Demand for Digital Dominates Asia Pacific Sourcing Market

Region's first-quarter As-a-Service ACV exceeds US$1 billion mark for the first time

First-quarter combined ACV rises 62 percent, to US$1.5 billion, region's second-best quarter ever

SYDNEY, April 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Strong demand for digital transformation and cloud-based services continues to redefine the Asia Pacific sourcing market, with as-a-service values surpassing US$1 billion for the first time in the first quarter of 2018, according to the findings of the 1Q18 Asia Pacific ISG Index™ released by Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a leading global technology research and advisory firm.

Data from the ISG Index™, which measures commercial outsourcing contracts with annual contract value (ACV) of US$5 million or more, reveal first-quarter combined ACV in Asia Pacific reached US$1.5 billion, up 62 percent versus the prior year, albeit on a soft compare.

Traditional sourcing was up 35 percent, to US$463 million, but fell short of extending a string of three straight US$500 million-plus quarters. As-a-service sourcing reached a record high of US$1.02 billion, eclipsing the US$1 billion level for the first time and up 78 percent over the prior year. Both the Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) segments turned in record-setting results.

With quarterly combined ACV exceeding US$1 billion for four consecutive quarters, the Asia Pacific sourcing market reached a high point of US$5.73 billion for the trailing 12-month period. Traditional sourcing ACV was up 25 percent compared with the prior period, but the robust growth was driven by an increase of 61 percent in as-a-service values.

By industry, all sectors posted ACV gains in as-a-service sourcing but showed mixed results for traditional sourcing. The region's largest industry sectors grew by both measures. Financial Services recorded significant growth in the trailing 12-month period, with traditional sourcing advancing 72 percent and as-a-service ACV surging 103 percent. Manufacturing ACV rose on a soft compare with the prior-year period; traditional sourcing was up 51 percent and as-a-service grew by 126 percent. The Telecom and Media sector turned in slightly more modest growth, with traditional sourcing advancing 11 percent and as-a-service rising 49 percent versus the prior period.

Globally, the combined market reached a record high of US$12.2 billion in the first quarter of 2018, driven by 40 percent growth in the as-a-service sector, which reached US$5.9 billion of ACV. The new quarterly high for as-a-service is far beyond the US$4 billion range in three of the last four quarters, and nearly double the typical ACV of just two years ago.

"Digital transformation is a very real and growing phenomenon," said Lisa Borden, partner and head of ISG Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). "Digital technology is lowering costs and changing business models for virtually all the world's leading enterprises, and we see no end in sight. Looking at how organizations in Australia and New Zealand are adopting new business models, how they have shifted toward a product-oriented mindset and what that means to the broader sourcing market all suggest optimism for continuing growth."

About the ISG Index™
Now in its 62nd consecutive quarter, the ISG Index™ provides a quarterly review of the latest sourcing industry data and trends for clients, service providers, analysts and the media. For more than 15 years, it has been the authoritative source for marketplace intelligence related to outsourcing transaction structures and terms, industry adoption, geographic prevalence and service provider performance. In 2016, the ISG Index™ was expanded to include coverage of the fast-growing as-as-service market, measuring the significant impact cloud-based services are having on digital business transformation. ISG also provides ongoing analysis of automation and other digital technologies in its quarterly ISG Index™ presentations.

About ISG
ISG (Information Services Group) (Nasdaq: III) is a leading global technology research and advisory firm. A trusted business partner to more than 700 clients, including 75 of the top 100 enterprises in the world, ISG is committed to helping corporations, public sector organizations, and service and technology providers achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm specializes in digital transformation services, including automation, cloud and data analytics; sourcing advisory; managed governance and risk services; network carrier services; technology strategy and operations design; change management; market intelligence and technology research and analysis. Founded in 2006, and based in Stamford, Conn., ISG employs more than 1,300 professionals operating in more than 20 countries -- a global team known for its innovative thinking, market influence, deep industry and technology expertise, and world-class research and analytical capabilities based on the industry's most comprehensive marketplace data. For more information, visit www.isg-one.com.

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