This is the first entry this year in my “Company To Watch” series
I had the opportunity to listen to a company called Headspring a couple of weeks ago.
Headspring is a fascinating study: it is both a consultancy and application development firm that provides both application development and process optimization services to Fortune 1000 companies.
“There is NO value in anything we do in IT unless someone is actually using it, and getting business value from it.” Glenn Burnside, EVP, Operations, Headspring
They do this by being there from the very start when pain is felt by the client company. By utilizing C-suite relationships, they are able to derive solutions that aim to align applications portfolio development with that business’s objectives, which generally center around rationalization alignment.
With mobility all the rage, Headspring has is performing more technology re-platforming, activating mobile enablement and cloud migrations.
“Great Software has the power to transform organizations.” Glenn Burnside, EVP, Operations, Headspring
He’s right. Great software does possess that power!
Headspring helps in those business transformations by shunning the traditional routes generally used, namely on-premises staff augmentation, a nice euphemism for a battalion of engagement bodies the big consultant firms throw at projects, or offshoring, also euphemistically called ‘overseas labor arbitrage’.
What Headspring does, I am told, is utilize all [available] Headspring staff from their three integrated solution centers, as an adjunct to the client’s employees.
Using their own employees allows Headspring to be able to retain, and leverage the institutional knowledge Headspring staff possess.
Interestingly, Headspring performs their services under fixed-cost contractual arrangements, sharing the assumed development risks with their clients.
Yes, I know. That’s remarkable.
Not only so, but Headspring has a 90% on-time, on-budget completion rate.
Mobile computing was touched on several times in that briefing. As they – and I – see it, mobile computing is not supplanting PCs, but augmenting them, allowing non-traditional/low tech companies to leverage mobiles to enhance their businesses.
Here, Headspring is able to develop browser-delivered apps connected to legacy and enterprise systems, either in line or parallel to the client’s business needs to help deliver value.
“Nobody ever asks for, or wants software. They want more. They want solutions.” Glenn Burnside, EVP, Operations, Headspring
You cannot put it more succinctly than that.
Why I Am Watching Them
Headspring interests me for several reasons.
First, their business model, whereby they perform the line of business transformation consulting, and actually undertake the development of the applications, mobile, enterprise, or web-based, for their clients.
Secondly, their committing their own staff, and facilities to the development of product.
Thirdly, and most importantly, their decision to execute contracts on fixed-cost basis. I am singularly impressed by that.
I hope to engage them in more conversations going forward, and bring the contents of those conversations to you.
Headspring is headquartered in Austin, with footprints in Houston and Dallas, but with a global reach.
© 2002 – 2015, John Obeto for Blackground Media Unlimited
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