International Data Corporation ( IDC ) has published its 2016 MarketScape report profiling and positioning providers in the cloud professional services market. IDC research indicates that both cost management and financial/funding strategies were valued most highly by customers, on average, across all cloud professional services providers evaluated. Likewise, buyers told IDC they believe vendor success in the cloud professional services market comes from a combination of capabilities including consulting/technical skills and functional knowledge.

IDC MarketScape : Worldwide Cloud Professional Services 2016 Vendor Assessment (IDC #US40149616) evaluates the offerings and prospects of seventeen vendors' relative capabilities and strategies. This was a new record number of participants, up from fifteen in IDC's 2014 evaluation. These providers were evaluated using detailed criteria that IDC identified as key factors contributing to vendor success in the worldwide cloud professional services market. The vendors included in the analysis are Accenture, Capgemini, CGI, Cisco, Dell, Deloitte, EMC, HCL, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), IBM, KPMG, Microsoft, NTT DATA, PwC, TCS, Tech Mahindra, and Wipro.

The IDC MarketScape methodology positioned Accenture, Deloitte, HCL, IBM, NTT DATA, and PwC in the "Leaders" segment.

"When buyers were asked what characteristics were required for a cloud professional services project to be successful, at a worldwide level, the number one characteristic was 'project value delivered for fee paid' followed by 'provide functional insights and competence,'" said Gard Little , research director, IT Consulting and Systems Integration Services . "These two items indicate that buyers believe success will come from a combination of consulting/technical skills as well as functional knowledge."