A comprehensive analysis of the applications environment—including custom and ERP—in light of two emerging realities facing companies today: the business world is increasingly high-velocity and is software-driven.

1. Three Strategies for the High-velocity,
Software-driven Business
The Future of Applications

2. 2Copyright © 2015 Accenture All rights reserved.
When long-term competitive advantage
depends on software, being a ‘fast follower’ may
not be fast enough anymore. Software
strategies are quickly becoming business
strategies. The business of applications needs a
dynamic and high-impact makeover using new
strategies that will help companies not just
sustain a business advantage, but to gain
ground on the competition.
Bhaskar Ghosh
Group Chief Executive
Accenture Technology Delivery
#APPLICATIONSTRAT

3. The velocity and volume of technology change
is outpacing the business of applications
3Copyright © 2015 Accenture All rights reserved.
Social
Mobility
Analytics
Big Data
Cybersecurity
Open Source
PaaS
Crowdsourcing
Wearables
Internet
of Things
Cloud
#APPLICATIONSTRAT

4. Your industry – and next competitive frontier
– is being redefined by software
Software is now a key driver of differentiation and innovation. Auto makers,
for example, use their connected car ecosystems to innovate with new partners.
4Copyright © 2015 Accenture All rights reserved.
SOFTWARE
STRATEGY
INDUSTRY
EXPERTISE
COMPETITIVE
ADVANTAGE
#APPLICATIONSTRAT

5. Challenge: Are you ready for the high-velocity,
software-driven world?
5Copyright © 2015 Accenture All rights reserved.
640,000
67% of IT budgets go to run the business
Source: Figure 11, “IT Key Metrics Data 2014: Key Industry Measures: Cross
Industry Analysis – Multiyear,” Gartner, December 16, 2013
BUSINESS CHALLENGES
70% of business transactions are
still processed
in COBOL
Source: InformationWeek
50 billion “things” will be
connected to the internet by
2020
Source: Cisco
Partners in Microsoft’s
ecosystem
Source: Microsoft
Partner Network Guide
70%67%
IT CHALLENGES
• Siloed business and IT functions
hinder agility
• Expanding business ecosystems
and the Internet of Things
• Weight of legacy
• Rising application complexity
#APPLICATIONSTRAT

6. Solution: Three new application strategies
Master increased volume and velocity and shape your future with:
LIQUID
APPLICATIONS
INTELLIGENT
APPLICATIONS
CONNECTED
APPLICATIONS
Copyright © 2015 Accenture All rights reserved. 6
#APPLICATIONSTRAT

7. Liquid Applications
A fundamentally new way to build software
7Copyright © 2015 Accenture All rights reserved.
Accelerate it to the pace of business
Monolithic
Large, on-premise systems
Built from the ground up
Modular
Smaller, cloud-based systems
Assembled from reusable
components
#APPLICATIONSTRAT

8. Intelligent Applications
When applications comprehend, act and learn
Turn runaway complexity into high-performance outcomes
Copyright © 2015 Accenture All rights reserved. 8
Self-governance
Intelligent automation
Integrated analytics
INTELLIGENT
APPLICATIONS
#APPLICATIONSTRAT

9. Connected Applications
Extending company boundaries through software
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WHAT?
Connected applications
provide companies with the
technical means to interface
with business partner and
customer ecosystems, and
with the Internet of Things.
HOW?
Rewire for the borderless
business by introducing new
ecosystem strategies,
designing applications for
resiliency, and integrating
information and operational
technologies.
WHY?
To grow revenue and defend
their market position,
companies must open new
dimensions of application
connectivity – creating new
competitive frontiers with
software.
APPLICATION
STRATEGY
BUSINESS
STRATEGY
Internet of Things
Business partner and
customer ecosystems
Open new dimensions of
application connectivity
#APPLICATIONSTRAT

10. A new operating model for the
high-velocity, software-driven business
10Copyright © 2015 Accenture All rights reserved.
#APPLICATIONSTRAT

11. In the digital world, software doesn’t merely
support the business, but rather IS the
business. Most companies’ existing operating
model for software development is not fit for
purpose in this business environment.
Innovation must be driven jointly by business
and IT, and the operating model must
embrace new technology stakeholders
– from R&D to Marketing to Operations.
Paul Daugherty @pauldaugh
Chief Technology Officer
Copyright © 2015 Accenture All rights reserved. 11
#APPLICATIONSTRAT

12. Increase business agility and industry differentiation
A NEW OPERATING MODEL
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THREE NEW STRATEGIES
Liquid applications
…transforming frozen legacy
Connected applications
…integrating with business partner
ecosystems and the Internet of
Things
Intelligent applications
…reducing complexity and
empowering discovery
…eliminating business and IT silos
#APPLICATIONSTRAT

13. Are you ready to position for growth
with applications?
13Copyright © 2015 Accenture All rights reserved.
• How will software disrupt your industry?
• Are your applications ready for the
velocity and volume of business today?
• Are you leveraging advances in analytics
and software intelligence to cope with
rising complexity?
• How can you maximize business partner
and customer ecosystems as well as the
Internet of Things to enter and succeed
in new markets?
• Do you have the right technology know-
how and planning processes in place to
drive business strategy with software?
#APPLICATIONSTRAT

14. Get the article
www.accenture.com/applicationstrategies
Join the conversation
#ApplicationStrat
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#APPLICATIONSTRAT