DXC beefs up Australian footprint with Bluleader acquisition

North-Sydney-based technology consultancy Bluleader has been acquired by DXC Technology. The move sees 80 professionals working for some 40 customers in Australia and New Zealand join the US-based tech and IT services firm.

Bluleader was founded in 2007 as a customer experience solutions firm grounded in the technology sphere. The firm’s suite of services includes customer relationship management (CRM) platforms and solutions, chatbots, mobile business solutions, marketing automation, customer data analytics, among a range of others. Bluleader is a Microsoft and SAP partner.

The Australian firm operates on the principle that a strong customer experience is among the primary drivers of profit in a company. Central to having a strong customer experience is a comprehensive understanding of customer data and behaviour, which can be obtained through a range of analytical functions.

Bluleader supports clients across Australia abide by this principle, as they look to meet the best standards of customer experience. Companies that sit on its roster of clients include the likes of Genesis Care, Konica Minolta, Metcash, Super Retail Group, Woolworths and Transport for New South Wales.

Commenting on the joining of forces with global player DXC (more than 6,000 clients in 70 countries), Bluleader managing director Robin Apfel said, “This combination will enable us to leverage DXC’s market presence, intellectual property and expertise to expand the size and scale of Bluleader.”

For DXC, the bolt-on strengthens its SAP practice and adds specific expertise in customer experience management. Seelan Nayagam, who leads the firm in Australia & New Zealand, said: “This acquisition is an integral part of our commitment to continue to grow in Australia and New Zealand, and builds on our strategic goal of becoming the number one SAP partner.”

The move comes one year after the Australian arm of DXC Technology acquired Salesforce Platinum Partner System Partners, and shortly after it announced it is opening a digital transformation centre in Adelaide that in the next 24 months is planned to house about 300 digital technologists and experts.

Marco Formaggio, a director at Bluleader, pointed at the added career benefits the joining of forces will unfold. “We are excited about expanding the reach of Bluleader into DXC’s diversified client base, so that our employees are engaged in interesting, challenging and career-enhancing projects.”

Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed. Bluleader will for now retain its brand name, with the additional tagline of ‘A DXC Technology Company’.