Accenture acquires UK data consultancy Redkite

21 December 2023 Consultancy.uk

Accenture has committed to growing its data and AI offerings in the UK with the acquisition of data consultancy Redkite. The deal will conclude for an undisclosed fee, and is part of a global investment campaign worth $3 billion.

In many ways, the last year has seen the world’s largest consulting firms look to downsize their presences. Having over-recruited amid the shortly-lived optimism of the post-lockdown months, the rampant inflation of 2022 saw client activity slow dramatically – so over the last 12 months, the likes of the Big Four, the MBB and Accenture have been pushing ahead with layoffs.

Accenture announced in March 2023 that it would cut its headcount by 19,000 globally. However, with the headroom these choices have opened up, Accenture has also sought to increase its capabilities in two major lines – where client sentiment still seems to be red-hot.

Accenture acquires UK data consultancy Redkite

Over the next three years, Accenture plans to invest more than $3 billion in its data and AI practice, as hype in the sector continues to reach fever pitch. Over the course of that expansion, the practice aims to double its headcount to 80,000 professionals, through a mix of hiring, training and acquisitions – in order to better help clients across all industries rapidly and responsibly advance and use AI to achieve greater growth, efficiency, and resilience.

The latest deal to that end comes in the shape of Redkite – a UK-headquartered data consultancy. According to a release from Accenture, the acquisition will expand the firm’s data capabilities to help clients introduce “modern data platforms that unlock the power of AI across the enterprise”.

Kayur Rughani, a managing director in Accenture’s data and AI practice, said, “AI is a significant catalyst and opportunity for business transformation. In order to move from experimentation to scaled implementation, our clients need a strong data and AI foundation, and they need to be value-led in every capability they choose to reinvent with generative AI. The powerful combination of Accenture and Redkite’s capabilities, expertise and services will help clients make the shift to scale AI investments, rapidly and responsibly.”

Founded in 2018, Redkite boasts a team of more than 230 professionals, and offers up a full breadth of capabilities, from data strategy, to architecting and implementing modern data platforms. Based in London, the firm has helped some of the UK’s most ambitious growth companies and household name brands to launch new products and services, make better data-driven decisions, and create personalised experiences for customers. The consultancy also has a US presence, with an office in New York – and has previouslyrecognised as a ‘Great Place to Work for Women’.

Jon Tippell, managing director at Redkite, said, “We all know the next technology revolution is here, but data readiness is the top challenge for companies as they move forward with AI adoption. For companies to embrace the opportunity of data and AI, they need strong digital foundations in the cloud across their business. Joining Accenture means we can become a stronger force for our clients to set their data strategies in motion and fuel their organisations with intelligence.”

The deal also complements a number of Accenture’s previous acquisitions in the UK. In 2021, it purchased cloud and digital transformation consultancy Infinity Works, and in 2020, it welcomed analytics and data transformation services consultancy Mudano to its ranks.

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