ESN and ICT continue to grow and step up their commitment to a more responsible digital economy
This new edition takes stock of the vitality and trends of these digital companies in France, and analyzes how they have been able to adapt and develop in an unstable economic and geopolitical context. The best 2023 market initiatives were also honored, with 5 trophies awarded in 5 categories during the ESN and ICT Rendezvous.
–Recruiting, retaining and training talent are the 3 inseparable pillars of their growth;
–ESG criteria and the reduction of their carbon footprint are priorities in building a responsible digital business;
–The development of innovative solutions is more than ever at the heart of their strategy.
Innovation and recruitment to drive ESN and ICT growth in 2022
Despite an uncertain global economic climate, the digital ecosystem appears to have been little affected by the crises. Agile and resilient, most of the industry’s players recorded double-digit growth. This growth was mainly driven by a strategy centered on the development of very high value-added and innovative offerings (80%), the implementation of recruitment plans (74%) and positioning in buoyant sectors (62%) such as financial services, energy and industry. In this regard, 98% of companies are confident or very confident in their 3-year growth objectives, up 3 points on our previous survey.
As for the most dynamic services and solutions in 2022, digital transformation consulting (25%) takes the lead, ahead of cloud (21%) and technology solutions design (16%).
Talent management, the main challenge for ESNs and ICTs
Recruiting, retaining and training talent has never been so strategic to support the growth of ESNs and ICTs and, more generally, to meet the challenges of the digital transformation of the French economy. Against this backdrop, our recruitment targets for 2023 are ambitious.
While 81% of companies are confident in their ability to meet their 3-year recruitment targets, down 8 points year-on-year, they are making substantial investments in training and talent retention: 3.4% of the total payroll will be devoted to training in 2023, and 58% of companies are counting on salary increases to retain their employees. In line with employees “new expectations, 85% of ESN and ICT companies offer two to three days” teleworking per week. As the main loyalty-building criterion, employee remuneration will have risen by an average of 4% by 2022.
Finally, to offset the talent shortage that particularly affects the tech sector, ESNs and ICTs are on the one hand reaching out to young graduates at trade fairs and forums, and on the other, relying more and more on external resources (freelancers, independent contractors, subcontractors, etc.). The latter will represent 11.7% of the workforce in 2022, compared with 10.1% in 2021.
Digital responsibility, a priority for ESN and ICT companies
Aware of their role in reducing the environmental footprint of digital business, ESNs and ICTs are stepping up their commitment to a responsible ecosystem. Some 63% of them have now attached their CSR/ESG function to general management, and 61% have defined a raison d’être, an increase of 7 points over one year.
The top priorities for companies in the sector over the next 3 years to contribute to ESG issues are reducing the environmental footprint of digital (31%), creating jobs and developing new skills (28%), and developing innovative ESG solutions and services (19%).
reduced carbon footprint,
To meet their objective of reducing their carbon footprint, 78% of players have equipped themselves with a tool to measure and manage their actions (+16% compared to 2022).
Over the next three years, digital players have set themselves strong targets for reducing their carbon footprint, with an average reduction of 26% for large companies and 32% for SMEs and VSEs.
Innovation is more than ever at the heart of ESN and ICT strategy
Innovation remains a cornerstone for ESNs and ICTs, who continue to invest massively. As proof, they will have invested an average of 7% of their sales in internal R&D and innovation by 2022, and 13% of their workforce will be dedicated to this full-time, an increase of 8% on the previous study.
These investments in the future concern five priority technological fields and methodologies: cloud (18%), technological solution design (14%), digital transformation consulting (14%), artificial intelligence (14%) and cybersecurity (12%).
While 31% of innovative projects result in a market launch, this dynamism is the result of the mobilization of an entire ecosystem, with 49% of ESNs and ICTs declaring that they call on external players to bring their innovation projects to fruition. These include: suppliers (52%), universities, chairs or higher education establishments and public laboratories (48%), technology institutes, research centers, private laboratories and competitive clusters (43%), start-ups and scale-ups (38%), their customers (24%) and freelancers (24%).
The winners of the ESN & ICT 2023 Awards
- Growth Strategy Trophy awarded to Datasolution
- Inherent wins CSR / ESG award
- Talent Management Trophy awardedto mc2i
- Innovation Trophy awardedto Astek
- Conserto wins “Coup de coeur du public” award
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The year 2022 has not been kind to digital companies, who have been hit hard by geopolitical tensions and the resulting inflation. Nevertheless, the study reveals that most players recorded double-digit growth, driven by a strategy focused on innovation. The talent shortage remains a major challenge, however, at a time when talent is looking for a better balance between flexibility, technology and impact.
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The footprint left by the Covid-19 pandemic continues to be felt in society and the economy. It has given ESNs and ICTs the opportunity to develop innovative solutions that meet new needs and contribute to the challenges of sustainability. Green IT” and “IT for Green”, for example, have emerged, underlining the central role of digital technology in decarbonizing and reducing the environmental footprint of businesses. The year 2023 also marked the arrival on the scene of emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence, a source of opportunities for ESNs and ICTs, both to optimize the internal efficiency of their processes and to bring value to their customers.
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To consult the detailed study report, please refer to the attachment.
Methodology
The study provides an overview of the vitality and trends in France for Digital Services Companies (ESN) and Technology Consulting Engineering (ICT). This panorama has been compiled from data collected by Numeum and KPMG in France during the second quarter of 2023 from a representative sample of nearly 150 ESNs and ICTs of all sizes, established in France, on the basis of a questionnaire available online covering the following themes: growth strategy, talent management, Environmental, Social and Governance initiatives (ESG criteria) and innovation. The data reported, particularly with regard to units, has been corrected in the event of obvious errors.
Responses were analyzed according to company size as defined by regulations:
Large enterprises (GE), Mid-sized enterprises (ETI), Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME),
Very small businesses (VSEs).
