Legacy Systems Preventing One in Four UK Businesses from Achieving Agile IT Benefits, Accenture Research Finds

Press release:

July 11, 2012

Legacy Systems Preventing One in Four UK Businesses from Achieving Agile IT Benefits, Accenture Research Finds

 

Survey of UK executives reveals nearly one quarter of IT budgets over next two years will be spent maintaining legacy systems

 

LONDON; July 11, 2012 – More than one in four (27 percent) UK businesses are unable to take advantage of new agile infrastructure that can scale their IT function to meet the evolving needs of their organisations, because they are constrained by existing legacy systems, according to a new study released today by Accenture (NYSE: ACN).

 

The ‘Agile IT’ research is based on a study of 500 technology and business executives in the United Kingdom (UK) with responsibility for managing revenues and cost in their organisation.  Agile IT – the ability to scale up and down IT resources rapidly to meet changing user and customer needs, reduce costs and help bring new products and services to the market through faster access to variable computing resources – could save businesses nearly one-third of their IT costs, according to a majority (75 percent) of the executives surveyed.

 

The research shows that legacy systems are causing a number of cost and flexibility issues, as businesses face challenges in managing the agility of new cloud solutions versus the rigidity of core legacy infrastructure and applications.  Almost half (45 percent) of respondents said that they need to modernize or replace legacy systems which are impediments to rapidly and flexibly meeting changing user or customer needs.  Other highlights included:

 

• Over one-third (35 percent) of those polled said that they are being held back by current infrastructure, despite the fact that they see ‘cloud computing as a great move’ and thus likely to improve IT productivity
• More than half (66 percent) of technology executives forecast that up to 30 percent of their IT budget is expected to support legacy systems over the next two years 
• Four-fifths (80 percent) of organisations revealed that that they do not have a fully developed application retirement roadmap, an essential ingredient for successfully moving to agile IT

 

“CIOs and other technology executives face tough questions about what to do with their legacy infrastructure and software applications portfolio,” said Stephen Nunn, managing director, Infrastructure Consulting Group, Accenture.  “IT executives seeking to accelerate their journey to a more agile IT environment need to work closely with their business counterparts to determine whether to sustain, consolidate, modernise, or retire each application that supports a core business function.  Conducting an application rationalisation exercise based on the usual criteria but also specific agile IT principles and suitability for cloud technology will identify the best course of action and enable the benefits of agile IT to be realised.”

 

Drivers for Agile IT investment

Organisations looking to deploy agile IT solutions were clear about what the main drivers for their businesses would be:

 

• Over half of executives said that they felt transforming fixed IT infrastructure and operational investments could bring improved IT flexibility (55 percent) and better align IT (52 percent) with real business needs within their organisation
• Executives also said that transforming fixed IT infrastructure into new agile environments could bring about higher IT utilisation and knowledge work productivity (50 percent)
• Better IT engagement (52 percent) to respond to changing business demands and reduced IT costs (also 52 percent) for the business were identified by executives as the main drivers for increased speed and agility in IT

 

Nunn concluded, “Agile IT can transform how business is done by making it easier for knowledge workers to access the information they need, when they need it, and to collaborate more effectively with others both inside and outside the organisation.  CIOs looking to capitalise on the benefits should prepare for a transition to a new agile IT infrastructure by implementing a governance process and an application roadmap for modernising legacy IT.  This will enable them to integrate new solutions more rapidly and gain the ability to ‘plug-and-play’ their core software functions.”

 

About the Research

In November 2011, Accenture conducted the ‘Agile IT’ research to assess UK business readiness, challenges and attitudes towards agility in IT infrastructure, required to scale up and down IT resources to meet changing user and customer needs.  Researchers interviewed 250 technology (50 percent) and 250 business (50 percent) executives in organisations with more than 1,000 employees from five major industry sectors; Financial Services, Communications & Hi-Tech, Public Services, Products, and Resources.  All interviews were conducted with executives with P&L responsibility within their organisation, with technology executives in CIOs/Heads of IT Infrastructure functions (50 percent), and business executives from Heads of Business (22 percent), Sales and/or Marketing Units (20 percent) and other operational functions including HR and Finance (9 percent). 

 

To access the Accenture Agile IT research report findings please click here.

 

About Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with more than 249,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries.  Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments.  The company generated net revenues of US$25.5 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2011.  Its home page is www.accenture.com.

 

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Business Intelligence in the Palm of Your Hand

News release:

Business Intelligence in the Palm of Your Hand

May 21, 2012

Developed by Microsoft partner Extended Results, the PushBI application provides instant analysis of intelligent systems data through PCs, tablets and phones.

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REDMOND, Wash. — May 21, 2012 — Using embedded devices as part of an intelligent system can enable any organization to collect valuable data in new ways. But once the information is available, how do you make sense of it all? The world of intelligent systems is, after all, about using that data to make better decisions. 

Although business intelligence software has progressed mightily from a decade ago when running reports required the help of the IT department, turning raw data into something useful for analysis is still often a team effort that can require a lot of legwork for administrators. Companies such as large retailers, manufacturers and logistics organizations are especially interested in finding a more elegant way to track business performance across complex networks of transactions and interactions. 

According to Bryan Colyer of Redmond-based Extended Results — part BI consulting practice and part software developer — as more companies connect embedded devices and enterprise IT within intelligent systems, the need for applications that can turn that information into something usable is exploding. 

Making Sense of the Data Deluge

May 21, 2012

PushBI by Extended Results can take information from SQL databases, Excel spreadsheets and more, and deliver instant reports to your phone or PC.

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“We’ve seen a strong need in retail, because so much of their information is in silos,” Colyer says. “But companies across industries are craving a way to help their corporate offices collaborate with stores and warehouses, to monitor the rhythm of the business and provide insight for better decisions.” 

To help its clients solve this problem, Extended Results has developed an application called PushBI that is able to tap into almost any data source, fromSQL Server and other databases toExcel spreadsheets and Web services. With business intelligence logic built on top and real-time operational data underneath, PushBI is able to deliver up-to-the-minute metrics on almost any type of data stream and deliver those reports to almost any device — meaning an executive can track performance by region, store or even by item or salesperson, right from a phone or Tablet PC. (Watch a demo video.)

“PushBI provides immediate reporting,” he says. “Before, someone would have to get the information and do analysis. With this, I can see my key metrics anywhere, anytime — and so can my store manager, my warehouse managers, my purchasers.” 

With PushBI, data is presented in a graphical format that is easy to understand. Color coding draws immediate attention to problem areas such as stock-outs or lagging sales. For executives, Colyer says the ability to parse information and dial into specifics can really help in keeping tabs on a large organization. 

“If I’m visiting stores in New York, I can dial into specific metrics for those stores,” he says. “I can see whether sales are trending up or down. Who are my top salespeople. I can see what’s selling, what’s not, and how that differs from store to store.”

At the store level, Colyer says, this capability can help with replenishment and optimizing shelf space. Store managers can easily communicate with the warehouse, ensuring inventory is available on time. Managers and executives can also track the effects of changes such as special promotions or new signage.

The PushBI application also features integrated IM chat functionality through Microsoft Lync. This allows executives, managers and subject experts such as accountants to discuss issues directly in the context of the application.

“As a senior exec, I can’t be an expert in every single number,” says Colyer. “But I can be connected to experts using Lync. With Lync’s presence information, I can see that my store manager in New York is present and have a quick IM or even start a videoconference.”

Colyer says the emerging market for intelligent systems has created the need for applications such as PushBI that can help companies put new data streams to work. As the market matures, Extended Results is seeing its customers around the world become more creative with the technology. One major global shipping company, for example, is using the product to optimize the offloading of containers at an Australian port.

“This market is still so new, most of our customers have an early adopter mindset and are looking for a competitive edge,” Colyer says. “We can’t wait to see what happens as more customers find new ways to leverage this technology. The ones who are doing this now are definitely getting ahead of the competition.”

ORIENT-EXPRESS IMPLEMENTS MICROS OPERA SALES & CATERING MODULE FOR ITS HOTELS WORLDWIDE

PRESS RELEASE ORIENT EXPRESS

ORIENT-EXPRESS IMPLEMENTS MICROS OPERA SALES & CATERING MODULE FOR ITS HOTELS WORLDWIDE

Columbia, MD – May 14, 2012—MICROS Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MCRS), a leading provider of information technology solutions for the hospitality and retail industries, is pleased to announce that Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. (NYSE: OEH), owners or part-owners and managers of 46 luxury hotel, restaurant, tourist train and river cruise properties operating in 23 countries, has recently expanded its MICROS OPERA Enterprise Solution with the addition of the MICROS OPERA Sales and Catering solution (S&C). The multi-year deployment will commence immediately in Orient-Express properties located in the US and Mexico.

Orient-Express, known for its prestigious properties around the world, will replace its legacy sales and catering system in 37 of its hotels worldwide with MICROS OPERA Sales and Catering, which offers full-featured catering sales management. With superior customer relationship management, enhanced event management, and sales force automation, MICROS OPERA Sales and Catering significantly reduces the sometimes tedious sales and catering management requirements performed by the hotel staff, allowing them to focus on guest service. Powerful analytics, reporting tools, and real-time booking engines are provided with a comprehensive account of all business operations. Flexible options, with international capabilities, allow for customization of the MICROS OPERA S&C solution to truly fit the individual requirements of Orient-Express. The MICROS OPERA S&C solution allows Orient-Express to expand easily and incorporate this new technology to support a superior guest experience.

“The MICROS OPERA S&C solution provides our hotels with a comprehensive integrated application suite within the MICROS OPERA Property Management System (PMS); it also significantly reduces the cost of automation,” stated Marco Correia, Group Director of IT-Operations for Orient-Express Hotels Ltd.  “MICROS OPERA S&C fully maps the Orient-Express internal processes and completely addresses our many requirements with properties in multiple countries.”

“Having been selected as the preferred vendor last year, MICROS is very pleased that Orient-Express has now chosen to enhance its MICROS OPERA PMS with the MICROS OPERA S&C solution, consequently focusing on its global standardization and advanced system and data analytics,” stated Kaweh Niroomand, President MICROS EAME. 

About Orient-Express Hotels Ltd.
Orient-Express Hotels Ltd., listed on the New York Stock Exchange, ticker OEH, engages in the hotel, tourist train and cruise ship business. Orient-Express Hotels owns and manages 46 famous properties in 23 countries, including Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town, and Charleston Place in Charleston, S.C. In addition, it owns the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and Eastern & Oriental Express tourist trains, '21' Club in New York City and the "Road to Mandalay" cruise ship in Myanmar (Burma).

About MICROS Systems, Inc. 
MICROS Systems, Inc. provides enterprise applications for the hospitality and retail industries worldwide. Over 330,000 MICROS systems are currently installed in table and quick service restaurants, hotels, motels, casinos, leisure and entertainment, and retail operations in more than 180 countries, and on all seven continents. In addition, MICROS provides property management systems, central reservation and customer information solutions under the brand MICROS-Fidelio for more than 26,000 hotels worldwide, as well as point-of-sale, loss prevention, and cross-channel functionality through its MICROS-Retail division for more than 100,000 retail stores worldwide. MICROS stock is traded through NASDAQ under the symbol MCRS.

For more information on MICROS and its advanced information technology solutions for the hospitality industry, please contact Louise Casamento, Vice President of Marketing at (443) 285-8144 or (866) 287-4736. You can also visit the MICROS website atwww.micros.com or send an email to info@micros.com . Follow MICROS on Facebook ,LinkedIn , YouTube , and the MICROS Blog .

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General Dynamics C4 Systems Debuts New ‘Buy Now’ Online Store for Rugged Computers and Accessories

Press release:

General Dynamics C4 Systems Debuts New ‘Buy Now’ Online Store for Rugged Computers and Accessories

SUNRISE, Fla. – General Dynamics C4 Systems has created an online store for customers to identify, compare and purchase a full range of accessories and ruggedized computers from General Dynamics. Powered by Group Mobile, the online store features a ‘chat’ capability that connects customers with trained specialists who can recommend the various products and accessories that match their system requirements.

Tom “TK” Kreidler, vice president of Worldwide Product Sales for General Dynamics C4 Systems, said, “From power cords to carrying cases to rugged computers, the new online store is a fast and cost-effective option for small procurements of computers and accessories. The site is also a convenient source to view the latest promotions and special offers from General Dynamics.”

The online store also offers the full range of accessories for the Itronix product line. Popular items, including vehicle-mounting trays, connector cables and chargers, are very competitively priced, with no shipping charges for orders over $99 delivered by ground transportation.

The store is exclusive to General Dynamics’ rugged computing products. Group Mobile manages the website, trains and provides the customer service personnel and is committed to complete customer satisfaction. Visit the new General Dynamics store at www.gd-itronix.com/buynow.

“We are very pleased to expand our relationship with the General Dynamics Itronix product line and look forward to providing exceptional value-added services to our shared customers,” stated Randall P. Marx, CEO of Group Mobile. “General Dynamics’ rugged computing products have a sound, established business and a network of strong, loyal customers. Their products are of the highest quality and very competitive.”


General Dynamics C4 Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).

Headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., Group Mobile International LLC offers accessory and ruggedized computer products for customers all over North America. Customers range from Fortune 500 companies and the U.S. military, to local police/fire/ambulance, to small and mid-size businesses, to the frequent traveler that needs something more durable than a commercial, off-the-shelf computer.