Changepoint

Last Updated: 26th August 2014
Analyst Coverage: David Norfolk

Changepoint sells software (and associated professional services) that integrates professional services automation (PSA), project and portfolio management (PPM) and powerful business analytics to provide total operational visibility and control over strategic business portfolios.

Changepoint has been in operation for some 20 years although it was acquired by Compuware and was resold to Marlin Equity Partners at the beginning of 2014.

Changepoint

Last Updated: 6th January 2014

What it does

At Bloor, we see Changepoint as 'project portfolio management on steroids'; but it also supports Professional Services Automation (PSA), and provides powerful business analytics. It promises to facilitate growth, financial health and improved efficiency for global companies and it claims to provide total operational visibility and control over strategic business portfolios:

Its PPM solution provides visibility into key portfolios and manages the IT lifecycle from investment decision making through project delivery and application portfolio management. This helps IT organisations manage and optimise financial and human resources.
Its PSA solution manages every aspect of the customer life-cyle from opportunity management, services delivery through to invoicing and financial controls so that services teams can drive stronger margins, increase revenue, optimise resources and improve customer satisfaction.
Its product development solution aligns product development with service delivery to enhance an organisation's product delivery model.

It is targeted at services organisations managing a services portfolio but, in these days of 'services oriented architectures', that should be a broader target than some might think. Services organisations can manage most of their business with Changepoint - focusing on top-line revenues and bottom-line profitability.

Markets and channels

Compuware has signed an agreement for Marlin Equity Partners to acquire Compuware’s Changepoint, Professional Services and Uniface business units. Compuware markets software solutions, including hosted software and software-related professional services, primarily through a direct sales force in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, Asia-Pacific, Brazil and Mexico. It also has an internal sales force in Lexington, Massachusetts, Richmond Hill, Ontario, and Maidenhead, England for its hosted software.

It's not yet clear how Changepoint will be marketed in future; possibly it will share Uniface's channels.

Users

Changepoint targets large (including multi-national) services organisations; but this now includes traditional IT users adopting a services point of view. It is about managing technology effectively, from a business point-of-view, so it may represent cultural change for many companies.

Technology

Changepoint is available on a SaaS or on-premises delivery model and its functionality includes the following:

Customer acquisition;
Services delivery;
Financial control and visibility.

Its primary abilty is the delivery of a financially well-manged services portfolio with a competitive product and services mix.

Services

Compuware Professional Services can provide advice on implementing and exploiting Changepoint - which probably involves inculcating a degree of cultural change and increased maturity for most organisations adopting it. Both classroom and online training is available.

It claims that its marketing strategies support the sales cycle with thought leadership, demand generation, press and analyst, trade show, seminar, and user group activities.

Changepoint assumes a workforce using modern connected tools such as tablets and smart phones. It has an active community around an online blog.

Commentary

The new, larger Changepoint

The new Uniface

Uniface leaves Compuware

User Experience Monitoring as Governance?

Solutions

Changepoint

Research

Coming soon.