It looks like Christmas has not interrupted the wave of consolidation taking place in the revenue assurance industry. Rumours about niche UK vendor Cartesian being targeted have been shown to be true. The hot news is that management consultancy TMNG have bought out the outstanding shares in a deal currently worth US$7.3m but which may net Cartesian’s current owners another US$7.8m if they meet revenue and earnings targets over the next 4 years. However, you have to assume the growth targets will be pretty challenging given that Cartesian’s revenue for the year ending November was US$12.5m.
Doubtless TMNG, headquartered in Kansas, will spend 2007 trying to broaden sales to Cartesian’s existing European client list, as well as aiming to sell Cartesian’s software to customers of TMNG’s consulting services. And it may not be too miserable a Christmas for Cartesian’s London-based staff, who are said not to be facing job cuts, despite the international trend towards relocating software development and similar jobs to lower-cost countries. See here for the official press release on TMNG’s site, containing the usual quotes from the top men in TMNG and Cartesian. Interestingly, there is no news yet of the purchase on Cartesian’s recently revamped website, but they can be forgiven for not having anyone in over Christmas.
One question to ponder is where this leaves Cartesian’s revenue assurance “thought leadership” program. Presumably they will have to be wary of being inconsistent with the advice that TMNG already gives customers. It also raises the prospect of a geographical expansion of the predominantly UK-based service providers in Cartesian’s Revenue Assurance Group. Its current face-to-face meeting format makes it easy to get involvement from people wanting to enjoy a free lunch and several drinks at Cartesian’s expense, but puts a severe limit on its aspirations. One outcome may be that the format is altered to include TMNG’s US and overseas clients. (Possibly not – but these are supposed to be people working in the electronic communications industry so shame on them if they do not try). I have a topic of discussion that would get everyone involved. Their first debate can be about the assumption stated in this article that the Europeans are ahead of the US in their adoption of revenue assurance ;)
