MCN Direct Newswire

Vol. 7 No. 1, 14 January 2008

This issue is sponsored by:

TeleWare and The UK Consulting Industry Report 2006/7

This issue news

1. Atos Origin seals £125m in outsourcing deals
2. KPMG chief joins Basra development effort
3. Accenture raises the bar for 2008
4. Fujitsu Services links Eurostar to UK ticketing systems
5. MCA signs up 'green' IT consultancy
6. Further information - feedback/pass on to a colleague/remove from mailing list

Sponsor

TeleWare

'Voice' can be used in business to resolve business issues that do not have obvious solutions:

• How does London Underground keep track of train information? By intelligent use of phone systems.
• How does Three Valleys Water keep track of lone workers? By intelligent use of phone systems.
• How does Tarmac ensure that telephone orders are accountable? By intelligent use of phone systems.

Voice is the most natural communication medium, and one of the most cost-effective and easy-to-use solutions available, and integrated solutions can provide fully-automated services reducing processing costs.

Who else is benefiting from intelligent use of phone systems? Click here.

For more information on intelligent use of phone systems, please click here.

1. ATOS ORIGIN SEALS £125m IN OUTSOURCING DEALS

Atos Origin is celebrating the new year with a £75 million five-year outsourcing contract at the Highways Agency, the Department for Transport group responsible for running England's road network. It will manage the agency's IT infrastructure with a view to delivering an infrastructure and applications transformation programme, taking on 120 of the agency's staff.

Atos Origin has also secured a £50 million, five-year finance sector contract with BP²I, a joint venture between BNP Paribas and IBM. The deal covers desktop services for BNP Paribas' investment banking business in the UK and its retail banking business in France.

Together with the bank and BP²I, Atos Origin will also develop a bespoke, global solution intended to improve IT service delivery at BNP Paribas, reducing costs and raising efficiency and quality of service.

Commenting on the Highways Agency deal, Anne Ware, head of public sector at Atos Origin, said: "This contract consolidates Atos Origin's position as leading provider to both the UK public sector and the transport sector."

2. KPMG CHIEF JOINS BASRA DEVELOPMENT EFFORT

Michael Wareing, chief executive of KPMG International, has been appointed as a commissioner in the Basra Development Commission, group set up to offer business advice to the troubled Iraqi region.

The commission is supported by the Iraqi government and aims to develop a plan for Basra's economic development, involving both the public and private sectors and regional and international stakeholders.

Wareing said: "I am delighted to accept this new position heading up international input to the Basra Development Commission. There are enormous opportunities for business and enterprise, and as commissioner, I am excited by the prospect of helping to achieve economic growth that will benefit not only the people of Basra and southern Iraq, but also the entire region."

Wareing already works with a number of UK charities and public bodies. He first joined KPMG in 1973 as an accountant in Birmingham and moved through the ranks to become chief executive of the firm's Europe, Middle East, Africa and South Asia region in 2002, before being named as international chief executive.

Sponsor

The UK Consulting Industry Report 2006/7

The 'UK Consulting Industry Report' from the Management Consultancies Association (MCA) is now available. It is based on unique data and performance metrics unavailable elsewhere.

As a consultant, you need to understand which sectors represent the best consultancy opportunities, which service lines are growing, how operational metrics are changing and the outlook for your industry in 2007 and beyond - this report will provide all of this information and more.

To find out more about the report, published jointly by the MCA and PMP, please visit http://www.pmp.co.uk/mcareport.asp or email reports@pmp.co.uk or telephone 01494 732830.

The Consulting Industry Report 2006/7 is sponsored by Maconomy.

3. ACCENTURE RAISES THE BAR FOR 2008

Accenture has increased its earnings per share forecast for fiscal 2008 on the back of a strong performance in the first quarter. Its consulting revenue, overall revenue and operating profit all rose 19% in the three months to 30 November 2007. Revenue reached $5.7 billion, including $3.5 billion from consultancy. Outsourcing revenue also rose by 20% to $2.2 billion.

A geographic revenue breakdown shows the EMEA region up 25% at $2.9 billion, with a growth rate ahead of the Americas, which increased 11% to $2.3 billion, and behind Asia-Pacific, which grew 29% to $465 million.

Accenture CEO William Green commented: "We had an outstanding first quarter. This performance reflects our position as a highly diversified and disciplined business, our global presence and our position at the core of our clients' needs for high performance."

Looking ahead, Accenture raised its earnings per share forecast for fiscal 2008 by 15 cents to between $2.36 and $2.41. It also proposed full-year revenue growth in the range of 9-12%.

4. FUJITSU SERVICES LINKS EUROSTAR TO UK TICKETING SYSTEMS

Fujitsu Services has connected Eurostar's online ticketing system with seven UK train operators' systems - allowing travellers from 68 UK towns and cities to book through-fares to continental Europe.

Previously, domestic and international rail travel had to be booked separately.

The initial tranche of the project, which is worth about £250,000 to Fujitsu Services, links Eurostar's online ticketing system to the rail operators serving St Pancras, King's Cross and Euston stations. These include East Midlands Trains, Virgin Trains, London Midland and First Scottish Rail.

A second phase of the project, due to be completed before the end of this year, will include additional rail operators serving London mainline stations.

Jamel Chandoul, head of distribution and commercial systems at Eurostar, said: "With this new ticketing system many travellers can now book their entire journey from their local mainline station to continental Europe through one joined-up service, making their Eurostar experience even better."

Steve Andre, managing director of private sector projects at Fujitsu Services, added: "To help Eurostar improve its customer service in such a fundamental way is exactly the sort of business outcome that Fujitsu aims for with all its customers."

5. MCA SIGNS UP 'GREEN' IT CONSULTANCY

The Management Consultancies Association (MCA) has increased its membership to 64 with the inclusion of environmentally focused IT consultancy DMW Group.

Founded in 1989 and London-based, DMW offers services ranging from initial IT system assessment and feasibility studies through to project delivery and ongoing support. Its target markets include the financial, telecoms, retail, energy & utilities and public sectors.

DMW's credentials include a commitment to conducting business with minimal impact on the environment. It also advises clients on green data centre technologies such as virtualisation, which can reduce an organisation's carbon footprint by up to 40%.

Internally, DMW operates initiatives including support for the government's cycle to work scheme, the promotion of audio-visual conferencing to reduce travel, and the offsetting of business air travel against approved carbon neutral schemes.

6. FURTHER INFORMATION - FEEDBACK/PASS ON TO A COLLEAGUE/REMOVE

• For more information or if you have any feedback on MCN Direct, please email editor@pmp.co.uk
• If you wish to unsubscribe please reply/send an email stating 'Remove !*FIELD1*! from MCNDirect' to: mcndirect@pmp.co.uk.

Written by Sarah Underwood. Copyright 2012 PMP (UK) Ltd.

Please visit http://www.pmp.co.uk to view these publications, which are fully searchable and represent thousands of pages of information relevant to the consultant community.

Publications include:
Management Consultants' News
PMP Research Free Reports

Free registration to Evaluation Centre
Are you looking to identify a new IT supplier? Do you want to evaluate what the marketplace is offering? The Evaluation Centre, from the publishers of the respected journal Conspectus, offers free unlimited access which will allow you to find the right business application – FAST.

Evaluation Centre is an interactive service guiding consultants and end users to the selection and use of business software, services and technology. At the Evaluation Centre, you can:

• Find the software, services and technology you need from the 11 different Evaluation Centre subject areas.
• Access a library of independently audited reports.
• Download expert guidance on the whole project lifecycle.
• Get further information and advice on your requirements.

Register for Free in 30 seconds >>