FAQ

What is AdVaes’ mission?

AdVaes is an independent research, market intelligence and advisory firm specialising in the digital sector. Our mission is to support the tech sector in addressing the challenges of innovation and sustainability. We support businesses through market research, benchmarks, competitive analysis, industry surveys, positioning matrices and bespoke consultancy services, delivered either as ‘flash’ projects or on a longer-term basis spanning several weeks or months.

Who are your services aimed at?

Our services are aimed at digital service providers (data centre operators, cloud providers, software publishers, telecoms operators, digital service providers or digital services firms, etc.), consultancy firms, investors, government bodies and local authorities, and companies seeking to better understand the competitive IT landscape or to inform their strategic decisions.

In which sectors do you operate?

We operate primarily in the markets for digital technologies, cloud computing, data centres, data and AI, IT software and services, ESG and digital innovations.

What types of studies do you carry out?

We carry out:

• Market research;
• Competitive analyses;
• Solution or supplier benchmarks;
• Stakeholder mapping;
• Positioning matrices;
• Sector barometers;
• White papers;
• Bespoke or ad hoc studies.

What is the difference between a study and a benchmark?

A market study analyses trends, market players, opportunities and developments within a sector. A benchmark compares several companies, solutions or suppliers according to defined criteria in order to identify their strengths, weaknesses and positioning.

Do you offer bespoke studies?

Yes. We carry out ad hoc studies to meet specific needs. For each client with a specific challenge, we tailor our methodology, analysis criteria and deliverables to their objectives. Please contact us to discuss your project.

How long does a study take?

The duration depends on the complexity of the subject. Some assignments can be completed in a few days (‘flash’ assignments), whilst more in-depth strategic studies require several weeks to several months. We halve (or even reduce further) your costs and lead times thanks to our existing data and market knowledge.

Are the deliverables customised?

Yes, for specific assignments and ad hoc studies. We adapt the format of the deliverables to suit your needs: report, presentation, comparative matrix, dashboard or executive summary. The default branding is that of AdVaes. If you require a specific design, the cost of this will be borne by you.

Do you carry out consultancy assignments?

Yes. Our analyses form the basis for strategic support assignments: decision support, surprise reports, critical reviews, product positioning, business development, competitive intelligence, roadmaps or ESG strategies.

Can you support us with our roadmap and other related initiatives?

Yes. In addition to our data platform, AdVaes offers bespoke consultancy services. We help digital sector organisations to structure their ESG, resilience and trust strategies, define their performance indicators and align their communications with the expected requirements.

How does a critical review or the drafting of a response to the CSR section of a tender work?

We scrutinise your ESG initiatives, highlight your commitments, substantiate them with data and showcase your progress through: 1) structured discussions focusing on your initiatives and the information you provide; 2) a benchmark against your competitors and/or data from your partners; 3) recommendations to strengthen your positioning and your response. Deliverable: a summary report outlining areas for improvement.

How does a bespoke or consultancy assignment work?

A bespoke or consultancy assignment generally comprises:

• A discussion to understand your needs;
• Defining the scope and objectives, as well as the methodologies;
• The research, discussion and information-gathering phase;
• The analysis, drafting and formatting phase;
• The phase for presenting the results, including recommendations;
• The implementation phase by you (dissemination, actions, etc.).

Do you offer free consultations?

We offer a free initial 30-minute discussion to assess your needs. To take things further, our specific projects start at €2,500 excluding VAT.

What is the AdVaes ESG x Tech Data Platform?

It is our subscription-based data, monitoring and market intelligence platform. It centralises environmental, social and governance performance data from the leading digital service providers operating in the French and European markets. It enables buyers and decision-makers to compare providers and ensure their IT purchases are responsible.

Who is this platform subscription aimed at?

Our platform is designed for two main groups:

• IT buyers, CIOs and CSR managers who wish to assess and manage the environmental and social footprint of their digital service providers (Scope 3).
• IT service providers (data centre operators, cloud providers, software publishers, digital services firms, etc.) who wish to identify their strengths and weaknesses within the ecosystem, benchmark their CSR performance against their competitors, promote their initiatives to the market, and access data on their partners when responding to the CSR section of tenders.
• Investors who wish to monitor the progress of companies in their portfolio.

Is a trial version or a demonstration of the platform available?

Yes. We organise free 30-minute demos to present our ESG data platform and our analysis tools. Contact our team at ask [@] advaes.com. Our experts will walk you through the data filtering, comparison and export features tailored to your specific use cases.

How often do you update your data?

Our data is updated continuously via an AI-powered monitoring feed, with quarterly reviews for key indicators. Major benchmarks are published annually.

Is your data accessible via an API?

Currently, our data is available via customised reports or our data platform, the ESG x Tech Data Platform. Data exports are available on request (XLS, CSV). There are no direct connectors at present. We are currently exploring options for access via MCP or a freemium model.

How much does a subscription to your ESG x Tech Data Platform with your monitoring service cost?

Our subscriptions start at €468 (excl. VAT) per year per subscriber for our Strategic Guidance Newsletter, The AdVaes Observer, and at €2,480 (excl. VAT) for the Enterprise subscription to our ESG x Tech Data Platform. Prices depend on the scope and number of subscribers. Please ask us for a personalised quote.

How do I cancel a subscription?

Subscriptions are annual, with no long-term commitment. A renewal request will be sent to you upon expiry, which you may accept or decline as you see fit.

What do your analyses cover?

Our analyses address Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria and, beyond that, aspects of sustainability, resilience, trust and sovereignty specific to the tech sector. They help to assess companies’ maturity, their commitments and their positioning within their market.

What is the purpose of a sector barometer?

A barometer enables you to regularly measure changes in a market, identify trends and track the performance or commitments of players within a sector from one year to the next.

What is a positioning matrix?

A positioning matrix is an analytical tool that compares several players according to objective criteria in order to visualise their respective strengths and their position within a given market. They are sometimes referred to as positioning quadrants by other market players. Our positioning matrices enable you to situate your company relative to your competitors based on ESG, technical or strategic criteria. This includes recommendations for bridging any gaps.

How can you access your studies or benchmarks?

Our shared studies and reports are available on request. Certain analyses (such as the Barometer of Eco-Responsible Digital Service Providers) can be downloaded free of charge after registration. The right to use and distribute our full reports is reserved for our clients and partners.

What do your AdVaes Advisory Boards involve?

These are exclusive, short-duration one-to-one sessions designed to explore the challenges of sustainable transformation in and through technology. The programme includes: analysis of your real-world data, strategic insights, practical feedback, and operational recommendations. Ideal for CIOs, CSR managers or innovation directors.

Where does the data you use for your analyses, assessments and rankings come from?

We rely on a rigorous, multi-source methodology:

• Public and regulatory data reported by the companies analysed (financial reports, non-financial reports, CSRD reporting, documents from relevant third-party sources, etc.).
• Direct surveys and annual barometers conducted amongst stakeholders in the ecosystem.
• Regular qualitative interviews with senior executives, CSR departments, marketing departments, procurement departments and technical departments (CTO/CIO).
• Usage and market data collected and cross-referenced by our analysts.

Can we customise your evaluation criteria?

Yes. For bespoke projects, the criteria are defined in consultation with the client to precisely meet their strategic needs.

What criteria do you use to evaluate IT service providers in your benchmarks?

Our benchmarks are based on various pillars, most commonly: 1) Commitment (strategy, transparency), 2) Technical performance (functionality, integration), 3) Environmental impact (carbon footprint, digital frugality), 4) Innovation (AI, sovereign cloud), 5) Client feedback (satisfaction surveys of 100+ C-level executives). We use a proprietary methodology, the result of several years of research.

How many IT service providers do you analyse each year?

We conduct several thousand interviews and follow-ups each year (including our surveys, on-site discussions, interventions and market monitoring) and specifically track 150 IT service providers on our AdVaes ESG x Tech Data Platform.

Are your analyses independent?

Yes. Our work is carried out using an independent and transparent methodology to ensure an objective analysis of markets and market players.

How do you ensure the impartiality of your assessments?

Independence and impartiality are at the very heart of AdVaes’ DNA. Our assessment frameworks and key performance indicators (KPIs) are standardised and applied in exactly the same way to all service providers within the same segment, whether or not they are clients of our services. Our analytical methodologies are transparent and shared with the organisations being assessed.

Do you work exclusively with large corporations?

No. We support SMEs, mid-market companies and start-ups as well as large corporations and public organisations.

Do you operate internationally?

Yes. Depending on requirements, our studies may cover the French, European or international market.

Is the information exchanged confidential?

Yes. The confidentiality of the information entrusted to us by our clients is a fundamental principle of our business. Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) can be put in place if necessary.

My company is an IT service provider. How can we be listed or update our details with you?

Please contact us to check whether your company is already listed in our database. Whichever the case, we will work with you to determine the procedure to follow. To update your details or be included in our database, you will need to send us your latest non-financial reports (or equivalent) and take part in our annual survey. Basic listing is free of charge, subject to verification.

Haven’t found the answer to your question?

Please don’t hesitate to contact us directly. We’re here to help.

Need a personalised analysis? → Request a quote.

Are you an IT service provider? → Find out how to be included in our benchmarks.

Are you a media outlet? → View our latest press releases or contact us for an interview.