The Scoop...

Millenium machinations

While 1999 was CIBER's year for acquisitions, 2000 was the year for innovation. On March 1, 2000, CIBER announced plans to completely restructure its business into two separate units. One focused on enterprise e-business and traditional system integration services and the other on EAI package integration offerings. The planned public offering of DigiTerra, the new enterprise applications implementor and integrator, has been placed on hold. Also in March 2000, CIBER announced Agilera.com, a joint venture to deliver e-business software. In its brief life, Agilera has already netted over $125 million in funding. In April 2000, the newly acquired Waterstone Consulting was merged with the 78 percent-CIBER owned Interactive Papyrus Company, a digital strategy and Internet-based business solutions provider; this company now operates as Waterstone after a brief period as Neovation. The final CIBER subsidiary, Enspherics, was founded in 1992 to custom design IT security solutions.

Precedent of success

Even prior to recent corporate maneuvers, CIBER has been a well-respected company for many of its 27 years. With an IPO in 1994, CIBER began a stint on Forbes magazine's "Best Small Companies" list that lasted until 1997. In 1998 and 1999, CIBER was on Fortune's list of the "100 Fastest-Growing Companies." On a local level, the Englewood, Colo.-based firm was picked by ColoradoBiz magazine as the IT company of the year in 1999. Smart Reseller placed the company on its "Smart 50 Companies" list in 1999 and the "Smart 100 Companies" in 2000. Another indication of CIBER's success is its client loyalty, with nearly 90 percent of companies returning again and again. CIBER's first national broadcast advertising campaign started in August 2000 during specifically targeted television programs, reinforces this reputation.

Jack in the box

CIBER offers clients more than a hale and hearty CV. Its main services are delivered through six categories - strategy and enterprise integration, business intelligence, internet services, wireless, network integration/security, and outsourcing - but CIBER has more trump cards hidden deeper in its abilities. There is the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) Security Solution, the e.Government Practice for its federal, state and local government clients, and the e.Acceleration project management methodology for IT projects. One of CIBER's latest products is the "dot.com-in-a-box" package that was launched in May 2000; however, with the recent drop in Internet business, it is no longer being relied upon for an influx of revenue. Upon the April 2001 announcement of its Q1 earnings, which are higher, CIBER acknowledged the "sluggish" IT services market.