Atos
Careers at Atos
Mission
Atos’ mission is to develop business technology that powers progress and creates a collaborative and sustainable firm of the future, both for its clients and itself.
Business segments
Atos is a provider of information technology services. The company operates four reportable business segments:
- Managed Services – Provides a comprehensive set of IT outsourcing services for applications, infrastructure, and ongoing user support.
- Consulting & Systems Integration – Manages all elements of solution design and implementation, with a particular focus on interoperability.
- Big Data & Cybersecurity – The Big Data segment maximizes the business advantage gained from digital assets through initiatives such as Business Intelligence, Enterprise Content Management, Data Mining, and Decision Support Systems. The Cybersecurity segment helps clients assess risks, safeguard data and voice communications, protect IT/OT infrastructures, and defend against attacks.
- Worldline – Provides digital services that help clients capitalize on digital ecosystems; specific services include Merchant Services, Mobility and eTransactional Services, and Financial Processing.
History
In 1972 French management systems firm Cegos Informatique merged with Sliga, a data processing company, to form Sligos. In 1973 Sligos was selected by France’s main bank to develop the data processing foundation for Carte Bleue, a system that would enable credit-card like purchases across the nation. By 1980, the completed system was processing 30 million transactions a year.
The next two decades saw several milestones. In the 1980s, the introduction of the microchip enabled the company to develop and unveil electronic “smart” card processing systems. By the early 1990s, it had expanded its presence to the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain through various acquisitions. In the mid-1990s it restructured to focus on core systems integration services.
At that time many European IT companies were combining, forming large firms. In 1997 Sligos merged with French IT services provider Axime to produce a new entity called Atos. In 2000 Atos acquired Dutch firm Origin to form Atos Origin. In the ensuing decade it became the #2 IT services provider in Europe and a major global player. In 2011 it changed its name back to Atos.
Business model of Atos
Customer Segments
Atos has a niche market business model, with a specialized customer segment. The company serves customers in the manufacturing, financial services, telecom & media, and public sector industries.
Value Proposition
Atos offers two primary value propositions: performance and brand/status.
The company has demonstrated strong performance through tangible results for customers. High-profile examples of these outcomes include the following:
- BP used Atos’ services to reduce the overall cost of application management by 7% year-over-year while consistently meeting service targets
- AT&S used Atos’ application management services to change the structure of its Russian delivery center, saving approximately 30% in costs per project
- Cineworld used Atos’ services to make enhancements to its subscription program, enabling it to reduce operational costs and attract thousands of new customers per month
- EDF Energy used Atos to replace its Data Processing System, enabling it to introduce the new ADACS solution that improved performance and is expected to operate for 20+ years
The company has established a strong brand as a result of its success. It generated revenues of €10.7 billion in 2015 and has over 100,000 employees operating in 72 countries. Its Worldline division is the leader of the payments and transactional services sector in Europe. Its clients include 42% of the Global 500 and 20% of the U.S. Fortune 500. Lastly, it has won many honors, including a leading position in the Experton Group/West Trax service provider Vendor Benchmark, ranking as a Top 10 Outsourcing Service Provider by ISG, and recognition as a “Leader” in the Gartner Magic Quadrants for Data Center Outsourcing and Infrastructure Utility Services in Europe (all in 2015).
Channels
Atos’ main channel is its direct sales team. The company promotes its offerings through its website, social media pages, participation in industry conferences, and sponsorship of events such as the Southeast Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games, and the Olympic/Paralympic Games.
Customer Relationships
Atos’ customer relationship is primarily of a personal assistance nature. Customers work in-person with company employees as part of its service engagements.
That said, there is a self-service component. The company’s website includes a number of self-help resources, including white papers, magazines, and newsletters.
Key Activities
Atos’ business model entails designing and developing IT services for its customers.
Key Partners
Atos maintains alliances with firms in the infrastructure, software applications, and consulting fields to strengthen its offerings in these areas. Its specific partners are divided into the following three categories:
- Global Strategic Alliances – Partners are Siemens, Enhanced Alliance, EMC, VMware, VCE, Pivotal, RSA, Virtustream, Xerox, Dell, Cisco, SAP, Microsoft, and Oracle
- Global Strategic Business Partners – Partners are HP, IBM, and Citrix
- Other Business Partners – Partners are RedHat, Hitachi, Pega, InfoStretch, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Typesafe, and Newgen
Key Resources
Atos’ main resources are its human resources, who include over 700 R&D employees that design and develop its services and consulting employees that help clients with implementation. The company also places a high priority on intellectual property, with over 2,000 patents worldwide.
Cost Structure
Atos has a value-driven structure, aiming to provide a premium proposition through significant personal service and frequent service improvements.
Its biggest cost driver is likely cost of service. Other major drivers are in the areas of sales/marketing and R&D, both fixed costs.
Revenue Streams
Atos has one revenue stream – the fees it charges for its various services, which include implementation, consulting, and ongoing support.
