Panorama Top 250 software publishers 2024 in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region

In 2023, growth for French software publishers in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region was more measured, reaching 7.2% versus 12.8% in 2022, for total sales of 2.8 billion euros.

A sustainable business model: 2023 highlighted the resilience and viability of software publishers’ business models, with 90% of the regional panel reporting an operating profit.

Artificial intelligence, the future of the sector: the integration of generative AI into the offerings of the region’s software publishers is booming: 35% of respondents have already integrated generative AI into their offerings, and 46% plan to do so within the next two years. 80% of companies have made an AI solution available to their teams.

CSR is gaining ground: CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) has become a priority topic: 72% of regional software publishers have initiated a structured CSR approach (vs. 70% in 2022). These figures clearly illustrate the growing awareness and commitment of software publishers to CSR issues, with 56% of publishers having created positions entirely dedicated to CSR.

External growth, a confirmed lever for development: despite the uncertainties surrounding the macro-economic environment, 67% of publishers in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes plan to carry out an operation in the future, a figure unchanged from last year.

Talent remains a key resource for software publishers in the region: headcount continues to grow (+5% for pure player publishers), a sign of the sector’s good health and dynamism. This growth is set to continue in 2024, with 71% of software publishers planning to increase their workforce.

R&D is an essential driver of growth: in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, more than a third of the total workforce (33%) is devoted to R&D. This commitment is observed irrespective of the size of the software publisher. Software publishers in the region continue to rely heavily on tax incentives to support their research and innovation efforts: 68% of them used the research tax credit (CIR) in 2023.

The International 2024 prize was awarded to Braincube, an artificial intelligence-driven industrial data management software publisher based in Issoire (63), CEO Laurent Laporte.