HP Discover: HP's latest software strategy to focus on vertical markets

FRANKFURT: HP is looking to diversify its software offerings by focusing on more specific industries through partnerships with vertical market players, according to its European chief technologist.

Speaking in Germany, Sukhi Gill said the firm's broad technology portfolio, which includes capabilities from the likes of Autonomy and Vertica, alongside its wider software offerings for businesses, means it is well placed to deliver on this plan.

He explained the firm would then only need to partner with relevant partners in specific industries to complete their offerings, helping them offer a dedicated service wrap, ahead of what he sees as broader and more rigid rivals like SAP, Microsoft or Oracle.

"What we want to do is go after more specific industries than what we do now - which is primarily just healthcare, transportation and the public sector - by partnering with relevant firms, say event management application providers," Gill said.

"We have 90 percent of the right technology in our offerings, and then by partnering for that last bit relevant to each industry we can complete this."

Gill also touted the firm's recent acquisitions and three analytic-focused research and development labs as evidence the firm had the capabilities to develop the right services for its customers.

"We have some of the best analytics technology thanks to Vertica and Autonomy, we are making clear advances in storage and so we have the basics there. We just need to push on the consulting side, to help customers identify, define and solve their problems," he said.

Gill noted that this focus on software services was a better strategy to lead the company forward than attempting to compete in hardware, particularly mobile where pricing made it difficult to compete anymore.

"It's a hugely competitive market with Android, iOS and Microsoft devices and I think with those three players our focus on the datacentre and analytics will bring more value than selling mobile devices," he said.

"Some firms are knocking out devices for $25, you've got the Raspberry Pi for £22 - everything is getting miniaturised so my sense is that investments around analytics and information will give us better rewards."

Gill's comments appear to go against the firm's chief executive Meg Whitman, who hinted earlier this year the firm could well enter the mobile market with its own devices.