Accenture completes acquisition of boutique systems integrator, PLM Systems

Accenture announced in a company press release that it has completed the acquisition of Italian Turin-based boutique systems integrator PLM Systems with the aim to help industrial companies make better use of product data in design, engineering, and manufacturing.

Accenture noted that the acquisition of the boutique systems integrator will enable the professional services provider to expand its capabilities for digital engineering services in Italy and will be a part of Accenture Industry X.O.

Nigel Stacey, managing director and global lead of Accenture Industry X.0 commented on how PLM Systems will expand Accentures capabilities for digital engineering services by saying: “Digital technologies like artificial intelligence are taking product lifecycle management to a new level. This offers industrial companies a huge opportunity to transform a core business function – engineering. PLM Systems’ expertise and experience in product lifecycle management will allow us to help clients make the best use of their product data.”

Businesses and industries are increasingly paying closer attention to how artificial intelligence (AI) and data can play a role in its operations to make better decisions to enhance its value offering while making the business more efficient.

As a result, investors are taking positions in AI and data-enabled companies with Element raising $18m to enable the data-driven transformation of industrial enterprises, data-driven marketing company Stirista raising $13m in growth equity financing, and smart data platform provider DefinedCrowd raising $50.5m.

PLM Systems was founded in 1996 and has since grown to a team of over 30 consultants who specialise in designing and building information systems for product lifecycle management to help clients leverage advanced technological capabilities that include IoT, data analytics, and AI.

Product lifecycle management systems help companies manage all relevant information about a product from its inception to its disposal. Companies can use them in engineering and other functions to innovate and manage new products.

The boutique systems integrators client roster includes Italian and international brands across various sectors including aerospace and defense, automotive, fashion, industrial equipment, mechanics, and plant engineering.

PLM Systems claims to enable its customers to anticipate, follow, analse, address, and develop each phase of its product lifecycle from product or process innovation all the way through to management and product enhancement.

Alberto Codrino, CEO of PLM Systems commented on his excitement for the boutique system integrators to join Accenture by saying: “We’re excited to become part of Accenture. Its client base and global footprint will offer our team new opportunities to expand their skills and we can develop even better technology solutions for clients to innovate and manage new products.”

Accenture wrote that the acquisition of the boutique systems integrator is part of its overall growth strategy to expand critical skills and capabilities in strategic, high-growth areas.

Industry X.0 is the arm of Accenture that uses digital technologies to continuously improve how industrial companies design, engineer and manufacture products and services, and operate industrial facilities.

PLM Systems is Accenture’s fourth acquisition within the digital manufacturing advisory, services, and solutions arena but the first in Italy following the recent onboarding of Callisto Integration in Canada, Silveo in France, and Enterprise System Partners in Ireland.

Mauro Marchiaro, managing director, Strategy & Consulting at Accenture in Italy explained what role he expects PLM Systems to play by saying: “PLM Systems will be a cornerstone of progressing Accenture’s leadership in engineering digitization services. We will combine our Industry X.0 capabilities with PLM Systems’ methodologies and solutions. This combination will allow us to make the industrial product development process more efficient and sustainable for our clients.”

Accenture is not the only one upgrading its capabilities to enhance its overall service offerings to clients with DataRobot announcing in June that they are releasing new AI features to their platform to drive greater business value to its customers.

Other recent acquisitions Accenture has made to strengthen its Industry X.0 business include German embedded software company ESR Labs, Dutch product design and innovation agency VanBerlo, U.S. product innovation and engineering company Nytec, and German strategic design consultancy designaffairs.

Terms of the transaction, which Accenture announced on May 19, 2020, were not disclosed.