NelsonHall continues to examine the AI activities of major testing service vendors. In the past 18 months, many testing service vendors have expanded their AI capabilities around analytics, making sense of the wealth of data in production logs, defect-related applications, development tools, and in streamed social data. We recently talked with Expleo with regard to its AI-related [...]

  We recently spoke with QA specialist SQS about how its acquisition of Moorhouse Consulting and its own acquisition by Assystem Technologies (AT) are each supporting its management consulting (MC) services ambitions. SQS continues to deploy its MC units across geographies Firstly, Moorhouse Consulting. This U.K.-based company brings in ~140 consultants and £22m in annual r[...]

  In something of a surprise move, Assystem Technologies (AT) recently announced its intention to acquire Germany-headquartered but LSE-listed SQS. AT is offering 825 pence per share, valuing SQS at £281m, and has secured (on an irrevocable basis) 31.4% of the shares of SQS from founders, executive management, and board members. This is a generous offer - 56% over SQS’ shar[...]

We recently talked to Diederik Vos and René Gawron, respectively CEO and CFO of SQS, to reflect on SQS’ financial H1 2016 performance and on strategic initiatives. Service Mix Transformation Impacts Revenue Growth in H1 2016 On the surface, the performance of SQS in H1 2016 was mixed: revenues were up 10.9% y/y but flat at constant currency/perimeter (CC/CP); and an adjusted PBT[...]

NelsonHall recently caught up with the management of SQS to discuss its recent acquisitions and its plans in North America. SQS has this month completed the acquisition of Trissential, a U.S.-based firm operating in the Mid-West, with headquarters in Chicago. The company had 2014 revenues of $32.3m, a PBT of $1.6m, and headcount of 130. Why Trissential? Unlike its two previous acquisitions&n[...]

NelsonHall recently met with SQS top management and discussed key priorities in the short, mid- and long-term. Short-Term: India and Delivery Network A short-term priority remains the integration and development of the former Thinksoft Global Services, now SQS India BFSI. The acquisition of Thinksoft increased SQS’ headcount in India to 1.9k or 54% of the overall global headcount. S[...]

TCS, Infosys and SQS have recently published their calendar Q1 and H1 2014 revenues, and provided financial details on their software testing revenues (see notes below). In calendar H1 2014 (all numbers below are constant perimeter NelsonHall estimates): TCS: revenues were ~+24% to ~$612m (H1 2013: ~+23%) Infosys: ~+21% to ~$395m (H1 2013: ~+15%) SQS: + 9% to €129m (~$174m) (H1 2[...]

SQS recently briefed NelsonHall on its planned acquisition of a majority stake in software testing pure-play Thinksoft Global for €17.5m in cash. What will Thinksoft mean for SQS? More than double its Indian delivery capability: Thinksoft will bring in 800 FTEs and a center in Chennai. SQS currently has a center in Pune with 700 FTEs Retail banking client base: retail banking: acco[...]

SQS management has recently elaborated on its recent H1 2013 performance. Revenues were €108m up 4.9% y/y and up ~5.9% (NelsonHall estimate) organic. Adj. EBIT margin was 4.6% up 50 bps y/y. Activities per Service Line Managed Services (MS) revenues were up 24% to €42m (39% of total SQS revenues). Growth continues, but at a decelerating pace (H1 2011: +247%, H2 2011: +89%; H1 2012:[...]

SQS has recently briefed NelsonHall on its on-demand testing offering announced earlier this month. The company has introduced two pay-per-use offerings around mobile and web applications.  In detail, SQS is offering a mobile application and web site performance testing service based on SOASTA CloudTest. It is also providing functional testing services for mobile applications and web si[...]