Accenture continues to follow through with its $1.5 billion acquisition strategy for 2019, buying up Australian big data and analytics consultancy Analytics8 for an undisclosed sum.
Founded in 2002, Analytics8 specializes in data management, reporting and virtualization, data science and analytics services. The firm provides data and analytics solutions to organizations in a variety of industries including healthcare and financial services.
Analytics8 has 70 employees spread across its Melbourne and Sydney operations, all of whom will join Accenture Applied Intelligence, which uses artificial intelligence-powered data, automation, and analytics to help businesses, the company said.
Accenture Acquires Analytics8: Executive Perspectives
Amit Bansal, a managing director at Accenture who leads its analytics and artificial intelligence business in Australia and New Zealand, commented on the deal:
“In this data-driven age, organizations are increasingly seeking to harness the power of their information for competitive advantage and to identify opportunities for revenue growth and cost reduction. Together we will offer a unique, AI-based approach to help clients combine data, analytics and automation at scale.”
Dr. Athina Kanioura, Accenture’s chief analytics officer and global applied intelligence lead, said:
“Having the right talent is a critically important aspect of how we deliver value to clients. The Analytics8 team’s deep technical expertise and experience advising clients across a range of industries will complement our own — bolstering our growing Applied Intelligence business, particularly in the Australian market, and creating new opportunities to help clients accelerate their digital transformations.”
Hedde Schuitemaker, co-owner of Analytics8, said:
“We are excited about joining Accenture. Our data scientists and data analytics expertise will complement Accenture’s applied intelligence capabilities and industry knowledge, allowing us to help customers further leverage data and analytics to transform their businesses.”
Accenture’s Growth Path
Accenture unveiled its 2019 acquisition war chest – valued at $1.5 billion – in March of this year. It’s a strategy that is designed to push the company deeper into into digital, cloud and security services.
The company has already made two other acquisitions in Australia in the past 12 months. In July, Accenture acquired BCT Solutions, a privately held cybersecurity and technology consultancy with a big footprint in government markets. In December 2018, the company bought up Oracle cloud partner PrimeQ.
Other key deals have included:
- Stolkholm-based CSP Consultant Northstream;
- French Google Cloud services provider Cirruseo;
- Spanish brand communications agency Shackleton; and
- German technology consultancy Zielpuls.
- Droga5, a New York-based creative agency and advertising firm.
- Storm Digital, a digital marketing agency in the Netherlands
- Kolle Rebbe, a digital media agency.
At the same time, the company has seen changes in its top ranks. Last month, Julie Sweet became Accenture’s global CEO, taking over for interim CEO David Rowland. James Etheredge moved into Sweet’s previous position of chief executive for Accenture’s North America business.
Accenture is also a Top 100 MSSP, according to MSSP Alert, ChannelE2E’s sister site.
