Paris, September 12, 2024 – Sopra Steria Next, the management consulting and digital transformation division of Sopra Steria Group, a major player in the European tech sector, is launching in Italy. In a context where generative AI is expected to reach a $100 billion market by 2028, Sopra Steria Next positions itself as a key player to guide Italian companies through their digital transition. This strategic expansion coincides with the release of an Ipsos study about the way Italians perceive and relate to digital transformation.
Sopra Steria Next's Arrival in Italy: a Strategic Milestone
The establishment of Sopra Steria Next in Italy marks a crucial step for Sopra Steria Next and the Sopra Steria Group. This evolution transforms an existing consulting team into a full-fledged presence of the Sopra Steria Next label, boasting over 100 talented consultants. This expansion significantly strengthens the group's European expertise, particularly in the retail, financial services, and public services.
With a team of more than 4,000 consultants spread across 30 offices in Europe, this deployment brings the full power of Sopra Steria Next's tools, methodologies, and collective expertise to Italian clients. The company is now fully equipped to support its clients' success in the Italian market, whether in scaling up their projects or driving their digital transformation.
Under the leadership of Mauro Palmarini, previously Head of Consulting in Italy and now appointed Director of Sopra Steria Next Italy, the company is ready to tackle tomorrow's challenges and contribute to its clients' success in this dynamic market.
Stefania Pompili, CEO of Sopra Steria Italy, comments: “With the launch of Sopra Steria Next in Italy, we are reinforcing our commitment to sustainable and people-centric digital transformation. Implementing new technologies is not enough: we do it in an ethical and inclusive way. By leveraging our business process expertise and combining skills with technology, we use advanced tools like artificial intelligence and data analytics to optimize processes, enhance customer experience, and align stakeholders”, stated Stefania Pompili, CEO of Sopra Steria Italy.
Mauro Palmarini, Director of Sopra Steria Next Italy, adds: “For Italian companies, digitalisation is not just a technological necessity but a strategic factor to enhance efficiency, accessibility, and competitiveness. Sopra Steria Next provides innovative and tailored solutions to help businesses navigate the evolving market complexities, supporting them throughout their digital transformation journey”.
Fabrice Asvazadourian, CEO of Sopra Steria Next, comments: “The launch of Sopra Steria Next in Italy represents a pivotal moment in our European growth strategy. We are evolving from a strong consulting team to a full-fledged presence under the Sopra Steria Next label. Under the leadership of Mauro Palmarini as Director of Sopra Steria Next Italy, we are confident in our ability to address the challenges of tomorrow and contribute meaningfully to our clients' success in this dynamic market."
The launch of Sopra Steria Next in Italy marks a significant milestone in the company's European expansion strategy. This deployment represents the third country to embrace the Sopra Steria Next brand, following its successful introduction In France, Germany and Spain in 2019, and the United Kingdom in early 2024. This strategic move underscores the company's commitment to strengthening its presence across Europe and delivering high-value consulting services to a broader client base. The expansion is set to continue, with plans to roll out the Sopra Steria Next label in additional countries where consulting teams are already established.
Perceptions and Expectations of Italians regarding Digital Transformation
Artificial intelligence is emerging as a key factor in numerous sectors, from retail to finance to industry, with forecasts indicating a generative AI market growing to $100bn by 2028 (source: Sopra Steria Next research | Generative AI - A $100bn market by 2028). Precisely in this context, Sopra Steria Italy and Sopra Steria Next Italy asked IPSOS to analyse the perceptions and expectations of Italians regarding digital transformation, highlighting needs, fears and opportunities related to innovation.
Nando Pagnoncelli, President of Ipsos Italia, states: "Digital transformation, like any process of change, elicits mixed reactions from the population. On one hand, there is great enthusiasm, curiosity, and positive expectations for an overall improvement in quality of life. On the other, anxieties and fears emerge, mainly related to data security, privacy, and the complexity of using new technologies. Therefore, to alleviate these concerns, it is crucial that this phase is managed with maximum transparency and accompanied by a strong education and training program. This will improve citizens' digital skills, reassuring them and making them more capable of facing challenges and seizing the opportunities offered by digitalization”
The study involved 1,200 respondents representative of the Italian population, aged between 18 and 75, and examined three key areas: Public Administration, Financial Sector and E-commerce.
The research reveals the importance of digitization, recognized by the majority of Italians, but at the same time there are significant concerns, particularly regarding security in data sharing and the usability of new technologies. According to the study, in fact, 38% of respondents identify accessibility as one of the best advantages of using artificial intelligence, while 30% fear the misuse of AI for fraudulent or malicious activities and 27% a possible reduction in jobs.
The digitalisation of Public Administration is one of the most significant strategic goals for the Italian government and public institutions. Italians expect substantial improvements in service speed and optimization (69%), objectives that can be achieved through the integration of AI.
In the financial field, on the other hand, AI is seen as an opportunity to improve the quality (60%) and personalisation (58%) of services; however, 55% of respondents perceive an increased risk of fraud.
Even in online sales, an increasingly popular shopping channel, around two out of three Italians have made at least one online purchase in the last 12 months. Despite concerns about sharing personal data (43%), more than half of users (55%) would welcome the use of avatars, and 67% would be open to personalized suggestions.
The study by IPSOS for Sopra Steria Next offers a clear overview of Italians' expectations and anxieties regarding digitalisation. In an ever-changing context, it is necessary to promote a constructive dialogue between institutions, companies and citizens to ensure a safe and inclusive digital transition, capable of responding to the real needs of society and businesses.