EDS today announced that industry analyst firm IDC has ranked the company as a leader in its category of global Web services providers in its 2003 Worldwide Web Services Competitive Analysis.
IDC listed EDS in the Comprehensives category, a distinction reserved for global players that have made considerable investments in adapting their methodologies to incorporate Web services and that have achieved a healthy track record in that area.
The study also ranked EDS as number one among top players in its ability to gain Web Services market share. Ability to gain share and opportunity alignment are the two axis of IDC`s Leadership Grid, which graphically illustrates IDC`s assessment of the players` positioning in terms of current and future potential to take market share in the Web services-based professional services market.
"At EDS, Web services is a top strategic priority because this technology delivers rapid business value and supports the real-time enterprise," said Robb Rasmussen, president, EDS Solutions Consulting, Business Acceleration Services. "The biggest opportunity currently lies in helping clients finally generate returns on the large sums of money they invested in legacy applications, and EDS has the capabilities and expertise to deliver these returns."
"EDS was among the first global providers to create a separate consulting practice to help its clients identify standards-based integration opportunities and to use Web services approaches to solve business problems," said Sophie Mayo, Director Web Services Implementation Services, IDC. "The solutions designed by EDS` aim to enhance business performance through the flexible sharing of information with other systems via Web Services tools. This information sharing allows an enterprise to quickly bring new business capabilities to market, to efficiently and effectively connect with trusted partners worldwide, and may even facilitate an enterprise to readily merge with or acquire other businesses."
The IDC study examined the Web services viewpoints, capabilities, methodologies, and project successes of 14 industry players. Of those, EDS was listed among companies ranked in the "Comprehensives" category.
Companies in this category, according to IDC, "are global in scope, have a presence on each of the major continents, serve large customers across vertical industries, and have accumulated or developed through acquisition and organic growth a large portfolio of branded clients, deep technology, business, strategy, and industry expertise, and a broad portfolio of both business and IT services offerings".
IDC points out in its report that "most companies have aligned their offerings within their EAI, systems integration or technology services practices". But the study notes that EDS created a separate Web services practice to support this strategic priority and deliver client value. Of all the companies listed in the survey`s "Comprehensives" leadership category (including EDS, IBM Global Services, CSC, Accenture, BearingPoint, Deloitte Consulting, and CGE&Y), EDS was ranked as the company best positioned to gain market share in the Web Services market.
Additionally, IDC ranked EDS among the top players in Web services opportunity alignment.
In outlining EDS` greatest strengths, IDC highlighted EDS` "investment in Web services-related solutions: building an industry-aligned business process expertise, a complementary and key asset in today`s environment."
For further information about EDS` Web services capabilities, visit http://www.eds.com/services_offerings/so_integration_svs.shtml
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EDS, the leading global services company, provides strategy, implementation, business transformation and operational solutions for clients managing the business and technology complexities of the digital economy. EDS brings together the world`s best technologies to address critical client business imperatives. It helps clients eliminate boundaries, collaborate in new ways, establish their customers` trust and continuously seek improvement.
EDS, with its management consulting subsidiary, AT Kearney, serves the world`s leading companies and governments in 60 countries. EDS reported revenues of $21.5 billion in 2002. The company`s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: EDS) and the London Stock Exchange. Learn more at http://www.eds.com.