Accenture bolsters Industry X's resources team with Electro 80
Two months after snapping up supply chain consulting firm GRA, Accenture has beefed up its technology consulting business with the acquisition of Perth-headquartered Electro 80.
The deal sees a team of around 100 consultants, engineers and staff join Accenture, for a reported sum of $30 million. Electro 80 will be integrated into Accenture’s Industry X division, which provides automation and technology services and solutions to the manufacturing domain of asset-intensive companies.
Growing the Industry X wing has been one of Accenture’s strategic pillars worldwide over the past years, in light of the rapid digitisation of operations, also known as Industry 4.0. Bolting-on smaller companies has been an integral part of this strategy, with the likes of Myrtle in the US and Pollux in Brazil part of the long list of acquisitions.
For Accenture in Australia, the deal is its fourth since CEO Tara Brady took over leadership of the firm in September, its ninth since the start of 2019, but the first with a dedicated Industry X focus. Founded in 1987, Electro 80 provides automation, electrical, instrumentation, safety, networking and industrial IT services to clients in the resources, mining, energy, engineering, construction and utilities sectors.
The firm, which has offices in Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne, supports its clients with consultancy, technology development, the installation of systems, through to operations support and client training.
The bolt-on comes at a time when companies across all sectors are investing heavily in the digitisation of their operations following the operational disruption caused by the pandemic. In the resources space this is no different, said Brady. “Resources companies are increasingly looking for ways to deliver more with less and, at the same time, in a more sustainable way.”
“Digital and automation technologies will be fundamental in delivering these outcomes and we are delighted to have Electro 80 on board.” Glenn Heppell, Accenture’s Resources lead for Australia and New Zealand, added: “By working together with Electro 80, we can ensure our resources clients can better detect and address quality issues, more accurately prevent machine failure in their operations, and most importantly, innovate for the future.”
The deal sees three Electro 80 executives – managing director Sergej Divkovic, chief engineer Ian Halse, and engineering director Mike Kelly – become managing directors at Accenture.
Meanwhile, for Electro 80, the deal will present “immense opportunities for our employees and clients”, said Divkovi.
The transaction comes a day after Accenture closed its first Middle East deal in a decade, with the purchase of regional Oracle leader AppsPro.
