Eric Goodness

I’m currently working to finalize the vendor criteria for the upcoming ‘Communications Outsourcing and Professional Services’ Magic Quadrants (for North America and Worldwide).  The name of these MQs have been changed from ‘Managed and Professional Services’.  We found that many users and vendors  were confused between the scopes of the MPNS and NSP MQs.  Thus COPS (acronym was not intentional) was born.

The challenge to creating MQ criteria is to make the field of vendors relevant to the greatest part of the market.  Generally we work to focus on providers that will openly bid, and service, mid size as well as large Enterprises.  Revenue is usually the most imposing impediment to entry for most providers.  I’d like to also apply a few filters to assure that we represent mid-market requirements and providers as well.

I’m offering the following criteria for your review.  One set is for the NA MQ and one set is for the WW MQ.  I’d love to hear your feedback and/or respond to requests for the rationale for the chosen (draft) criteria:

COPS MQ – North America

• In 2008, service providers recognized at least $200 million dollars in revenue in communications IT services. 
• Service provider competes for, and deliver, standalone COPS opportunities to address a growing need for communications selective sourcing.
• Service providers may not recognize more than 70 percent of COPS revenue from a single vertical market.
• Service providers must be able to demonstrate the ability to provides communications outsourcing services as a sole-source, direct provider (communications outsourcing delivered entirely by partners or subcontractors are excluded).
• Service providers must operate in at least 80 percent of the lower 48 states of the United States; and/or,
• Service providers must operate in 8 of the 10 provinces in Canada.
• Service providers must not recognize 80 percent, or more, of their revenue in a single business process or IT service category as the MQ seeks to exhibit broad value.

COPS MQ – Worldwide

• In 2008, service providers recognized at least $300 million dollars in revenue in communications IT services. 
• Service provider competes for, and deliver, standalone COPS opportunities to address a growing need for communications selective sourcing.
• Service providers may not recognize more than 70 percent of COPS revenue from a single vertical market.
• Service providers must be able to demonstrate the ability to provide communications outsourcing services as a sole-source, direct provider (communications outsourcing delivered entirely by partners or subcontractors are excluded).
• Service providers must operate in at least (4) of the (7) geographies tracked by Gartner.  The geographies are: Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe, Japan, Latin America, Middle East/Africa, North America and Western Europe.
• Service providers must not recognize 70 percent, or more, of their COPS revenue in a single geography as the MQ seeks to exhibit broad value.