Accenture bolsters data analytics arm with Analytics8 acquisition
In line with broader trends across the market, Accenture has turned to dealmaking to boost its data & analytics capabilities. The firm has agreed a deal to acquire the Australian arm of Analytics8, adding 70 professionals across the key financial centres of Melbourne and Sydney.
Analytics8 was established in 2002 in Australia by a trio of co-founders: Hedde Schuitemaker, Jean-Christophe Richard and Alexander Brown. The firm specialises in data analytics, and helps clients to use data as an instrument of growth, efficiency and effectiveness.
Grounded in the IT domain, the firm’s services offerings include capabilities in business intelligence, machine learning, data warehousing and information management visualisation. Analytics8 works for clients across a variety of sectors, including healthcare and financial services.
From its bases in Melbourne and Sydney, Analytics8 serves clients in the Oceania region, but not long after being founded, Analytics8 launched in the US, where it now has several offices, including in Chicago, Denver and New York. Two years ago, the data analytics consultancy also expanded into Europe with the opening of a hub in London.
The acquisition by Accenture spans Analytics8's Australian division, with the US and UK units to continue to operate independently under the Analytics8 brand. The integration will see Analytics8's 70 data professionals transfer to the global consulting giant and operate under the umbrella of Accenture Applied Intelligence.
The global consultancy has been significantly bolstering its digital capabilities in Australia recently – this is the firm’s third acquisition in the tech domain in the past twelve months. Accenture acquired Oracle consultancy PrimeQ late last year, months after bolstering its cybersecurity capabilities through the acquisition of BCT Solutions. Analytics8 will now contribute to the firm’s data science capabilities, helping it stay in the race amid an increasingly competitive market.
Commenting on the deal, Accenture’s Global Applied Intelligence Lead and Chief Analytics Officer Anthina Kaioura 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.”
“This deal will create new opportunities to help clients accelerate their digital transformations,” added Amit Bansal, Accenture’s Applied Intelligence lead for Australia and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Analytics8 co-owner Hedded Schuitemaker 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.”
Last month, Big Four accounting and advisory firm Deloitte also turned to inorganic means to boost its data capabilities, with the purchase of Melbourne-based information and data management firm NeoData.
