IT Helps Win Business for Engineering/Procurement/Contracting Firms

Survey finds 60% believe their choice of IT solutions helps them to win work and some suppliers' strategies do not look far enough into the future

27 June 2005 - New research from AVEVA has found that 60% of engineering IT customers in the process, power and marine sectors believe that their choice of engineering IT solutions directly influences their ability to win new projects. However, the research findings also show that many do not believe their current IT engineering strategy allows them to plan adequately for the future.

The research, which questioned more than 200 senior engineering staff, found that 64% of respondents believe that their company�s current IT engineering strategy allows them to plan only two years in advance, whereas they believe that figure should be closer to five years. A further 32% said that IT should allow them to plan by 10 years or more.

Richard Longdon, chief executive of AVEVA UK, said: �AVEVA has always encouraged companies to optimise the influence of their IT capability. We have maintained an open philosophy that has embraced and protected their valuable information regardless of what platform it was created on. Taking PDMS as an example of our own solutions, it has been through every change the IT revolution has thrown at it since the 1970s, is the most up to date system available, yet it remains compatible with its earliest versions. This survey confirms that our customers want consistency and a reliable future instead of short-term advantages that chain them to the changing whims of the IT systems industry."

The survey also revealed that the long term goals of some companies are not being being realised by their existing IT strategy, indeed 32% of respondents felt that their solution provider did not understand the needs of their organisation.

Longdon concluded: �It is particularly important that the solution suppliers and their customers work together. This is why AVEVA develops in partnership with its customers. I believe in three customer values: trust in your supplier to look after your investment in skills, data and solutions; have the freedom to engineer and explore the future the way your business demands; and enjoy the most excellent solutions, delivered on time, and knowing they will stand the test of time. That's what I believe engineers should expect. After all, we're here because they're here - not the other way around.�

About AVEVA

AVEVA Group plc ( is one of the world�s foremost and fastest-growing lifecycle engineering IT solutions and services providers to the oil and gas, paper and pulp, power, chemical, pharmaceutical and shipbuilding industries. The Group reported, for the year ended March 2005, a growth in turnover of 51% over 2004. Serving over 1100 clients, AVEVA has a dominant position in many market sectors both on and offshore. In May 2004, the Group acquired Tribon Solutions AB, the market-leading shipbuilding solution company and now serves 80% of the world's top 20 shipbuilders. 

www.aveva.com