IDC Energy Insights' IDC MarketScape Evaluates Professional Services Firms in Oil & Gas Worldwide

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IDC Energy Insights today announced the availability of a new report, IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Oil and Gas Professional Services 2012 Vendor Assessment, (Doc #EI237328). The new report assesses the capabilities and strategies of many of the leading professional service firms in serving the specific needs of the oil and gas (O&G) industry. In particular, professional service firms were evaluated according to success in providing offerings in the following segments of the O&G business: Upstream; Midstream; and Energy Trading and Risk Management.

The goal of the report is to provide O&G companies with an evaluation that can be used in selecting service firms to provide project-based or managed services. Professional services firms evaluated in the study include: Accenture, Capgemini, CSC, Deloitte, HP, IBM, Infosys, PWC, TCS, and Wipro. These companies were evaluated based on a comprehensive framework and a set of parameters that assess providers relative to one another and to those factors expected to be most conducive to success in a given market during both the short term and the long term.

The oil and gas industry has always depended on an ecosystem of suppliers to find and produce oil and gas. Due to the global nature of the industry, the large size of oil and gas companies, and the complexity of projects, the industry has depended on professional service firms to deliver project-based services in the areas of business consulting, IT consulting, and systems integration. The market for professional services in the oil and gas industry is significant. According to the IDC Energy Insights Worldwide Oil and Gas IT Spending Guide, the global market for IT services to the O&G industry totaled $14.5 billion. IT services is expected to grow to $18.4 billion in 2015 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%.

Key findings from the report include the following:

The global market for IT services for the O&G industry continues to grow at a healthy pace, especially in upstream.
While the industry is under cost pressure, O&G companies put a premium on value delivered. The expectation is that the service firm will engage and deliver, but not need to be managed intensively.
Global methodologies are preferred, but a firm must demonstrate that it has local resources to support marketing, sales, and distribution, especially in regions such as the Middle East and Africa.
The ability for a professional service firm to attract, motivate, and retain talent is also paramount, as the O&G companies expect expertise as well as stability from their partners in this talent constrained industry.

To help O&G companies evaluate the service firm most appropriate for their business, the new report is composed of two sections:

The first part defines the characteristics that IDC Energy Insights believes lead to success in the firms providing services to the O&G industry. These characteristics are based on discussions with O&G companies and analyst observations of best practices in the industry.
The second part provides a visual presentation of multiple vendors into a single bubble-chart format. This display concisely exhibits the observed and quantified scores of the reviewed vendors.

The document concludes with IDC's essential guidance to O&G companies on selection of vendors.

According to Jill Feblowitz, vice president, IDC Energy Insights, "The oil and gas industry is looking to its professional services partners to bring innovation. Professional services firms with a strong focus on the O&G vertical and a strategic plan in line with the future needs of their clients are Leaders. They have a local presence in most of the O&G capitals and the ability to attract and retain O&G experts in this talent-constrained market."

For additional information about this study, or to arrange a one-on-one briefing with Jill Feblowitz, please contact Sarah Murray at 781-378-2674 or sarah@attunecommunications.com. Reports are available to qualified members of the media. For information on purchasing reports, contact info@idc-ei.com.

About IDC MarketScape

IDC MarketScape vendor analysis model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor’s position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors.

About IDC Energy Insights

IDC Energy Insights assists energy businesses and IT leaders, as well as the suppliers who serve them, in making more effective technology decisions by providing accurate, timely, and insightful fact-based research and consulting services. Staffed by senior analysts with decades of industry experience, our global research analyzes and advises on business and technology issues facing the utility and oil and gas industries. International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology market. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world’s leading technology, media, research, and events company. For more information, please visit www.idc-ei.com, email info@idc-ei.com, or call 508-935-4400. Visit the IDC Energy Insights Community at http://idc-insights-community.com/energy.