Opportunities ITC digital market facing crisis with AI

ITC digital market (Information Technology Consulting)is undergoing a historic slowdown due to difficult economic conditions and the arrival of generative AI, which is disrupting traditional practices.

According to Numeum's half-yearly report, ITC growth has dropped to +0.7% in 2024 from +4.1% in 2023, while the industrial and banking sectors are cutting back on their IT budgets. This situation calls for a reinvention of strategies to maintain performance while optimizing costs.

A difficult economic context, amplified by the emergence of AI

The PAC-France study points out that the technology industry is facing a “double shock”:

• The global economic crisis: geopolitical tensions, galloping inflation and rising energy costs have led companies to cut back on technology spending.
   
• The acceleration of AI: While AI represents a major opportunity, it also brings with it uncertainties. Companies, still in the adoption phase of these new technologies, are redirecting their investments to adapt quickly.

The result? A significant drop in large-scale IT projects. IT departments are forced to juggle reduced budgets with ever higher expectations, while AI is beginning to disrupt traditional software development models.

A market under pressure: key figures

The Numeum-PAC report for the second half of 2024 reveals some worrying trends:

• Overall growth of the digital market in France: +3.5%, against a national GDP forecast of +1.1%.
   
• ITC growth in 2024: +0.7%, marked by project postponements or cancellations.
   
• Fewer new projects: 45% of NSEs report a reduction in the number of tenders won.
   
• Limited impact of inflation: only 33% of companies have managed to pass on rising costs in their prices.

The pressure on order books is such that 41% of ITCs report a drop in the occupancy rate of their teams. 
At the same time, generative AI, although identified as a major lever, remains under-exploited in projects.

Source: Observatoire de conjoncture Numeum-PAC, S2 2024.

What are the consequences for companies?

This economic situation has far-reaching repercussions:

• Projects delayed or cancelled: The report mentions that nearly 40% of companies surveyed had to slow down or abandon technology projects in 2023.
   
• Talent shortage: As developers become increasingly in demand, the cost of recruiting them continues to rise, especially for profiles with advanced AI skills.
   
• Increased risk of cyber-attacks: Reduced investment in cybersecurity, in favor of other priorities, leaves companies more exposed to cyber-threats.

However, in the face of these obstacles, there are solutions to turn these constraints into opportunities.

What's the right response to the crisis?

In this context of economic complexity, it is becoming imperative for ESNs to maintain their competitiveness by relying on experienced service providers capable of offering innovative, cost-effective solutions. Working with strategic partners enables you to :

• Optimize resources without sacrificing quality, through flexible outsourcing models.
   
• Accelerate delivery times by integrating generative AI solutions such as Copilot assistants.
   
• Strengthen cybersecurity with regular audits to anticipate threats and guarantee data protection.

Esokia : Your strategic partner for sustainable growth

1. AI expertise at the service of ITC

Esokia has integrated AI Copilot into 30% of its development projects, enabling :

• Automation of repetitive tasks.
   
• Reduced human error.
   
• 10% productivity gains for teams.

2. Cybersecurity expertise

In a market where the risk of cyber-attacks is increasing, Esokia offers :

• Comprehensive security audits to identify and correct vulnerabilities.
   
• A proactive approach to ensure regulatory compliance and protect critical infrastructures.

3. A flexible approach tailored to ITC needs

Esokia offers tailor-made packages that enable you to :

• Control costs while benefiting from advanced expertise.
   
• Maintain optimal service continuity through third-party application maintenance (TAM) and facilities management.

Esokia, a key player in digital transformation

By choosing Esokia as a partner, ITC gain access to solutions that :

• Improve productivity through AI innovation.
   
• Strengthen resilience in the face of economic crises.
   
• Meet customers' growing expectations for digital transformation.

Contact us today to find out how Esokia can turn your challenges into opportunities and guarantee your success, even in times of crisis.