NelsonHall: ITO Spending Returns to Flat Growth in Q3, but Continued Decline in ITO Bookings Activity is a Concern

BOSTON & LONDON & PARIS--()--This week, NelsonHall held its quarterly IT outsourcing (ITO) Index webcast, conducted by Dominique Raviart, Director ITO Research.

The Index assesses developments in the ITO market by providing two complementary analyses: one focused on ITO spending and the other on bookings (i.e. contracts signed). The Index therefore provides a dual view on market conditions in ITO by providing a short-term view of how spending is to evolve in the next quarter (the spending analysis) and how it will evolve in the mid-term, in the next 12 to 18 months (the bookings analysis).

This week’s webcast focused on Q3 2014 announced ITO contract activity and estimated spending during the quarter for IT services, ITO and professional services. It also forecast full year 2014 and 2015 spending growth in IT services and ITO.

Spending

NelsonHall estimates IT services spending in Q3 2014 was up 1.5%, driven by spending in professional services (+3%). ITO spending growth was flat during the quarter. According to Dominique Raviart, “Q3 2014 was a landmark quarter for ITO. This is the first time since Q4 2012 that spending is not negative. Quarter after quarter, corporate clients are back into investment mode, awarding slightly higher scope ITO contracts as well as increasing somewhat their discretionary spending embedded into long-term contracts”.

Bookings

ITO bookings were down 20% both in Q3 and during the Q1-Q3 2014 period. Decline was driven by North America (-10% in Q1, -30% in Q1-Q3 2014). Within North America, the commercial sector was up 90% during Q1-Q3, albeit on low TCV levels. The public sector was down 70% during the same period, also on low TCV levels.

Europe also declined significantly (-30% in Q3) but less so during the first 3 quarters of 2014 (-10%). During Q1-Q3 2014, the commercial sector was down 10% while the public sector was up 20% on low levels.

Activity in fast-growth countries (India, Brazil and China) was anecdotal.

An important KPI is the level of new scope contracts (as opposed to existing scope contracts) and was an estimated 40% for the Q1-Q3 2014 period. This level is at the higher end of the traditional range and is good news. Europe is slightly higher than North America on this KPI.

Forecast

Looking ahead to full-year 2014, NelsonHall forecasts short-term growth in worldwide IT services spending of 2%, with flat growth for ITO.

Looking to 2015, the outlook for IT services remains mixed, with the improving economic conditions driving some spending. However offshoring will continue to further drive prices down, resulting in lower spending. NelsonHall’s forecast for IT services spending in 2015 is +3%.

ITO spending is to remain flat in 2015, largely because of the low level of ITO bookings in late 2013 and during full-year 2014.

About NelsonHall:

NelsonHall is the leading global BPO and IT outsourcing research & analysis firm with analysts across the U.S., U.K. and Continental Europe.

Founded in 1998, The Company takes a global approach to analysis of vendors and outsourcing markets and is widely respected for the quality and depth of its research.

NelsonHall also offers a suite of "Speed-to-Source" tools, (NEAT), that assist buy-side executives in saving time and money, while enhancing the quality of their sourcing decisions, in business process outsourcing and IT outsourcing evaluations.

Contacts

NelsonHall
Mark Ellis
Phone +44 (0)1344 393 220
Email: mark.ellis@nelson-hall.com

Contacts

NelsonHall
Mark Ellis
Phone +44 (0)1344 393 220
Email: mark.ellis@nelson-hall.com