Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is a multi-trillion-dollar industry comprised of hardware/infrastructure companies, software/internet companies, IT service providers and telecom operators. According to Booz & Company, the world is rapidly transforming―partially by the companies that make use of digital infrastructure and partially by global consumers. The transformation process has been happening since the arrival of computers 60 years ago. However, in the past few years, it has accelerated, altering everyday life for both consumers and businesses in radical ways. We now live in a society with ubiquitous, handheld devices; pervasive sensing apparatuses; “big data” analytics; digital supply chains; search engines; social networks; satellite-based, geographic tracking; interconnected, real-time, digital infrastructure; and massive server farms. Booz calls this shift “digitization.”

In their research, “The Global ICT 50: The Supply Side of Digitization,” Booz & Company evaluated the 50 largest publicly traded global suppliers of ICT products and solutions. They assessed how well they are doing now and how prepared they are for the changes that lie ahead. They then ranked them according to their enterprise relevance―their potential importance to company value chains in the present and the near future. The aggregate score was derived based on the following:

• Financial performance – Which companies can best sustain the profitability needed to make the investments that will help them win the digitization race?
• Portfolio strength – Which companies possess the best mix of business-to-business products and services, given the demands of digitization?
• Go-to-market footprint – Which companies have established sales and delivery capabilities in the top markets for ICT?
• Growth potential – Which companies have the three factors needed today for expansion in this industry: prowess in innovation, presence in emerging economies and the ability to attract new customers?

Here are the top-10 rankings of the Global ICT 50 by Booz & Company. Microsoft took the top spot followed by Oracle and IBM at #2 and #3 respectively.

At first the rankings raise obvious questions in terms of Apple’s low ranking (despite its massive market clout and capitalization) and exclusion of Google, Amazon and Salesforce.com in the top rankings (Amazon and Salesforce.com did not even make the top 50). According to Booz, the business-to-business emphasis leads to very different assessments from those of the typical technology press. “Apple and Google are both remarkable, extraordinarily capable companies, but their impact on corporate ICT purchasing remains relatively low, no matter how many iPads or search-engine advertisements are sold.” Please refer to the detailed research report for a list of Global ICT 50 companies across hardware, software, IT services and telecom, and how digitization is impacting their business.

Microsoft’s top ranking is a powerful testament to them leading the charge in digitization through their quest for “consumerizing” the technology.

With 44 years in business, Cincom is the world’s most experienced software company with a singular purpose of “Simplification Through Innovation®.” Earlier in the year, Cincom and Microsoft announced a Global Strategic Partnership to serve the needs of complex manufacturing customers worldwide. Among their partner ecosystem of 10,000+ enterprise software companies, Microsoft has chosen only 15 companies to be their Global ISV partner in key industry sectors like Communications, Distribution, Manufacturing, Professional Services, Public, Retail and Utilities. Among those 15 companies, Cincom is currently the only Global ISV partner for the manufacturing industry. The breadth of Microsoft business solutions in conjunction with the depth of Cincom’s complex manufacturing industry know-how/know-why is dream come true for complex manufacturing enterprises.

Cincom and Microsoft together as one force are on a mission to transform complex manufacturing enterprises into dynamic businesses that are at the forefront of digitization.