of new jobs and apprenticeships.”

Northern Ireland increase private healthcare usage

A toxic political atmosphere and multiple death threats have resulted in Atos Healthcare moving to leave its disability and sickness assessment contract early.

Repeated death threats to Atos assessment staff and criticism from members of parliament have resulted in a statement from the French outsourcing firm.

“For several months now we have been endeavouring to agree an early exit from the contract, which is due to expire in August 2015.”

So far 163 incidents have been reported involving assault or abuse against staff, however despite the negative publicity surrounding the contract, the company achieved £700 in revenues from work in the public sector.

“In its current form it is not working for claimants, for DWP or for Atos Healthcare,” Atos said.

DWP moving to find alternatives to Atos according to leaked documents

Committee calls for a ‘substantial shake-up’ of governance at DWP