Join us as we talk about how the software economy and the businesses that power it have evolved, the disruption that the pandemic and macroeconomic environment are causing in the industry, and how decision-makers can proactively manage and leverage this disruption to move their long-term growth strategy forward. For the industry, flexibility is one of the key watchwords, especially as workers demand more flexibility in when and where they work. Companies need to think differently about how that flexibility affects not just the way they develop products, but their entire operating model. Leaders also need to think very intentionally about how they impart the organization’s culture to new joiners in the workforce. If you don’t get the culture right, you won’t be able to do anything else right. The elements of flexibility and culture are also essential when considering potential mergers and acquisitions (M&A). How the target is adapting to a new operating environment is a key indicator of how well it might fit in and help advance an organization’s long-term strategy. Hear insights from Allie Earle O’Rourke, EY-Parthenon Principal, Software Strategy Group Keith MacKay, EY-Parthenon Managing Director, Software Strategy Group Along with our EY Tech Connect moderators Andrew Young, EY Global TMT Analyst Christina Winquist, EY Global TMT Go-to-Market Strategy Leader Key takeaways include Companies should maintain pandemic lessons on how to pivot and adapt. They need to choose the right operating model for their organization to adapt to macroeconomic headwinds. Flexibility is essential, but strategies are needed for maintaining the organization’s culture. Parameters can be set around remote work to provide flexibility along with accountability. There are different R&D strategies and collaboration tools that companies can adopt. Examining strategies and tools chosen by a target should be part of due diligence.

Join us as we take a closer look at a few of the most intriguing topics from the EY article Top 10 opportunities for technology companies in 2023. The episode begins with an exchange on the importance of technology in today’s business landscape and views on the current and future market for mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The hosts discuss how companies are focused on the profitability of their core business and how an agile mindset is needed to deal with the current challenges with Talent and workplace models. They then delve into the impact of supply chain challenges. Followed by dialogue on the perpetually increasing significance of sustainability for tech companies. The hosts expand on how companies are transforming their business models to meet customer needs and improve revenues. Then they dive into topics that include cloud computing, cybersecurity measures, data analytics and automation. They expand on each of these and their potential impact on business operations. The hosts stress the need for the ongoing evaluation and updating of technology to stay ahead of the curve and remain competitive. Hear insights from: Ken Englund, EY Americas TMT Industry Markets Leader Tracy Watt, EY Global TMT Sector Strategy, Operations and Solutions Leader Olivier Wolf, EY-Parthenon Global TMT Sector Leader The hosts believe the tech sector is fundamentally strong and will overcome adverse conditions as a driver of economic growth, even though they expect the volatility levels to remain high on most fronts. Click here to review the EY rankings of the significant opportunities for technology companies in 2023: Top 10 opportunities for technology companies in 2023.

Join us as we discuss how tech companies need an agile operating model to thrive and accelerate growth in this constantly changing business environment. Developing an agile operational structure; reimagining the workplace; redefining global compliance policies; and embracing environmental, social and governance (ESG) needs are all key principles in the drive to a future-fit operating model. This focus has a massive impact on the organization and workforce, specifically in tech organizations. In this episode, we explore the importance of organizational resiliency and the need for companies to identify vulnerabilities, including those related to talent, and really be purposeful in how they go about reshaping their operating models and workforce to mitigate those vulnerabilities. We review the need for tech companies to be more agile, including through a staffing approach that first leverages new talent-sourcing technologies and capabilities and second relies on skills and competencies rather than just roles or departments. Over the past few years, the changes and challenges of the workforce have intensified the need for companies to navigate generational shifts and focus on employee well-being to differentiate themselves as a great place to work. Finally, in terms of operational models, it’s clear that transformation requires constant change, and for the talent agenda, that includes new forms of collaboration and building a winning culture. A workforce that has humans at the center can position companies for success. Hear insights from: Juliette Meunier, EY Americas TMT People Advisory Services Leader Susan Robinson, EY Global TMT People Advisory Services and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Leader Along with our EY Tech Connect moderators: Andrew Young, EY Global TMT Analyst Christina Winquist, EY Global TMT Go-to-Market Strategy Leader To gain deeper insights into the growing risks and challenges that technology companies must overcome while operating in a truly global environment, EY teams conducted a research survey of more than 750 technology company executives around the world, taking a representative view of companies by scale, geography and the technology subsector in which they sit. Explore the results: https://www.ey.com/en_gl/technology-sector/how-do-you-stay-on-course-when-the-direction-keeps-changing. To learn more about the EY Humans at the Center Study, please visit: https://www.ey.com/en_us/workforce/humans-at-the-center. For your convenience, a full-text transcript of this podcast is also available. Read the transcript.

Join us as we talk about how to improve the customer experience within the gaming industry at the center of the metaverse. We discuss how gaming organizations are preparing themselves for an asset-driven metaverse, including the challenges and potential regulatory concerns. We’ll also hear how gaming businesses can operate, be profitable and collaborate with each other in the same space and same digital economy. For gaming organizations to collaborate, assets must be exchanged. A digital economy is vital to the next generation of the gaming industry and to create unique customer experiences.   Hear insights from: Adrian Ang, Senior Director, Strategy at EY-Parthenon Scott Porter, EY Americas Media & Entertainment Consulting Services Leader Matthew Reynolds, Research Manager at Oxford Economics and an expert in IT and analytics Molly Tucker McCue, East Region Audit Leader and Global Client Service Partner, Ernst & Young LLP   Along with our EY Tech Connect moderators: Adrian Baschnonga, EY Global TMT Lead Analyst Christina Winquist, EY Global TMT Go-to-Market Strategy Leader   Ernst & Young LLP recently surveyed a group of executives from leading gaming companies to gain their insights about the impact of and outlook for the metaverse. Explore the results: What’s possible for the gaming industry in the next dimension?

Join us as we talk about asset-right strategies for telcos, considering how they can maximize the value of their assets and the key considerations when reviewing levels of infrastructure ownership. We start by exploring why an asset-right strategy is essential. What’s the rationale behind it, and why do telcos need to take action now? Many telcos own a range of assets across fixed and mobile infrastructure, and there is also a broader Information and Computer Technology (ICT) ecosystem to consider. We review how geography and the market affect which domains are key as telcos move toward becoming asset-right. For many telcos, becoming “asset-right” is a phased and continuous journey that will evolve over a period of years. We review what telcos need to consider for their asset-right strategies to be fit for the future. Hear insights from: Isabel De Dios Gonzalez, Partner, Technology, Media and Entertainment, and Telecommunications (TMT) Transactions and Corporate Finance, Ernst & Young SL Michael Misrahi, Partner at EY Parthenon, Ernst & Young LLP Along with our EY Tech Connect moderator: Adrian Baschnonga, EY Global Lead Analyst for Telecommunictions For a transcript of this episode please visit: http://www.ey.com/eytechconnect

Join us as we discuss capital operations and the imperatives for TMT companies as they continue to recover from the pandemic. Never has capital investment been more significant, and a robust approach to capital planning and deployment can translate into a significant competitive advantage. A recent EY survey of global TMT executives revealed that 87% of respondents said the success of their recovery depends on maintaining certain levels of capital investment. But, perhaps surprisingly, 70% of those TMT leaders said they struggle to demonstrate the value of their capital investments. We hear from EY TMT leaders Loren Garruto and Daniel Theander as they discuss why TMT companies often struggle to hit their capital investment objectives and what approaches they can take to overcome this. Insights from: Daniel Theander, EY US-Central Region Technology, Media & Entertainment and Telecommunications (TMT) Consulting Leader, Ernst & Young LLP Loren Garruto, EY Global and Americas Corporate Finance Leader Along with our EY Tech Connect moderators: Adrian Baschnonga, EY Global Lead Analyst for Telecommunications Christina Winquist, EY TMT go-to-market strategy lead For a transcript of this episode please visit: http://www.ey.com/eytechconnect

In this episode, we discuss how consumer behavior has changed regarding content consumption and access. The rise in streaming bolstered by the COVID-19 pandemic has media companies following the customer by launching new streaming services. Media companies are watching customers cut the cord and lean toward digital; they realize that streaming solutions can give them a competitive edge. However, the cost of keeping content relevant, marketing to make customers aware of services, and the heavy technology investment required for streaming platforms may mean we see some future consolidation in the market, whether that is through partnering and joint ventures or acquisitions. We also touch on the overlap with adjacent channels such as e-gaming, e-sports and the metaverse to understand how media companies can scale and expand their revenue models. There is momentum behind the convergence of all these worlds as companies continue to innovate and create other channels of engagement with their end users. Join us for insights from: Irene Pipola, EY Italy Leader for Technology, Media and Entertainment, and Telecommunications John Harrison, EY Americas Media and Entertainment Leader Along with our EY Tech Connect Moderators: Christina Winquist, EY TMT go-to-market strategy lead Martyn I. Whistler, EY Client Executive – Media & Entertainment For a transcript of this episode please visit: http://www.ey.com/eytechconnect

On this episode of EY Tech Connect, members of the EY Strategy and Transactions team, experts on capital allocation, explore the successes and pain points tech companies are experiencing and what needs to change. We’ve seen the tech sector hit near record highs as tech companies increase their value chain exposure, drive disruption and transformation across sectors; on the surface, everything looks great. But are there hidden challenges that some of the recent successes may be obscuring? The EY Team explains why now is the time for Tech Companies to pause, reflect and strategize differently. Capital allocations is a broad topic; when we talk about capital allocations, our focus is on assessing, planning, reviewing, and prioritizing the uses of financial resources across an organization. Some categories we explore are; debt repayment, dividends, capital investment, sales and marketing expenditures, share repurchases, acquisitions, and R&D. EY finds that it’s imperative to develop a framework that consistently evaluates these investment decisions and monitor the progress on the basis that really allows executives to prioritize the many choices and demands on their capital. Join Barak Ravid, EY Global TMT leader for Strategy and Transactions, Ryan Citro, EY Partner, Erika Maymon, and Akhilesh Kulkarni from the EY Strategy and Transactions team to discuss capital allocations and the actions Tech companies should be taking now. Hosted by our EY Tech Connect Moderators, Adrian Baschnonga, Lead Analyst for Telecommunications and Christina Winquist, TMT go-to-market strategy lead. Key Takeaways include: For additional information: EY.com/techcapitalallocation. What do high-performing tech companies need to consider when thinking about their capital allocation decisions? Have a rigorous, well-defined process that includes governance. Review the company's long and short-term objectives, risk appetite, and return requirements. Have a live tool to continuously enter new data and adjust assumptions to stay responsive and agile. Aligned data to your business drivers and KPIs to allow ongoing tracking and performance monitoring. The process should ultimately be applied in a consistent manner through the company to ensure it remains sustainable with data you can interpret across the organization.

The past year has transformed nearly every aspect of our world, how we used connectivity and content were crucial. Customer’s relationship with their internet service providers have been super-charged as dramatic shifts caused internet service to become essential for working, educating, and playing at home. For Telco internet providers, perhaps no COVID-19 business phenomenon will have a more lasting impact on the interaction between customers and their service providers. EY Decoding the Digital Home consumer survey has helped us uncover some of these changing household attitudes and we’ll be drawing on some of the outputs of this research as part of today’s conversation. Join us for insights from: Ioannis Melas, Ernst & Young Partner and UK&I Customer & Growth Solutions Leader for the Technology, Media, and Entertainment, and Telecommunications sector Pippa Dussuyer, Ernst & Young Partner, Technology, Media, and Entertainment, and Telecommunications sector focused on digital and customer-centric transformations Along with our EY Tech Connect Moderators, Adrian Baschnoga, Lead Analyst for Telecommunications and Christina Winquist, TMT go-to-market strategy lead For a transcript of this episode please visit: http://www.ey.com/eytechconnect

We are talking about the future of connectivity and we are going to zero into one crucial topic as part of that, it consists of one number and one letter, that’s right, it’s time to talk about 5G. For the last twenty-two months, the pandemic has caused many to stay at home, connectivity is the lifeblood of how we live, work, play, eat and shop. 5G encompassed many industries making that connectivity possible. We discuss what makes 5G unique, the advantages of combining 5G with other technologies, and what operators need to consider when embarking on 5G upgrades. We take some time to dive into how 5G affects sustainability and the need for deeper cybersecurity. The podcast concludes with thoughts on what the future holds for new technology innovations. Listen to this episode for insights from: Ernst & Young's Tom Loozen, Global Telecommunications and EMEIA TMT Leader Anastasia Ribbing Kristoffers, Director of Technology, Media and Entertainment Peik Schulman, Former Global Business Development Lead for 5G and IOT For a transcript of this episode please visit: http://www.ey.com/eytechconnect