As enterprises navigate application modernization to drive agility, resilience, and business alignment, they face a key hurdle: a scarcity of talent with niche skills. Capabilities in areas such as cloud-native development, low-code platforms, microservices, DevOps, and legacy application modernization are high in demand but short in supply. Rising attrition, wage inflation, and the rapid obsolescence of technical skills further intensify this talent gap, creating significant execution risks for large-scale transformation programs. In response, organizations are increasingly seeking IT providers with mature and forward-looking talent development strategies tailored to application services’ evolving needs. Providers are making proactive investments to build future-ready talent pipelines by combining traditional learning approaches, digital platforms, and hands-on training. In line with future-of-work principles, many are embedding AI readiness into their workforce strategies, ensuring teams are equipped to work alongside intelligent tools and automation. At the same time, they are focusing on integrating Gen Z talent by reshaping workplace culture, communication, and learning experiences to align with their digital-native expectations. To sustain long-term capability, providers are also enhancing employee engagement and retention through personalized career paths, continuous learning opportunities, and inclusive, purpose-driven work environments. In this report, we assess 29 IT service providers featured on the Talent Readiness for Next-generation Application Services PEAK Matrix®. The research will help buyers select the right-fit application service provider for their needs, while application service providers will be able to benchmark themselves against each other. Scope All industries and geographies This assessment is based on Everest Group’s annual RFI process for the calendar year 2025, interactions with leading application service providers, client reference checks, and an ongoing analysis of the application services market Contents In this report, we evaluate: 29 application service providers featured on Everest Group’s Talent Readiness for Next-generation Application Services PEAK Matrix® The characteristics of Leaders, Major Contenders, and Aspirants from a talent readiness perspective Providers’ key strengths and limitations

The US contingent talent and strategic solutions market slowed in 2023, as enterprises faced cost and margin pressures amid the economic slowdown. Notably, while the economic downturn had adverse effects on US staffing providers, a substantial gap in talent supply-demand persisted, driven by the need for specialized skills in rapidly growing industries, technology interventions, and a heightened need for managed services. Enterprise expectations from contingent talent providers also increased, extending beyond transactional engagements to a growing interest in strategic solutions and managed services. This report examines the US professional contingent staffing provider landscape and assesses its impact on the market in 2023. It focuses particularly on contingent talent and strategic solutions in IT, engineering, and business and professional skills. Using Everest Group’s PEAK Matrix® assessment, the report identifies areas where providers are distinguishing themselves and discusses how providers are navigating the challenging yet opportunity-laden market landscape. Scope Industry: contingent talent and strategic solutions Geography: US Skills coverage: IT, engineering, and business and professional skills Contents The report analyzes various contingent talent and strategic solution providers’ performance and examines: The US contingent talent and strategic solutions provider landscape US Contingent Staffing Provider PEAK Matrix® Assessment: classification of 30 US IT contingent talent and strategic solutions providers, 23 US engineering contingent talent and strategic solutions providers, and 24 US business and professionals contingent talent and strategic solutions providers into Leaders, Major Contenders, and Aspirants Everest Group’s provider analysis: US contingent talent and strategic solutions providers’ capability assessment on seven dimensions: market adoption, portfolio mix, value delivered, scope of services offered, innovation and investments, delivery footprints, and vision and strategy Remarks on each provider’s key strengths and limitations Membership(s) Contingent Staffing Sourcing and Vendor Management

Generative AI adoption is gaining momentum across horizontal functions such as IT security, HR, marketing, and legal, with technology-centric functions such as IT and security leading in enterprises’ gen AI spend. Key use cases include automated code generation, enhanced cybersecurity, and customized learning and development. Industry-specific applications vary, with finance leveraging gen AI for fraud detection and personalized financial advice, while retail focuses on personalized marketing and supply chain management. CIOs face challenges such as a lack of clear success metrics, a rapidly evolving technology landscape, budget constraints, and talent shortages. Key risks in gen AI adoption involve data security, privacy, interpretability, ownership, responsibility, bias, and ethical concerns. In response, organizations are implementing their own guardrails while regulators develop legal frameworks. The future of AI is marked by core technological shifts: AI compute moving to the edge, the rise of small language models (SLMs) due to resource efficiency challenges, and the need for model orchestration. In this report, we explore generative AI adoption trends across horizontal business functions and industries. We examine the top challenges CIOs face with gen AI adoption and key risks in its implementation. Additionally, we discuss future outlook trends, including shifts in core technologies and gen AI’s impact on productivity and adoption trends. Scope All industries and geographies Contents In this report, we examine: Horizontal function-specific use cases and adoption trends Industry-specific use cases and adoption trends Top challenges that CIOs face with gen AI adoption Key risks in adopting gen AI Corporate guardrails for gen AI Future outlook Membership(s) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Vendor and Sourcing Management

In the technology talent market, the acute shortage of niche and specialized talent remains a major challenge. This, combined with the accelerated obsolescence of vital skills and increased attrition rates for emerging skills, has compelled IT service providers to develop robust workforce development and management strategies across the talent value chain to navigate the prevailing talent crisis. Additionally, evolving client expectations and rapid advances in technology have further heightened the need to transform existing workforce strategies, in order to construct strong pipelines of next-generation ready resources at scale. In this report, we explore key technology talent market-related themes including major talent-related challenges, providers’ strategic priorities, and mindset shifts. We also discuss key action items for IT service providers across the talent management value chain to drive next-generation talent readiness. This report will enable providers to develop their talent development and management strategies. Scope All industries and geographies Contents In this report, we examine: Key IT talent market trends and providers’ strategic priorities Skill-based workforce management, AI-driven talent strategy, and future of work themes Evolving talent sourcing strategy Elements of a sustainable talent development and engagement framework Optimization levers driving effective talent management Future considerations from a provider’s perspective Membership(s) IT Talent Excellence Contingent Staffing

The scarcity of talent equipped with next-generation skills remains a major roadblock in digital transformation journeys for enterprises. This challenge is exacerbated by the diminishing half-lives of skills and an increasing attrition rate in emerging skills within organizations. In response, enterprises are actively seeking IT service providers with well-established talent development and management strategies to address this issue. These strategies aim to acquire, nurture, and retain a high-quality, productive, multiskilled, and diverse workforce capable of meeting evolving talent needs. In turn, IT service providers are investing to cultivate and sustain a comprehensive portfolio of diverse resources equipped with next-generation skills. They prioritize in-house talent development to gain a competitive edge and enhance their talent value proposition. Going beyond conventional approaches, providers explore various innovative methods and incorporate themes related to the future of work into their talent development and management strategies. This compendium provides detailed profiles of 26 IT service providers featured on the Talent Readiness for Next-generation IT Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2023. Each profile offers a comprehensive overview of the provider’s key next-generation capabilities, delivery footprint, talent-related capabilities and investments including initiatives, solutions, partnerships, technology stack, academies, CoEs, and innovation hubs. The compendium will enable providers to benchmark their capabilities against their peers, while enterprises will be able to assess the providers based on their desired set of capabilities. Scope All industries and geographies The assessment is based on Everest Group’s annual RFI process for the calendar year 2023, interactions with leading IT service providers, client reference checks, and an ongoing analysis of the IT services market Contents In this report, we assess 26 IT service provider profiles and include: Providers’ key next-generation capabilities, delivery footprint, average learning hours per employee per year, and recent developments Providers’ talent-related investments and capabilities across each stage in the talent management value chain including initiatives, solutions and IP, partnerships, technology stack, academies, CoEs, and innovation hubs Membership(s) IT Talent Excellence

Amid the rapidly evolving technology landscape, as enterprises advance in their digital transformation endeavors, they face a primary challenge the shortage of talent equipped with next-generation skills. This challenge is further exacerbated by the shortening half-lives of skills and higher attrition rate in emerging skills within organizations. To address this challenge, enterprises are seeking IT service providers that have implemented robust talent development and management strategies. These strategies strive to acquire, nurture, and sustain a high-quality, productive, multi-skilled, and diverse workforce to meet evolving talent needs. IT service providers are responding by investing in in-house talent development to gain a competitive edge and enhance their talent value proposition. Beyond traditional methods, they are exploring multiple innovative methods and incorporating themes related to the future of work in their talent development and management strategies. The goal is to develop and sustain a comprehensive portfolio of diverse resources equipped with next-generation skills. In this report, we assess 26 IT service providers featured on the Talent Readiness for Next-Generation IT Services PEAK Matrix®. The research will help buyers select the right-fit provider for their needs, while providers will be able to benchmark themselves against each other. Scope All industries and geographies The assessment is based on Everest Group’s annual RFI process for the calendar year 2023, interactions with leading IT service providers, client reference checks, and an ongoing analysis of the IT services market Contents In this report, we: Evaluate 26 IT service providers featured on Everest Group’s Talent Readiness for Next-generation IT Services PEAK Matrix® Present the characteristics of Leaders, Major Contenders, and Aspirants from a talent readiness perspective Analyze providers’ key strengths and limitations Membership(s) Contingent Staffing Sourcing and Vendor Management

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for contingent talent surged, leading to continued growth in the US contingent talent and strategic solutions industry throughout 2022. The scarcity of skilled workers drove this growth, as enterprises faced ongoing challenges in acquiring talent due to both a skills shortage and voluntary employee turnover. Despite concerns about an impending recession, the talent supply and demand imbalance persisted, resulting in a prolonged talent shortage in the US. This situation created an opportunity for providers of contingent talent and strategic solutions to address the talent gap by investing in various areas, including technology-driven solutions, managed services, learning and upskilling programs, and fostering DEI. This report analyzes the intricate dynamics of the US contingent talent and strategic solutions provider landscape and its impact on the overall US contingent talent and strategic solutions market in 2022. It specifically focuses on IT staffing, engineering staffing, business and professionals staffing, and industrial staffing. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the market and examines how providers differentiate themselves using the extensive Everest Group PEAK Matrix® as a benchmark for analysis. Scope Industry: contingent talent and strategic solutions Geography: US Skills coverage: IT, engineering, business and professionals, and industrial Contents The report analyzes the performance of various contingent talent and strategic solutions providers and examines: The US contingent talent and strategic solutions provider landscape US Contingent Staffing Provider PEAK Matrix® Assessment: Classification of 28 US IT contingent talent and strategic solutions providers into Leaders, Major Contenders, and Aspirants on Everest Group’s proprietary PEAK Matrix® framework Classification of 22 US engineering contingent talent and strategic solutions providers into Leaders, Major Contenders, and Aspirants on Everest Group’s proprietary PEAK Matrix® framework Classification of 23 US business and professionals contingent talent and strategic solutions providers into Leaders, Major Contenders, and Aspirants on Everest Group’s proprietary PEAK Matrix® framework Classification of 21 US industrial contingent talent and strategic solutions providers into Leaders, Major Contenders, and Aspirants on Everest Group’s proprietary PEAK Matrix® framework Everest Group analysis of providers: US contingent talent and strategic solutions providers’ capability assessment on seven dimensions: market adoption, portfolio mix, value delivered, scope of services offered, innovation and investments, delivery footprints, and vision and strategy Remarks on key strengths and limitations of each contingent talent and strategic solutions provider Membership(s) Contingent Staffing Sourcing and Vendor Management

Traditionally, staffing firms played a vital role in sourcing a contingent workforce. However, due to the cyclical nature of the staffing industry and the increasing adoption of the managed services model among enterprises, staffing firms are pivoting towards the managed services model to diversify their revenue stream. Better visibility and access to a wide range of talent pool provide them with a strategic advantage. To expedite the adoption of the managed services model, staffing firms are taking a balanced approach, combining organic and inorganic strategies to build partnerships and develop Intellectual Property (IP) / solutions. In this report, we explore the opportunities available to staffing providers in the IT Services (ITS) landscape. Within ITS, we analyze various IT service areas, such as application services, IT infrastructure services, data and analytics services, digital interactive experience services, and exponential technology services. Additionally, the report outlines Everest Group’s three-step framework that staffing providers can adopt to prioritize the most suitable business process service area within ITS.  Scope Industry: ITS Geography: global Contents In this report, we:  Introduce the managed services model  Present an overview of the ITS market, including emerging themes Offer an overview of each IT service area, including emerging themes Explore opportunities and considerations for staffing providers within each IT service area Provide staffing providers with a framework to prioritize the most suitable IT service area Membership(s) IT Talent Excellence Technology Skills and Talent

Enterprises are investing in digital transformation initiatives to enhance customer experience, optimize processes and cost, drive growth, and promote sustainability across their organizations. However, they appear to have realized limited returns from their initiatives. To address this challenge, consulting has emerged as a key aspect of the digital transformation value chain. Enterprises now recognize that a clear vision and strategy are essential for the success of digital transformation initiatives. Due to the high demand and the critical role of technology in the transformation journey, enterprises are no longer satisfied with traditional consulting offerings and are seeking innovative engagement models from their transformation partners to drive innovation and value realization. To serve this need, IT services providers are investing in digital transformation consulting offerings through organic and inorganic means. In this compendium, we provide detailed and fact-based snapshots of 14 digital transformation consulting service providers featured on the Digital Transformation Consulting Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2023. Each profile offers a comprehensive picture of the provider’s vision and strategy, scope of services offered, enterprise adoption, investments, partnerships, case studies, innovative solutions, and strengths and limitations. Scope All industries and geographies The assessment is based on Everest Group’s annual RFI process for the calendar year 2022, interactions with leading digital transformation consulting service providers, client reference checks, and an ongoing analysis of the digital transformation consulting services market Contents This report features 14 digital transformation consulting service provider profiles and includes: A summary dashboard – market impact and vision and capability assessment Providers’ strengths and limitations An overview of the provider’s’ business – vision, scope of services offered, and adoption across functional segments and geographies Providers’ services investments, case studies, key solutions, and partnerships Membership(s) Digital Services Sourcing and Vendor Management

Enterprises are investing in digital transformation initiatives to enhance customer experience, optimize processes and cost, drive growth, and promote sustainability across their organizations. However, they appear to have realized limited returns from their initiatives. To address this challenge, consulting has emerged as a key aspect of the digital transformation value chain. Enterprises now recognize that a clear vision and strategy are essential for the success of digital transformation initiatives. Due to the high demand and the critical role of technology in the transformation journey, enterprises are no longer satisfied with traditional consulting offerings and are seeking innovative engagement models from their transformation partners to drive innovation and value realization. To serve this need, IT services providers are investing in digital transformation consulting offerings through organic and inorganic means. In this report, we assess 14 digital transformation consulting service providers featured on the Digital Transformation Consulting Services PEAK Matrix®. The research will help buyers select the right-fit technology vendor for their needs, while technology vendors will be able to benchmark themselves against each other. Scope All industries and geographies The assessment is based on Everest Group’s annual RFI process for the calendar year 2022, interactions with leading digital transformation consulting service providers, client reference checks, and an ongoing analysis of the digital transformation consulting services market Contents In this report, we: Evaluate 14 digital transformation consulting service providers featured on Everest Group’s Digital Transformation Consulting Services PEAK Matrix® Present the characteristics of Leaders, Major Contenders, and Aspirants in the digital transformation consulting services landscape Analyze providers’ key strengths and limitations Membership(s) Digital Services Sourcing and Vendor Management