Industry news

Accenture has acquired UK-based Genfour, an automation service provider with deep domain expertise and industry experience in assessing, implementing and managing automation solutions. The acquisition strengthens Accenture's capabilities as a leading provider of intelligent automation services, the company said. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. You can read more of the story here.

Related news: Accenture & Blue Prism in RPA Alliance

UK firms have been warned about "serious" cyber attacks originating in China that seek to steal trade secrets.The gang behind the attacks has compromised technology service firms and plans to use them as a proxy for attacks, security firms have said. PwC and BAE said the group had mounted many different attacks as part of a campaign they called Operation Cloud Hopper. By targeting the suppliers of IT outsourcing, the attackers were able to stealthily gain access to the networks and systems of their true targets. Dr Adrian Nish, head of threat intelligence at BAE, said the attackers used these third parties as a "stepping stone" to get at the companies and organisations they were really interested in. You can read more here.

Related news: Cyber Crime Continues Increasing

This is a good article from All Things IC about the Future of Work that offers some interesting insights, Breaking the issues down into five categories, the article discusses the uncertainties of the future of work and the major things to consider around the topic. IF you want to learn more on the Future of Work, join the GSA at their Future Of Work In The Digital Age conference this May.

Sri Lanka seeks to establish a Digital Identity Council to implement the national policy on collection, storage, sharing and use of citizens’ personal data under the proposed centralized Household Transfer Management project. In 2015, the cabinet authorized ICTA to facilitate implementation of the centralized Household Transfer Management project. The project aims to establish a National Digital Identifier and National Digital Transaction platform where data including biometric information of citizens would be stored and shared with government organizations through a National Authentication Platform. The Digital Identity Council also sends a message to the international community that Sri Lanka is a country embracing digital transformation. To read more, click here.

Related news: Time to Invest in Sri Lanka is Now

The Civica Group, a market leader in business-critical software applications, digital solutions and outsourcing services, has established a stronger position in the social housing sector with the integration, re-naming and re-branding of the former Abritas business, following its acquisition in December 2016. The move consolidates the Group’s market-leading portfolio of housing, repairs and asset management software under the Civica name and enhances the company’s ability to help social housing providers respond to a changing environment through more responsive and efficient services. Combining the specialist expertise of both companies, Civica now supplies more than 400 customers in the sector, supporting services for five million tenants. You can read the full story here.

Related News: Civica Selected for Council Contract

Lloyds Bank have made the decision to shrink hundreds of its branches in size, which in some cases will mean boarding up the old counter sections. The new "micro branches" will be staffed by just two people, who will help customers to use machines, including pay-in devices. As customers have increasingly turned towards online banking and renting premium high street space is not cheap, this looks like a good move and should free up capital for the bank. It has already announced plans to close 400 of its branches around the UK, with 9,000 job losses. The micro format, modelled on an existing branch in Paternoster Square in the City of London, will use as little as 1,000 square feet of space. To read more, click here.

Related news: Lloyds Restructure with IBM Move

Intelenet, which wants to reach $1 billion in revenue by 2020, is building automation products in the areas of healthcare and transport that will cut into its revenue in the short term, in order to help win new customers in the next few years. Automation is seen by many as the most promising area of business investment in the current climate, having a greater effect than location. Indian sourcing firms need to experiment with automation to secure their long term future as their strengths in ITO are fading. To read more, click here.

Related news: GSA Launches Independent Automation User Group

Wavestone, one of the largest independent management consultants have released the first in a series of four pieces of thought leadership providing insight into the sourcing market and industry. The sourcing of IT systems and services is a time consuming and complicated process which typically commences up to 18 months before the end of existing contract arrangements. While organisations are typically looking to reduce costs on new contracts there is a balance needed between cost reduction and technology transformation to deliver next generation infrastructure.

Ultimately the most successful IT contracts are those where the expectations are clear between customer and supplier and both parties have agreed a contract which addresses the customer needs and enables the supplier to deliver the services at a profit. Getting to that point requires these nine steps that are detailed in this insight to be executed well to deliver a successful end-to-end strategic IT sourcing. You can download the article here.

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Click here to learn more about LISA or join the GSA for their Digi-tech event this April.

Capgemini, a global leader in consulting, technology and outsourcing services, announced that it was named Star Performer of the Year both for Overall IT Services as well as Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) Services in Everest Group’s PEAK Matrix Service Provider of the Year awards. With more than 190,000 people, Capgemini is present in over 40 countries and celebrates its 50th Anniversary year in 2017. Mark Devonshire, Executive Vice President of Capgemini recently joined the GSA Council to further the sourcing industry. You can read more here.

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