BearingPoint signs ERP partnership with Unit4 in UK
BearingPoint has signed a strategic alliance with IT-services firm Unit4. With the joining of forces, BearingPoint strengthens its Unit4-based ERP offerings, while Unit4 in turn can benefit from the implementation track record and thought leadership of the global advisory.
In recent years BearingPoint and Unit4 have established a good working partnership in the UK and Ireland. The management and technology consultancy firm is for instance already supporting Unit4 with the roll-out of Unit4 Business World (a cloud ERP solution formerly known as Agresso) at 27 of Ireland’s 30 local government authorities, while also in other European countries the companies have embarked on joint implementation projects.
Based on the success to date, the firms have in the UK and Ireland decided to take the alliance to the next level, with a strategic partnership the result. “We are delighted to enter a new partnership with Unit4, one that offers strong potential to develop and grow new business in both our existing account base, and with new clients, both in the United Kingdom and globally,” comments Angus Ward, Partner at BearingPoint.
As part of the deal, BearingPoint is establishing operational capability for Unit4 applications in the region. This will help it lead as prime contractor and systems integrator on large-scale technology transformation projects, and collaborate with BPO organisations, to deliver enterprise solutions enabled by Unit4 Business World. The focus will be based around the implementation of new-generation, agile enterprise resource planning solutions (ERP) from Unit4. From an industry perspective, the initial emphasis will be on central government, health, commercial, insurance, education and local government organisations, with the potential to expand to other industries in due course
Together the firms believe they can bring “considerable benefits” to customers, on the back of BearingPoint’s track record in the market for delivering large-scale technology projects and Unit4’s differentiated IT-solution. “Both BearingPoint and Unit4 are thought leaders in designing and delivering innovative, technology-enabled business solutions and together, we can create powerful business synergies that deliver real results to our customers,” adds Ward.
BearingPoint’s decision to invest in Unit4 capabilities is partly based on the growing demand for technology consulting (+7.7% growth expected this year), but also on the positive outlook for the software package. Unit4 Business World is acclaimed for its flexible architecture and attractive cost of ownership, as a result its market share in the UK and Ireland – particularly in the public sector – is on the rise. “Services organisations are looking for an alternative to legacy enterprise software. They want solutions that are simple to use and save time spent on repetitive and unnecessary tasks,” says Anwen Robinson, SVP Global Partner Ecosystem at Unit4.
“BearingPoint recognises the need for simpler, more agile systems that can be implemented quickly without risk. Through systems designed specifically for services and people-centric organisations we offer something new and valuable to the industry specifically now when they need that”, Robinson concludes.
Consulting alliance
For Unit4 the deal represents the second partnership with a consultancy in recent weeks. In April the IT-services provider signed an agreement with ConQuaestor, a Netherlands-based consulting firm that is part of the Grant Thornton network.
