Metri Benchmarking Helps Dutch Getronics PinkRoccade Win Multimillion Euro Client Contract
LONDON and AMSTERDAM, 25 June, 2007

Metri Measurement Consulting today announced the results of the first phase of a major benchmarking project for the Application Services division of Getronics PinkRoccade's Netherlands-based operation. Having completed work on the Microsoft, SAP and Java environments, Metri has now commenced Phase Two of the project to benchmark quality, cost and performance levels in the legacy Cobol and Oracle services.

Getronics PinkRoccade is the largest IT service provider in The Netherlands and to maintain this position, it regularly conducts quality and performance monitoring. The Metri project came about as part of a specific initiative to benchmark the results of a major system rationalisation and transformational change programme within the Application Services division, resulting from a recent wave of M&A activity at Getronics PinkRoccade. The company used the opportunity to target a 25% productivity gain and a 99%+ ‘On-Time’ delivery rate across the division.

Says Alain Le Loux, Senior Director for Application Services and Projects at Getronics PinkRoccade: “In addition to measuring the quality and performance levels of our services resulting from the change programme, we wanted to see where we stood in the marketplace and compare costs against the competition. As part of this exercise, we needed to be able to analyse and compare our cost structures for such things as offshore software development."

Getronics PinkRoccade chose Metri for the benchmarking project because, as Le Loux explains: “Metri impressed us with its access to up-to-date, ‘real-world’ market data – not the theoretical, 20-year old statistics being offered by some of the other consultants. We also appreciated the fact that Metri had the capacity to measure a wider range of factors and provide comparative metrics on such things as service quality levels as well as cost and productivity."

Phase One results revealed that Getronics PinkRoccade’s Microsoft department was best-in-class while SAP achieved high quality ratings but indicated room for productivity improvements. Set against the competition, service quality was uniformly in front, but pricing came out a little higher in a few areas. In most cases this was because Getronics PinkRoccade offered a more comprehensive specification than others.

Le Loux is so enthusiastic about Metri that he is encouraging all Application Services clients to benchmark their internal IT platforms. “Not only does benchmarking show them where they can find inhouse improvements, it helps us because clients get a better insight into how we support them. If they understand, for example, how their system complexities are adding to servicing costs, clients have the option to make changes."

Says Paul Michaels, Director of Consulting at Metri’s UK-based office: “We at Metri are pleased with this opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to one of the world’s top IT service providers. The study highlights the fact that in today’s increasingly aggressive business environment, access to accurate and timely market data can deliver a powerful competitive edge and be a significant asset in the bidding process."