May 09, 2016
Accenture to Acquire OPS Rules to Expand Its Machine Learning and Operations Analytics Capabilities that Help Deliver Data-Driven Transformation
Prominent supply chain and operations analytics scholar David Simchi-Levi and team to join Accenture Analytics
NEW YORK and WALTHAM, MA; May 9, 2016 – Accenture (NYSE: ACN) is expanding its machine learning and operations analytics capabilities by acquiring OPS Rules, a boutique analytics consulting company that specializes in the application of data science to create supply chain and operations analytics solutions. When the acquisition is completed, Accenture will add new operations analytics professionals to its team that apply machine learning and optimization techniques to develop fresh and innovative analytics approaches for clients across many industries. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 2012, OPS Rules has offices in Waltham, Massachusetts and Richardson, Texas. OPS Rules is led by David Simchi-Levi, a Professor of Engineering Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and renowned supply chain and operations analytics expert. Simchi-Levi and his team will join Accenture Analytics, part of Accenture Digital, and will also be a part of Accenture’s Data Science Center of Excellence, an innovation team that focuses on solving immediate and complex client problems through advanced analytics approaches, including machine learning, deep learning, text analytics and more.
Serving clients in the consumer packaged goods, high-tech, life sciences and industrial sectors, OPS Rules provides multi-echelon inventory optimization, custom supply chain analytics, supply chain risk management and dynamic pricing services to help companies improve operations and enhance business results.
“Under David Simchi-Levi’s leadership, the team at OPS Rules has been extremely innovative in applying machine learning to optimize various business operations including supply chains, procurement risk and dynamic pricing for the retail industry and beyond. We are delighted to welcome them to the Accenture Analytics team,” said Narendra Mulani, chief analytics officer, Accenture Analytics. “OPS Rules’ expertise and techniques will continue to enhance our ability to create value at scale for our clients through data-driven transformations.”
“Our mission is in total alignment with Accenture Analytics – meaning every day we are focused on helping clients identify and capture hidden opportunities in their data,” said David Simchi-Levi, chairman of OPS Rules. “By joining Accenture, we will be able to tap into its global footprint, ability to deliver at scale, and deep industry knowledge to collaborate on advanced and operational analytics strategies that can empower even greater change. Together, we can help clients to innovate through advanced data science and transform into insight-driven enterprises.”
Accenture is constantly developing and delivering new analytics capabilities for its clients. Within the past year, Accenture launched the Accenture Insights Platform, a cloud-based analytics-as-a-service solution designed to simplify analytics and deliver real-time actionable insights, and the Accenture Cyber Intelligence Platform, a security solution that uses machine learning and streaming analytics to help organizations identify network-born cyber threats. Accenture also acquired Gapso, an advanced analytics services and solutions provider based in Brazil that specialized in solving complex supply chain and logistics challenges.
Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions.
About Accenture
Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions – underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network – Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With approximately 373,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.
Accenture Analytics, part of Accenture Digital, helps clients to use analytics and artificial intelligence to drive actionable insights, at scale. Accenture Analytics applies sophisticated algorithms, data engineering and visualization to extract business insights and help clients turn those insights into actions that drive tangible outcomes—to improve their performance and disrupt their markets. With deep industry and technical experience, Accenture Analytics provides services and solutions that include, but are not limited to: analytics-as-a-service through the Accenture Insights Platform, continuous intelligent security, machine learning, and IoT Analytics. For more information, follow us @ISpeakAnalytics and visit www.accenture.com/analytics.
About OPS Rules
OPS Rules has been serving clients in the supply chain analytics and operations consulting areas for over four years. The firm focuses on supply chain and operations analytics that transform complex supply chains for competitive advantage and significant performance gains. The firm transfers these competencies so clients can become data driven through analytics and realize significant savings and performance results.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “positioned,” “outlook” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These include, without limitation, risks that: Accenture and OPS Rules will not be able to close the transaction in the time period anticipated, or at all, which is dependent on the parties’ ability to satisfy certain closing conditions; the transaction might not achieve the anticipated benefits for Accenture; Accenture’s results of operations could be adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic conditions and the effects of these conditions on the company’s clients’ businesses and levels of business activity; Accenture’s business depends on generating and maintaining ongoing, profitable client demand for the company’s services and solutions, and a significant reduction in such demand could materially affect the company’s results of operations; if Accenture is unable to keep its supply of skills and resources in balance with client demand around the world and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills, the company’s business, the utilization rate of the company’s professionals and the company’s results of operations may be materially adversely affected; the markets in which Accenture competes are highly competitive, and Accenture might not be able to compete effectively; Accenture could have liability or Accenture’s reputation could be damaged if the company fails to protect client and/or company data or information systems as obligated by law or contract or if the company’s information systems are breached; Accenture’s results of operations and ability to grow could be materially negatively affected if the company cannot adapt and expand its services and solutions in response to ongoing changes in technology and offerings by new entrants; the company’s results of operations could materially suffer if the company is not able to obtain sufficient pricing to enable it to meet its profitability expectations; if Accenture does not accurately anticipate the cost, risk and complexity of performing its work or if the third parties upon whom it relies do not meet their commitments, then Accenture’s contracts could have delivery inefficiencies and be less profitable than expected or unprofitable; Accenture’s results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; Accenture’s profitability could suffer if its cost-management strategies are unsuccessful, and the company may not be able to improve its profitability through improvements to cost-management to the degree it has done in the past; Accenture’s business could be materially adversely affected if the company incurs legal liability; Accenture’s work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment; Accenture might not be successful at identifying, acquiring or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; Accenture’s Global Delivery Network is increasingly concentrated in India and the Philippines, which may expose it to operational risks; changes in Accenture’s level of taxes, as well as audits, investigations and tax proceedings, or changes in the company’s treatment as an Irish company, could have a material adverse effect on the company’s results of operations and financial condition; as a result of Accenture’s geographically diverse operations and its growth strategy to continue geographic expansion, the company is more susceptible to certain risks; adverse changes to Accenture’s relationships with key alliance partners or in the business of its key alliance partners could adversely affect the company’s results of operations; Accenture’s services or solutions could infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the company might lose its ability to utilize the intellectual property of others; if Accenture is unable to protect its intellectual property rights from unauthorized use or infringement by third parties, its business could be adversely affected; Accenture’s ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; if Accenture is unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; any changes to the estimates and assumptions that Accenture makes in connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its financial results; many of Accenture’s contracts include payments that link some of its fees to the attainment of performance or business targets and/or require the company to meet specific service levels, which could increase the variability of the company’s revenues and impact its margins; if Accenture is unable to collect its receivables or unbilled services, the company’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be adversely affected; Accenture’s results of operations and share price could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain effective internal controls; Accenture may be subject to criticism and negative publicity related to its incorporation in Ireland; as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the “Risk Factors” heading in Accenture plc’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this news release speak only as of the date they were made, and Accenture undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in Accenture’s expectations.
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Contacts:
Kathryn Zbikowski
Accenture
+1 917 452 0127
kathryn.zbikowski@accenture.com
Edith Simchi-Levi
OPS Rules
+ 855 677 7853