Royal HaskoningDHV picks up UK-based software consultancy

22 January 2019 Consultancy.uk

Netherlands-headquartered consultancy Royal HaskoningDHV has acquired hybrid software and consultancy firm Lanner, for an undisclosed fee. The UK-based firm specialises in predictive simulation for industrial clients.

Engineering and project management firm Royal HaskoningDHV has been committing itself to an on-going digital transformation over the past two years. In 2017, the firm launched its new strategy in 2017 with a clear focus on data and digital. The company made important steps to transform its organisation, introduce a new digital way of working, and co-create with clients and strategic partners (like data intelligence lab HAL24K) to create a new generation of tech solutions which deliver major impacts for businesses across the world.

As part of this, in July 2018 Royal HaskoningDHV acquired data science company Ynformed. Now, as it looks to push on with its agenda for change, the firm has made another addition to its ranks in the shape of UK-based consultancy Lanner. The dual purpose software and consultancy provider possesses a line of simulation software, named WITNESS, which connects physical assets, processes and resources into a single digital model that delivers actionable insights to make business operations and supply chains more resilient and efficient.

With the acquisition of Lanner, Royal HaskoningDHV aims to strengthen its market position in the UK especially in consumer goods, manufacturing, automotive and energy and utilities; it also sees great potential for maritime and aviation. The move also brings opportunities for leveraging Ynformed data-science capabilities and HAL24K’s data analytics capabilities through Lanner’s software solutions. In Asia Pacific, meanwhile, the focus will be on the growing consumer goods market by combining Lanner’s predictive simulation with Royal HaskoningDHV’s parametric business consultancy. Financial details of the deal were not made public.

According to a release accompanying news of the deal, both companies believe their cultures and visions are much aligned – a key aspect of any M&A activity, particularly in the consulting industry – and their customer bases are complementary. Royal HaskoningDHV and Lanner subsequently stated that they feel confident that by joining forces they are able to add additional value to their diverse, global customer base.

Royal HaskoningDHV CEO Erik Oostwegel said of the deal, “Predictive simulation helps to make fact-based investment decisions, improve operational efficiency and embrace Industry 4.0. It allows us to better support our clients on business questions such as ‘what happens if we expand our production capacity’, or ‘what would be the best Industry 4.0 investment for our specific situation’… By combining our extensive engineering and consultancy knowledge with data-driven and technology-based solutions, we are able to better advise and support our clients to run a sustainable business.”

Lanner CEO David Jones added, “This teaming… allows Lanner to strengthen its position as the leading simulation company driving real and deliverable Industry 4.0 certainty and success. Being part of the Royal HaskoningDHV family will provide greater technology and market access, accelerating our vision and business strategy of delivering predictive digital twin technology and applications that future proof our customer’s decision making. This is a real win-win!”