Cirquent

Cirquent was a Germany-based information-technology consulting and professional-services business headquartered in Munich. It operated as the successor to the Softlab Group and served organizations through custom software development, systems integration, customer-relationship-management work, contact-centre projects, and broader technology consulting. Its operations extended beyond Germany to Austria, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The business has roots in the UK operation Softlab Ltd., which was established in 1989 to sell and support the Maestro I software product line. Initially located in Hammersmith, the UK company later expanded when Maestro II was introduced. Maestro II was a software-development environment used by customers including British Gas and Barclays Bank. This early focus gave the business a product and software-tools identity before its activities moved increasingly toward implementation and integration services. During the 1990s, Softlab was acquired by BMW AG. After BMW acquired Rover Group, Softlab Ltd. took over services associated with Rover Group from AT&T Istel. That transaction significantly enlarged the UK operation, reportedly taking it from approximately 60 employees to more than 500 and prompting a move of its headquarters to the Birmingham area. The enlarged business subsequently shifted away from software tools and toward customer-relationship-management and contact-centre systems integration. In 2001, BMW Group sold Rover; the automotive-focused team connected with that business was subsequently sold to Computer Sciences Corporation. Softlab continued to develop its position as an enterprise technology integrator. Its work included CRM and contact-centre projects built around or integrated with platforms from Microsoft, Oracle, Siebel, Genesys, Interactive Intelligence, CDC Software's Pivotal product, and BMC's Remedy product. Reported customers included Allianz Germany, BMW Group, Deutsche Börse, Heidelberger Druckmaschinen, Kabel Deutschland, Munich Re, O2, and T-Mobile. Following acquisitions and organizational consolidation, the Softlab business was rebranded as Cirquent in 2008. Later that year, NTT Data acquired a majority stake. Cirquent therefore operated within the expanding NTT Data group rather than as an independent listed company. In 2012, it was consolidated under the NTT Data brand. The Cirquent name consequently represents a former operating brand and corporate identity within the history of NTT Data's European IT-services expansion, rather than an independently active brand today.

Cirquent's history developed through the transformation of the Softlab business from a software-tools company into an enterprise IT-services provider. The relevant UK operation began in 1989 as Softlab Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cirquent GmbH, with a commercial mandate to sell and support the Maestro I product line. Based initially in Hammersmith, the company expanded with Maestro II, a software-development environment used by British Gas and Barclays Bank. These products formed the early foundation of the business and positioned it around software development rather than general-purpose outsourcing. In the 1990s, BMW AG acquired Softlab. BMW's later purchase of Rover Group had a major effect on the UK operation. Softlab Ltd. acquired AT&T Istel's Rover Group services, expanding from a workforce of about 60 to more than 500 employees. The enlarged organization moved its headquarters to the Birmingham area. Its business emphasis also changed: instead of concentrating primarily on software tools, it increasingly delivered CRM and contact-centre system integration. BMW Group sold Rover in 2001. After that disposal, the automotive team associated with the Rover-related business was sold to Computer Sciences Corporation. Softlab nevertheless retained and developed its CRM and contact-centre activities. It worked with a range of enterprise-technology vendors, including Microsoft in relation to Dynamics CRM, Oracle and Siebel, Genesys, Interactive Intelligence, CDC Software's Pivotal platform, and BMC's Remedy platform. Customers identified in reference material included major organizations from insurance, automotive, financial-services, industrial, telecommunications, and media-related sectors. The wider Softlab organization underwent further change after acquisitions and consolidation. In 2008 it was rebranded Cirquent. Later in the same year, NTT Data acquired a majority stake, making Cirquent part of NTT Data's international expansion. Cirquent retained its German base in Munich and maintained offices in Austria, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Its service profile centered on bespoke software, integration of third-party systems, CRM, contact-centre programs, and consulting. In 2012, Cirquent was consolidated under the NTT Data brand. This ended the separate Cirquent identity as an operating brand. The available reference material does not identify a later independent corporate existence, public listing, current website, or named executives for Cirquent. It is therefore best treated as a former NTT Data subsidiary and brand rather than an active standalone company.

• 2012

  Cirquent is absorbed into NTT Data branding

  [1]Cirquenten.wikipedia.org

  Cirquent was consolidated under the NTT Data brand, ending its separate branded operation.

• 2008

  Softlab becomes Cirquent

  [1]Cirquenten.wikipedia.org

  Following acquisitions and consolidation, the Softlab business was rebranded as Cirquent.

• 2008

  NTT Data takes a majority stake

  [1]Cirquenten.wikipedia.org

  NTT Data acquired a majority interest in Cirquent.

• 2001

  BMW sells Rover Group

  [1]Cirquenten.wikipedia.org

  BMW Group sold Rover, after which the automotive team was subsequently sold to Computer Sciences Corporation.

• 1989

  Softlab Ltd. is founded in the United Kingdom

  [1]Cirquenten.wikipedia.org

  The UK operation was established as Softlab Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cirquent GmbH, to sell and support the Maestro I product line.

• Maestro II expands the software-tools business

  [1]Cirquenten.wikipedia.org

  Softlab expanded its product activity with Maestro II, a software-development environment used by British Gas and Barclays Bank.

• BMW acquires Softlab

  [1]Cirquenten.wikipedia.org

  Softlab became part of BMW AG during the 1990s.

• Rover-related services enlarge the UK operation

  [1]Cirquenten.wikipedia.org

  Following BMW's acquisition of Rover Group, Softlab Ltd. acquired AT&T Istel's Rover Group services and grew from roughly 60 employees to more than 500.

Enterprise IT consultancy and systems integrator focused on custom software, CRM, contact-centre technology, and integration of third-party platforms.

• Software-development tools · 1989

  Maestro I

  Maestro I was the software product line that Softlab Ltd. was established to sell and support in the United Kingdom in 1989. It represents the early product-oriented phase of the business before its later emphasis on consulting and systems integration.

• Software-development environment

  Maestro II

  Maestro II was a software-development environment introduced during Softlab's early expansion. Reference material identifies British Gas and Barclays Bank among its users. The product helped establish Softlab's initial reputation in development tools before the company shifted toward CRM and contact-centre integration.

• IT consulting and systems integration

  CRM and contact-centre integration

  Cirquent's principal later offering was the design, development, and integration of customer-relationship-management and contact-centre systems. The business worked with platforms and technologies associated with Microsoft, Oracle, Siebel, Genesys, Interactive Intelligence, CDC Software's Pivotal, and BMC Remedy, adapting third-party systems to enterprise requirements.

• 2012

  Consolidation under NTT DataStrategy

  Background

  NTT Data moved to integrate Cirquent more fully into its group structure and brand architecture.

  Action taken

  Cirquent was consolidated under the NTT Data brand.

  Aftermath

  The Cirquent brand ceased to function as a separate operating identity.

  Source

• 2008

  Rebrand from Softlab to CirquentStrategy

  Background

  After acquisitions and consolidation, the Softlab business needed a unified identity for its consulting and IT-services activities.

  Action taken

  The business adopted the Cirquent name.

  Aftermath

  Cirquent continued as a Munich-headquartered IT and consulting business and subsequently came under majority NTT Data ownership.

  Source

• 2008

  NTT Data takes majority ownershipM&A

  Background

  NTT Data expanded its international IT-services group through an investment in Cirquent.

  Action taken

  NTT Data acquired a majority stake in Cirquent.

  Aftermath

  Cirquent became part of the NTT Data group while retaining its own name for several years.

  Source

1. 1Cirquenten.wikipedia.org