Comms Dealer

Andrew Hicks has joined Advanced Computer Software Group as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), replacing Guy Millward.

Hicks will lead the Group's strategic and operational finance, legal and HR departments.

He Hicks joins the Group with 15 years experience in the software sector, where he has served in senior finance roles in public and private equity backed firms both in the UK and USA.

He has worked for a number of Vista portfolio companies including Advanced's sister company, financial services software provider, Misys.

Hicks also served as CFO of Vista's P2 Energy Solutions,a software and data solutions company exclusively servicing the oil and gas industry, located in Denver, Colorado.

His experience also includes serving as CFO at Turaz, which was formed from the assets of Thomson Reuters' Trade and Risk Management Software business unit based in the UK.

Most recently, he served as CFO at Kewill, a global leader in multimodal transportation management and supply chain solutions. Similarly to Advanced, Kewill was taken from a public to a private business and its software platform enables companies to lower costs and increase efficiencies.

Gordon Wilson, CEO Advanced Computer Software Group, said: "Andrew is a proven finance leader and his outstanding track record of working with Vista companies will stand him in good stead for the CFO role at Advanced. His experience of executing successful strategies will enable Advanced to further strengthen its financial position, extending value and offerings in the markets we operate."

Hicks added: "Advanced is one of the UK technology sector's true success stories, having grown revenues to more than £200 million in just six years. It is a company which has an excellent platform for organic and acquisitive growth and this is a business culture I'm very familiar with.

"I'm looking forward to bringing my experience of taking companies from public to private and to working with the senior management team to take the business to the next level by focusing on investments in people, products and processes."

Skyscape Cloud Services has donated £10,000 apiece to the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity and Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Charity from the Skyscape Foundation.

"We are thrilled to support both the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity and Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Charity, both of which provide such vital care and equipment to so many," said Simon Hansford, CEO of Skyscape Cloud Services.

"As a socially responsible organisation, we strive to always do the right thing and part of this means we have committed to sharing our profits with our community by providing much needed financial assistance to worthy organisations."

Skyscape recently announced the launch of the Skyscape Foundation, an initiative dedicated to supporting charitable causes, through which an annual donation of two percent of net profits is made to charities selected by the company and its employees.

Skyscape's core values include serving the wider society by actively encouraging staff to support their personal charities or ones close to them, as well as the company's chosen charities.

"It certainly is a refreshing change for such a substantial donation to come from a private sector organisation," said Gill Raikes, Chief Executive at Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Charity. "Skyscape's commitment to supporting charitable causes should be a leading example for all businesses to give back to their communities wherever possible."

The Skyscape team recently dedicated the official Children in Need appeal day on Friday 13th November to a number of fundraising activities in aid of the charity, with the whole company taking part in fancy dress, raising £25,000.

2016 will be a difficult year to call for the European IT businesses - any of the usual linear progress in the IT industry in 2015 as a result of more powerful technologies was distorted by special factors such as cloud, security and the economic situation and its impact on dollar/euro pricing.

Talking to experts in European IT, IT Europa has compiled an 18-page report which is aimed at those IT strategists trying to map a path through the issues of cloud, security, data analytics and how the channels, especially distribution adapt to new models and new patterns of customer behaviour.

The report concludes that 2016 will see further major changes in vendors and channels, with legacy vendors facing a bleak future unless they take major steps.

As IDC has already indicated. Customers want more, be it in data and analysis, security, cloud apps or guidance. Channels may struggle to keep up. As one expert puts it: "The channel's ability to pivot its business models to work with a wider range of technologies and commercial delivery models limits the way it can meet this demand."

Some firms may leave the business completely, under pressure from the new demands placed on them, while others look for dramatic growth through acquisition. Consolidation in the channel will continue, with some signs that firms are getting a clearer understanding of what the M&A market needs to help put a price on their businesses.

With Software-Defined-Everything (SDE) storming across the industry, companies, already under the hammer from customer's existing demands, will find key resources in short supply. Performance, security and staff recruitment and retention are identified as the three main headaches for the IT industry in 2016.

Some key predictions:

As economies recover, IT spending will rise, but this may get diverted into aspects regarded as essential such as security.

Security issues will make headline news, so expect customers' concerns to continue.

EU legislation is moving at a snail's pace; we don't hold out much hope for change

Channels will consolidate - driven by the need to raise capital to invest, lack of available skills, plus the wall of new money looking for a home through IPOs etc.

Expect distribution to continue to expand its portfolios, especially in security, while fulfilling its role of recruitment and providing cloud management and contracts.

Big Data will start to affect everyone, not just the obvious big data users and vendors; there is a real shortage of expertise here, however

Watch for smaller IoT projects: While large transformative Internet of Things (IoT) projects grab headlines, an increasing number of IoT projects are smaller in scale, less expensive and less risky, says TBR. Wearables might finally come through as part of IoT.

Analytics and big data will drive the market: Today, only 1% of all apps use cognitive services; by 2018, half will, say researchers. Essentially, analytics will be embedded in every application, used to facilitate functionality or convenience.

Predictive Analytics will be big, but means high demand for IT-based business specialists able to define the rules which can encode the models

Software-defined everything means hardware continues to be standardised, especially in data centres, while software creation, APIs, embedded systems and mobile will set the pace. For an update on the situation among Europe's software businesses and who is winning this race, attend the European Software and Solutions Summit 2016 in April in London - www.EUSSS.com

As a result of software-defined everything and the enterprise move to the cloud, Managed Services will become the accepted model for many businesses and organisations. Who best provides these, with which management tools and administration, is a question that will remain open in 2016.

For some of the answers sign up for Managed Services and Hosting Summit 2016, in London in September - www.mshsummit.com

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, Analysis of the European Hosted IP Telephony and UCC Services Market, finds that the market earned revenues of $3.32 billion in 2014 and estimates this to reach $17.93 billion in 2021.

"Tight IT budgets and limited in-house IT expertise are pushing small and medium-size businesses to outsource communications solutions to expert third parties," said Frost & Sullivan Digital Transformation Program Director Elka Popova.

"For large, distributed organisations, avoiding the cost and hassle of integrating multi-vendor solutions combined with greater ability to support remote and mobile workers are driving their move to the cloud."

The retail, professional services and IT sectors in Europe have been early adopters of hosted IP and UCC services. In some countries, public sector organisations are also moving to hosted communications. The presence of multiple distributed sites as well as OPEX-based IT budgets are driving demand for hosted IP telephony and UCC services in other sectors as well.

However, businesses with specific customisation, integration or security requirements continue to choose premises-based solutions over hosted services. Fear of losing control over communications capabilities is another factor preventing some firms from outsourcing telephony and UCC solutions. Lingering concerns about quality and reliability also prevent some businesses from migrating to IP-based communications systems and services.

Channel support is critical for service provider success in Europe. A barrier to broader hosted IP communications adoption has been traditional telecom resellers' limited experience with cloud technologies and recurring revenue business models. Many perceive hosted services as a threat to equipment sales and their cherished relationships with equipment vendors.

Technology maturity, new architectures and business models, and greater awareness of cloud communications and their advantages are increasingly addressing these barriers to hosted services uptake in Europe. The wider availability of hosted solutions also means enterprises can find the best fit for their specific needs.

"In the future, greater incumbent carrier focus on next-generation services as well as mergers and acquisition among smaller providers will expedite industry expansion," observed Frost & Sullivan Digital Transformation Program Manager Robert Arnold.

"Continued solution enhancements, such as better mobility support and tighter integration with other communications and productivity apps, will reinforce the appeal of hosted IP telephony and UCC in the European market."

Building on a relationship that has lasted more than six years, Polycom has been selected by NATO to be the primary unified communications provider of the organisations Active Network Infrastructure (ANWI) project within its high-tech new headquarters located in Brussels, Belgium.

As part of NATO's 'new ways of working' business capability designed to modernise virtual collaboration across multiple networks, the Polycom RealPresence Platform will represent the first hybrid Video Collaboration (VTC), Voice and Data deployment by NATO.

This implementation will extend NATO's reach to employees, military commands and deployed units, taking this far beyond the traditional workplace.

Additionally, it will provide flexibility and capability to secure collaborative communications no matter what the condition or location is. Polycom will play an important role in the ANWI project, building a viable UC&C service that can be widely used across the NATO organisation to support decision making, collaboration and coordination.

Steven Janis, Project Manager of the new NATO headquarters, said: "There is a great importance to us in the way Polycom integrates smoothly with other communications platforms, such as Microsoft, and the ins-and-outs of the nucleus of our UC&C platforms which help take our communications into the next century."

Polycom will also equip the facility with 2,500 of its Polycom VVX business media voice end points for use with Skype For Business.

Sean Berg, Vice President, Public Sector at Polycom, added: "Communications are integral to any organisation. However, it plays an absolutely essential role in not only NATO's initiatives, but the security and well-being of millions of citizens around the world. Polycom is proud to play a critical role in providing."

Cardiff-based TWL Voice and Data has stated its intention to become the biggest business telecoms and UC provider in Wales.

The company notched up 28% growth last year reporting £2.1m turnover, up from £1.5m in 2014. The forecast for year end 2016 is set at £2.4m.

Andrew Nicholson, MD, said: "We have implemented new systems to encourage organic growth by focusing on client services and retention, as well as new business processes.

"However, our acquisition of JVH Communications in June was key in reaching our target turnover."

JVH was TWL's second acquisition, following the purchase of Danwood Telecoms in 2012.

Business advisory group Mustard consulted on the deal. Its Chairman, Alan Jones, pointed to the role that acquisitions will play in TWL's growth plans.

"Acquisitions have been a key part of the growth in 2015, adding an additional 30% onto one of the monthly income streams," he stated. 

Nicholson pointed to 'numerous growth strategies', saying: "We are also looking to expand the services that we offer to our customers."

Adoption of cloud for key business applications is widespread in the UK, but there is no uniform or consistent approach to procurement or strategy among UK companies.

This is the key message from recent research conducted by Managed Cloud Services Provider, Adapt.

The research also shows that while more than half of UK businesses see cloud as a means of removing cost from their businesses, actually achieving this objective is proving challenging, creating a gap between expectation and reality.

Businesses that look to cloud to support enhancement and optimisation initiatives however are finding it easier to deliver the benefits promised.

Key Findings:

92% of medium size and 85% of large businesses report that they now use cloud services in one form or another (an average of 88.5% across the sample).

While more than half of businesses (57%) viewed cloud as a way to reduce the cost of their IT, a significant proportion (42%) were finding it a challenge to meet that objective.

Cloud is delivering more effectively for those who approach it with broader enhancement or optimisation objectives (45% expected cloud to improve business flexibility, for example, but only 22% saw it as the most challenging objective).

The majority of businesses surveyed are aware that their staff are using unapproved cloud-based services for storing data, applications and services.

While the figures demonstrate that the case for cloud has been made, medium to large businesses have still not evaluated how to make the most effective use of cloud services strategically.

This may be because, in part, they are using different cloud providers for different purposes and because the IT department is out of the loop when it comes to the procurement process. The survey found the majority of businesses (55%) were already using more than one cloud provider, with a sixth (16%) using three or more. A key driver in the use of multiple cloud providers has been the bypassing of the IT department by functions such as marketing, business development and sales to identify and procure cloud services specific to their needs.

That figure is likely to be even higher given the number of unapproved cloud services being used by employees within UK businesses. The survey found that 59% of businesses were aware their staff were using unapproved cloud-based services for storing data, applications and services.

With a multiplicity of cloud providers and the growing involvement of other departments in procuring cloud services, the survey reported that a majority of UK businesses (68%) found the prospect of engaging a single supplier that could help them take control of all their different cloud solutions appealing.

Kevin Linsell, Director of Strategy and Architecture at Adapt said: "Businesses need to recognise the broad availability of customised and niche cloud services has changed procurement behaviour. They need to adapt to these changes to deliver key objectives such as cost reduction, performance improvement, business risk reduction and security enhancement.

"Organisations understand that managing a multiple provider strategy has disadvantages and recognise the benefits of a tighter, coordinated approach.

"The report suggests businesses are finding it a challenge to define and implement a cloud strategy that closes the gap between potential, planning and reality. Where this becomes difficult or unmanageable, businesses should seek advice from Managed Service Providers (MSPs).

"Our role is to help business identify the right balance and blend of platforms to meet business objectives and pull this together into a custom strategy that is completely aligned with workload and application requirements - from any department."

Timico, the business Internet, hosting and communications service provider, is launching a new volume SMS service in response to the growing demand from businesses to incorporate text messaging into their offerings.

Timico has seen a dramatic increase in the number of businesses interested in texting information to customers over the last year. This ranges from sending appointment reminders and booking confirmations to exclusive offers and discounts.

Many are also interested in deploying the service as a way to boost the level of interaction they have with clients, especially given that a recent poll found that the average response rate to a text message is four times greater than email and eight times greater than direct mail, and that 92% of adults in the UK own a mobile phone.

Timico has worked closely with ProcessFlows to launch its new offerings, which will include virtual mobile numbers, short codes and various SMS solutions to allow its clients to send bulk text messages.

The system is managed in-house, so clients will be able to manage issuing their text messaging themselves, supported by Timico's carrier-grade network and the messaging expertise of ProcessFlows.

The solutions can also be integrated into a range of CRM systems, such as Salesforce, allowing SMS messaging to fit seamlessly into any business.

Andrew North, Director of Mobile Services at Timico, said: "Many more businesses are looking towards SMS messaging as a way to enhance their communications strategies, but you need to have the right systems in place to do this effectively.

"For example many 'unlimited' bundles aren't actually unlimited and will have restrictions. The last thing you want is bill shock when you think everything has already been covered.

"Timico's new offerings put everything in place to allow for the seamless integration of text messaging. The intuitive system is easy to use but also supported by the network capabilities of Timico and the on the ground expertise of ProcessFlows.

"It's a great combination for any business thinking about venturing into this high-touch method of communications."

Jeanette Fennell, Product Manager at Process Flows, added: "As more businesses are recognising the benefits of SMS messaging on a daily basis, not just for customers but also internally, we are pleased to on-board Timico where SMS messaging clearly complements the enterprise grade product catalogue."

The SMS solutions can be backed up on either a cloud-based or physical server, dependant on the needs of the client. Texts can be bought in bulk before billing, reducing the overall cost of messaging.

Entanet has its £32m turnover goal squarely in its sights following a year of strong partner growth.

The company has signed a number of new partners and grown its leased line and Ethernet business significantly over the past 12 months.

Entanet has witnessed 25% growth in its Ethernet and leased line estate; growth of broadband connections and upgrades as the UK fibre roll-out continues; a 14% increase in headcount to 100 staff; and has invested in key areas such as provisioning, support, customer services and software development.

New strategic relationships formed last year include a partnership with UCaaS specialist 8x8 Solutions.

Additional investments in operational systems, the launch of an Ethernet Quoting Tool and a new dedicated VPN management portal have positioned Entanet for continued growth this year, according to CEO Elsa Chen.

"Our growth is largely down to the efforts and loyalty of our partners and staff," she stated.

"Entanet thrives on the deep understanding and trust that we've built up with them over many years, and in some cases, decades.

"We've also formed a number of new relationships over the past 12 months and will develop more alliances in 2016, the year in which we celebrate our 20th anniversary.

"Entanet will also carry on investing in its network and systems. We envisage another year of steady, profitable growth ahead for our partners and our own business."

Dimension Data has released its IT predications for the next 12 months, and digital transformation is high on the corporate agenda because it's already reshaping the competitive landscape.

According to Ettienne Reinecke, Dimension Data's Group Chief Technology Officer, social, mobile, cloud, analytics, Internet of Things, and bimodal IT are all hot topics in the IT industry which divide IT functions and teams in organisations worldwide. But, he says, where do organisations prioritise their budgets and resources.

"All of these trends and technologies serve a larger purpose, because they enable the transformation of an organisation to become a digital enterprise.

"In other words, the business uses IT to respond faster to market opportunities and threats, and prioritises the experience of the people it works with, whether they're customers, employees, or business partners."

Reinecke said the digital transformation conversations that Dimension Data's teams are having with organisations revolve around four themes: data at the core of the transformation, hybrid cloud as mechanism for agility, workspaces for tomorrow, and cybersecurity.