Cloud implementations may be a new thing for most customers, but the large consultancies and integrators such as Accenture and IBM Global Services have been offering cloud-related services for several years. Indeed, when HP acquired EDS and Dell acquired Perot Systems, each was gaining some expertise towards building and implementing cloud infrastructures (and in the case of EDS, deep experience in managing outsourced IT). Oracle, EMC, CA, and NetApp all offer some level of cloud services, as does independent servicer GlassHouse. Consultancies including Deloitte, Cap Gemini, and even McKinsey will advise you on cloud.
But customers’ interest in moving to a cloud IT strategy, and confusion about how best to do it, has spawned a lineup of newer, smaller consultants and integrators whose expertise and IP are focused squarely on IaaS, PaaS and SaaS. While only one could be considered a start-up, most have been in business less than 10 years. Some offer software as well as services.
We wanted to profile six of the newer cloud-oriented consultant/integrators briefly, with plans to spend more time on each of them individually in the future. Each takes a slightly different angle and brings its own IP to this business, although the first three have core businesses around Salesforce.com and front-office processes:
Appirio: Founded in 2006, Appirio is SaaS-focused, with strong partnerships with Google on Google Apps and with Salesforce.com on Salesforce CRM and Force.com. The company announced in March that it was acquiring Salesforce.com consultancy Infowelders to add to its core Salesforce consulting business and give it more presence in the Midwest. Customers have included Avon, Dolby Labs and Japan Post. Appirio is backed by Sequoia Capital and GGV Capital according to Crunchbase.
Astadia: Astadia is also heavily focused on Salesforce and Google, and also counts Eloqua (marketing automation) as a partner. Its services are centered on front-office processes including sales, marketing, and customer service, but it also offers back-office-related services. Customers have included Alltel, Sharp and Caterpillar. The company was founded in 2003.
Bluewolf: Founded in 2000, Bluewolf consults on front-office marketing, sales, and customer care processes, as well as offering implementation services. It can also provide IT staffing. Its partners include Salesforce, Amazon Web Services, Oracle, and Eloqua. Customers have included ADP, Panasonic and JetBlue.
Cloud Technology Partners (cloudTP): Founded in 2010 and officially launched in January, the company was founded by former Cambridge Technology Partner (CTP) principals and takes a vendor-neutral stance. CloudTP evaluates cloud computing vendors and helps customers move to cloud implementations with services including consulting, implementation, and managed services. Its offerings are geared towards customers who are mid-sized and larger. The company expanded its coverage in March by acquiring Global Green Consulting, a sustainability-oriented consultancy. CloudTP reportedly benefited from $1 million in seed-funding from Greylock Partners’ Discovery Fund, John Littlechild of HealthCare Ventures, and three other angel investors, according to the Xconomy.com site.
Cloudscaling: Founded in 2006, Cloudscaling is heavily focused on consulting on cloud and building out IaaS and storage services infrastructure for customers using OpenStack Swift object storage architecture. The company emphasizes the Amazon/Google cloud model of inexpensive/reliable commodity hardware running free and open-source software, combined with “aggressive automation.” Cloudscaling will build public, private, hybrid, mobile and community clouds. Its partners include Citrix, Intel, Rackspace, Nexenta, and cloudTP. Customers have included KT, AWS, GoGrid and Engine Yard.
MomentumSI: The company provides consulting and implementation on cloud computing, development operations (DevOps), BPM and SOA. It offers a “hybrid/private” cloud solution based on technology from newScale, rPath and Eucalyptus Systems and delivered jointly with those firms. Other partners include VMware, ServiceMesh, IBM, Microsoft and Oracle. Customers have included CitiBank, 3M, The Gap and American Airlines. MomentumSI was founded in 1997.
Action Item: This is a quick round-up of some key players in this space, but is by no means comprehensive. As more businesses begin to consider cloud implementations, we expect to see new cloud-related offerings from existing professional services companies as well as new companies entering this market. Pricing, skillsets and IP vary widely. This is a dynamic part of the market and customers should weigh carefully the strengths and weaknesses of various consultancies before they commit to a cloud project.
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