Kin + Carta purchases Forecast Data Solutions
Kin + Carta has acquired the European arm of data service provider Forecast Data Solutions. The purchase of the Edinburgh-based firm takes Kin + Carta’s European data practice to more than 100 specialists.
Originally a printing business based in St Ives, Kin + Carta has since pivoted its model to become a digital transformation consultancy. Now, the firm has offices across the UK, Europe, the US, South America, and Asia, with a global team of some 1,500 technologists, strategists and creatives. This includes five UK offices, with locales in Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester and Liverpool, alongside its global headquarters in London.
The acquisition of Forecast Data Solutions accelerates the firm’s continued transformation. In particular, the acquisition doubles Kin + Carta’s European data practice to more than 100 expert data specialists, bolstering Kin + Carta’s data and AI strategy offering at a time of a rising demand for AI, advanced predictive data solutions and data science.
David Tuck, Group CEO of Europe at Kin + Carta, commented, “Omnichannel experiences powered by data drive huge business impact, and the addition of Forecast bolsters Kin + Carta’s existing capability in building dynamic pricing, analytics and data recommendation engines, all of which support long-term customer value and retention.”
Edinburgh-based Forecast Data Services, which also has a delivery hub in Poland, works to help clients harnesses the power of AI and machine learning to drive business performance. Core capabilities include data infrastructure, advanced analytics and commercial insights. The Forecast teams and brand in Europe will now be integrated into Kin + Carta, as the two firms hope to immediately benefit from identified demand, resource, and technology synergies. Meanwhile, Forecast Director and Founder Neil Macdonald will continue to drive growth in data and AI services, reporting directly to David Tuck, Group CEO of Europe at Kin + Carta.
Macdonald added, “Forecast and Kin + Carta first worked together on a joint client engagement in February 2022. We have a fantastically talented data team and our goal has always been to be the most impactful advanced analytics team in the UK. Combining our strengths with Kin + Carta's specialisms, scale and geographic reach will help propel us forward towards that goal and to the collective goal of building a world that works better for everyone.”
The news also further strengthens Kin + Carta’s recently rolled-out Edinburgh office. The Scottish city is widely considered to be one of the data capitals of Europe, making it an important market for digital consultants, and by locating a team in the Scottish city, Kin + Carta is seeking to enable itself to tap into the city’s highly skilled labour market, while also building bridges with digital trend-setters that could prove beneficial for the firm’s clients.
