Business have a positive outlook in deploying and operating business application services based around Oracle products, said information and communication technology (ICT)-based business offerings provider Fujitsu.
The Tokyo-based company conducted the third annual joint economy survey with UK Oracle User Group. The study found that there are distinct changes in attitude towards Software as a Service (SaaS), in contradiction to the anticipated negative effects of the recession on Oracle user organisations across the UK and Ireland.
The survey was conducted during June and July 2011, to find out the impact that changes in the economic situation are having on strategies for deploying and operating business application services based around Oracle products.
Fujitsu said it received 155 responses, 15% more than in 2010. Responses were split two-thirds private sector to one-third public sector.
The findings reveal that despite increased economic pressures, a number of results are close to those of last year. Around 60% of respondents surveyed reported no change in budget, while around 20% reported an increase.
Fujitsu also said that attitudes towards SaaS have changed significantly in the past year, with a decrease of 8% in those indicating that SaaS would not help their business, and a decrease in those happy without it. Within the past year the percentage of respondents using SaaS has doubled to 19%, while the number expecting to implement in the next year has increased from 9% to 13%. Acceptance of SaaS has increased since 2010, with the proportion of positive opinion in the Public sector increasing in 2011 to equal that of the private sector.
Offshoring is still a polarised topic. But objectors have decreased by 10% and offshoring usage has increased by up to 10% over the last year. Public sector attitudes to offshoring remain more negative than those expressed by the private sector, said Fujitsu.
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Fujitsu UK and Ireland John Lacey said the survey demonstrates that organisations continue to value their Oracle investment, with budgets relatively unaffected in value.
"The licensing situation is being taken seriously, and polarisation on more radical approaches such as SaaS and to a smaller extent offshoring is decreasing. Hardware strategy understanding is high but understanding on SOA has stalled. Awareness of Fusion’s business impact is a cause for concern given its maturity as a strategy; Oracle and its partners need to try harder to communicate the benefits to the Oracle customer base," Lacey added.
UK Oracle User Group president Debra Lilley said the level of response and interest has exceeded the previous year yet again, and has resulted in useful information for both UKOUG members and the wider IT community.
Lilley said, "This is the third time Fujitsu has conducted this survey with UKOUG and it remains an extremely valuable tool for UKOUG in planning content and services, and a great way for our members to understand their peers and the pressures on them."
