Publications

The depth of our industry knowledge, like our international perspective, is an attribute that our clients value highly. We invest significant resources in building and sharing such knowledge. Our thought leadership is a result of the latest research and points of view on emerging industry trends, industry-specific performance benchmarks based upon global best practices, and shared methodologies and approaches to complex business issues.


US Technology M&A insights: Q1 2012 update
Technology businesses continue to lead other sectors in US merger and acquisition activity, generating $28.9 billion of deal value in the quarter despite lower deal volume. IPO valuations remain high. Innovation and time to market will prompt technology deals as companies race to stay ahead of their competitors.

MoneyTree ReportTM Q1 2012 US Cleantech venture funding summary
Venture capitalists invested $951 million in 73 Cleantech deals during the first quarter of 2012. This represents a 20 percent decline in funding and an 8 percent decline in deal volume compared to the first quarter of 2011. Southern California (which includes Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego) surpassed Silicon Valley to receive the most funding.

US technology M&A insights: Analysis and trends in US technology merger & acquisition activity 2012
Wrenching changes across the political, natural and economic spectrums created a challenging environment for merger and acquisition activity in the technology industry. Despite challenges and a decline in deal volume, the software, Internet and semiconductor sectors saw large acquisitions which increased overall deal value for technology.

MoneyTreeTM Report: Q4 2011 Technology funding Building strength
US venture capital funding for the Technology sector was $3.3 billion in 524 deals during the fourth quarter of 2011, according to findings from the MoneyTreeTM Report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), based on data from Thomson Reuters.

Tech perspectives: Winning in the tablet market
Tablet demand will surge to 200 million by 2014. The market has seen a proliferation of new devices. Companies will need a differentiating customer service and repair model in addition to flashy products to succeed in this rapidly rising market.

China's impact on the semiconductor industry: 2011 update
China continues to lead the world in semiconductor consumption with a compound annual growth rate of 24.8% since 2000, due to the transfer of worldwide electronic equipment production to China and the increased semiconductor content in products. This report on the Chinese semiconductor industry combines statistics and executive interviews to analyze the semiconductor industry in China, including geographical and product category demand and shifts in the semiconductor value chain.

MoneyTreeTM Report: Moving ahead
US venture capital funding for the Technology sector was $3.8 billion in the third quarter of 2011 Technology investment increased by 33 percent in dollar value and by 11 percent in the number of deals compared to the same period in 2010. US venture capitalists invested $7.0 billion in 876 deals during the third quarter of 2011.

Making hay while the sun shines: Tapping new solar growth opportunities in the United States
Favorable module pricing and clarified regulations will drive growth in the US solar market that could invite global competition. Solar companies should consider: US based operations centers, strong pipeline and capital management, market knowledge at the state level, and customized offerings for specific market segments.

Factoring sustainability in IPO planning
Those looking to become a part of the renewed vigor in the IPO market may be unprepared for the public scrutiny they are likely to encounter. Mounting interest in companies' nonfinancial disclosures, such as sustainability and corporate responsibility, leads to a simple question: Is your company prepared?

The new digital economy: How it will transform business
Current economic conditions are fostering investment in technology as emerging markets ramp up their demand for technology to fuel growth, and advanced markets seek new ways to cut costs and drive innovation.

Global 100 Software Leaders
The software industry is in the midst of significant change as new technologies (cloud and mobile) and customer behaviors emerge. Here, PwC presents not just the leading software companies from key markets around the world but, more importantly, insights into where the industry is going in the next five years shared by executives from companies such as Symantec, Dassault, Sage, SAP, and Wipro.

Technology Forecast 2011, issue 1: Unleashing enterprise mobility
This issue of Technology Forecast examines how the current generation of smart hand-helds implies more opportunities for enterprises than might be obvious at first glance. The first article discusses how enterprises can turn consumer usage and trends for smart hand-helds to their advantage. The second details the ways that security for smart hand-helds is improving as consumers mix business and personal information. And the third explores how the CIO can lead in this arena by offering strategic choices, establishing new governance approaches and developing new business process models.

Protecting your brand in the cloud: Transparency and trust through enhanced reporting
As organizations consider moving key business processes and IT infrastructure to cloud computing, they are concerned about risks. This paper explores the how cloud risks could negatively impact companies’ brands. Many cloud providers are working to address risks with strong controls, but these providers lack a trusted ways to demonstrate the adequacy of their infrastructures to potential customers. Third party assurance may be the answer for both cloud users and providers. With third party assurance, a trusted third party evaluates and reports on a cloud provider’s ability to deliver promised levels of service and protection from risk.

10Minutes on the cloud
Cloud computing can help businesses meet demands for greater agility as it is changing the ability for companies to deliver solutions at the new speed of business. Cloud computing solutions have the potential to accelerate innovation and time-to-market, enhance customer engagement, and improve connections across the network of suppliers, time zones, and cultures.

The US-China cleantech connection: shaping a new commercial diplomacy
This piece discusses how the U.S. and China are initiating ambitious cleantech build-outs by taking a deeper dive into key cleantech sector "sweet spots" that present strong opportunities for growth, including mega-renewables, clean water and air, transportation and smart grid. Additionally, this report explores the ways in which these two countries are working together to leverage significant growth opportunities within and beyond the U.S. and China markets.

A shifting software revenue recognition landscape: Insights on potential impacts of the proposed revenue recognition model on current US GAAP
On June 24, 2010, the US FASB and the IASB jointly issued an exposure draft on revenue recognition. These potential changes, if adopted, would significantly alter the landscape for software accounting worldwide. Software companies must explore the implications of this exposure draft and its impact on their revenues. Here, PwC discusses how companies might begin to apply the proposed model to typical software transactions by highlighting the context of the transaction, giving a brief summary of the current US GAAP approach, and providing insights into how the issue would be addressed under the proposed model.

Technology Executive Connections: Staying the course for globalisation: A business imperative
In today's challenging environment, tech companies continue to seek ways to build revenues while cutting costs. With these goals in mind, globalisation has become an increasingly attractive strategy. But in their desire to reach short-term goals are technology companies effectively utilising globalisation to achieve their long-term growth strategy?

Software revenue recognition: Navigating the complexities has never been easier
PwC's newly updated Software revenue recognition guide is now available in an interactive Web format and features online annotations, highlighting, bookmarking, in-context search results and more. The content of the Guide has been updated thoroughly to include the latest information and guidance available, and to comprehend the latest developments in the software industry.

Cleantech revolution: Building smart infrastructures
Recent trends of government and private investment into the build-out of smart infrastructures will cause companies across all industries to determine how they may benefit by assessing what role they might play-either directly or peripherally, and in the near and long-term-in the growth of smart infrastructure markets.

Navigating the move to IFRS: Global insights for technology companies
We are pleased to announce the launch of the first PwC IFRS publication related specifically to the technology industry. The objective of this publication is to help US technology companies think strategically about the financial and non-financial aspects of an IFRS conversion.