Accenture Closes Deal to Boost Cloud-First Network Capabilities

Back in December, Accenture announced its intent to acquire AFD.Tech. As of today, this acquisition is official. 

The acquisition combines AFD.Tech’s team of more than 1,600 skilled professionals with the Accenture team. This merger aims to bolster cloud-first network capabilities. It also brings multidisciplinary expertise across engineering, design, deployment and operation of next-generation networks, such as 5G and fiber.

Accenture’s Olivier Girard

“The combination of latest technologies such as 5G, cloud and next-generation IoT is transforming the way businesses are operating across all the industries,” said Olivier Girard, market unit lead for Accenture in France & Benelux, back in December. “[It is doing this] by creating opportunities for innovative services and new sources of growth. To succeed in their digital transformation and take advantage of its full potential, companies must act now to adopt the right strategy and build new business solutions enabled by network investments. This acquisition would give us a significant footprint in advanced mobile and enterprise networks.”

A Transformative Partnership

The merging of expertise will help clients drive comprehensive transformation across their disparate networks.

Accenture’s Karthick Narain

“Most networks were not built for today’s highly distributed world of cloud, edge devices and remote work,” said Karthik Narain, global lead, Accenture Cloud First. “Increasingly, companies will need to invest in modern networks that seamlessly connect across the dynamic capabilities of the cloud continuum — from public through edge and everything in between. AFD.Tech’s network operations and IT capabilities, as well as its deep industry knowledge, would complement Accenture’s cloud, edge computing, security and network capabilities to help clients shape, build and operate cloud-first networks.”

The acquisition of AFD.Tech will strengthen Accenture’s network operations capabilities in Europe, Accenture said. It follows Accenture’s acquisition of Arca in November of 2020, and of Umlaut last October.

‘Ascending’ the M&A Ladder

In other M&A news, Ascend Technologies has made a strategic growth acquisition of fellow Chicago-based IT shop Peters & Associates.

Ascend Technologies launched two years ago. The company built itself upon a commitment to using innovation and technology to enable business growth. This addition of Peters & Associates expands on that commitment. It also marks the sixth acquisition for Ascend in partnership with M/C Partners, a private equity firm.

Ascend’s Wayne Kiphart

The two companies bring together decades of IT services expertise. This includes cybersecurity, cloud and infrastructure, service desk, and Salesforce solutions prowess.

“Today is an exciting day as the Peters & Associates team bring their decades of IT expertise to Ascend Technologies,” says Wayne Kiphart, CEO, Ascend. “They have maintained a customer-first approach and continue to be a knowledgeable resource in the industry and are a welcome addition to Team Ascend.” continues Kiphart.