NATIONAL SURVEY
(up 55%) recently in However, the situation is not without its problems. As with most southern
terms of acquisitions. European countries, there is a poor birth-rate meaning a shortage of young
Regent’s study makes people; not the ideal situation for an ambitious country keen to strengthen its
clear that while the position in Europe. Luis A. Pérez Castilla (left), Business Development Corporate
combined value of Manager at Atos Origin Spain, admits there is a problem: “We have increased
the acquisitions across our business in general in terms of the Spanish market with a number of
Europe as a whole people from business schools and universities to support business growth.
has fallen dramatically Sometimes we have to say we cannot do a project because we do not have
to $45bn (€28.8bn), the people. If there are more people we will grow faster.”
to almost half of Castilla does see a solution however, which he has already started working
the $86bn (€55.1bn) on. “We have to try to force our government to make it much easier to those
recorded in the coming from South America to Spain. Argentina, Brazil and Mexico can work
previous quarter, Spain in Spain to a high standard but they don’t have an easy way to come here in
has seen an increase. This would seem to indicate that whilst recessionary
fears and the shortage of suitable credit has had minimal effect on the smaller
“We have to try to force our government to make
deals, it is clearly impacting larger transactions – those valued at more than
it easier for those coming from South America to
$100m (€64m), of which Spain has fewer.
Spain......”

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) also showed steady growth in Spanish
Luis A. Pérez Castilla, Atos Origin
enterprise IT, in a study showing overall e-performance of the 70 countries.
In this year’s rankings (see back page) the average rose to 6.39 (on a 1-10 scale), terms of papers. They would not be too expensive as their salaries would be
up from 6.24 in 2007. While countries like Denmark, Switzerland and Finland much lower.”
dropped places in the survey, Spain, whilst remaining in the same position, Overall though, Perez believes the Spanish ICT sector is in a healthy
increased their e-performance from 7.29 to 7.46 to narrow the gap with condition. Atos Origin - which according to IT Europa figures, has grown
similarly-scored Italy and Israel. between 1.5% to 2.5% above the national ICT average - is aware that most
Denis McCauley, Director of Global Technology Research at EIU, tells us enterprise companies are less dependent on the Spanish market than ever.
that various technological improvements have helped Spain increase its rating. “Global companies are in good shape. They have today more investment
“The slight decline in ranks of some of the Nordic countries is mainly a result and more revenue in other countries than in Spain. If they were only in one
of their failure to sustain, in selected areas, the fast pace of development they country that might be a problem. Spain is now a mature market. We must
had previously established. Spain’s progress, meanwhile, is mainly down to make sure we go out and increase our business and revenues. It is a huge
improved connectivity (particularly when it comes to WiFi hotspots), better opportunity for our customers to invest.”
Internet security, as well as improvements in the area of innovation, which
OUR ANALYSIS
takes into account patents, trademarks and R&D spending.”
Networking solutions provider Brocade is also pleased with the current Spain can certainly be regarded as a land of opportunity from an IT
situation in Spain. In 2007, it produced a run rate product growth of 28% perspective. With a sizeable population, a well-educated population,
within the country. “Our Spanish partners are particularly strong in the high- lower wages than in the UK and Germany, and a very strong financial
end VAR sector. A lot of the larger enterprise customers are entrusting the and telecommunications industry, there is certainly a lot on offer. If the
partners in Spain to be their major outsourcing partners”, says Barbara Spicek, immediate crisis can pass without too much problem on the IT front, and
Brocade’s EMEA Sales Partner Director. there are those who think it can, then Spain can continue its exciting rise.
02 MAY 2008 21
It0808 - 18-21_Spain_Ent.indd 21 2008-04-30 11:54
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