Amsterdam, 10 January 2018 - Arcadis (EURONEXT: ARCAD) has further grown its digital and data expertise with the acquisition of Sheffield-based software and analytics firm, SEAMS. Together, both businesses will be able to provide clients with a unique blend of expert technical and asset knowledge combined with advanced analytics. Seams was established in 2002 and employs 45 people. By acquiring SEAMS, Arcadis' data analytics and predictive analytics offering has now grown to more than 200 people around the UK.
Arcadis' acquisition of SEAMS will address an increasingly critical issue for water companies, energy providers and infrastructure operators, helping them to improve customer satisfaction, increase affordability and maintain high levels of service.
Combining Arcadis deep asset knowledge, industry insight and data analytics will elevate the traditional consultancy approach. Arcadis will be able to give the nation's biggest utilities and infrastructure providers the benefit of quicker, more detailed expert analysis. In turn, this will lead to reduced business risk at lower cost, equipping clients to provide better service for their customers in the short-, medium- and long-term.
Led by Managing Director, Mark Engelhardt, and Technical Director, Mark Turner, SEAMS' cutting-edge data and predictive analytics help to monitor performance and advise on resilience on behalf of their clients to safeguard their assets, minimise costs and reduce risk.
The transaction represents Arcadis' latest move towards a fully digitally enabled business in the UK and overseas, making things faster and more sustainable and improving quality of life.
Commenting on the acquisition, Alan Brookes, CEO of Arcadis UK, said: "The utilities and infrastructure sectors are one of the last to be digitally disrupted and if we're to meet future consumer and client demands, our industry needs to move forward quickly. At Arcadis, this is our key priority and we are rapidly accelerating the digitisation of our entire business for the benefit of our clients and to improve quality of life for their customers.
"While the volume of data is growing exponentially, the real value lies in our ability to interpret and understand how to use it to deliver valued benefits. This is where the SEAMS team comes in. Working with our new colleagues to combine our expert industry views with increasingly data-driven insights will ultimately enhance the level of sophistication we are bringing to our clients, helping them to improve their operations and make things better for those that rely on their services."
Managing Director, Mark Engelhardt, said: "The drive for better corporate performance and returns sits at the heart of most businesses. Our approach is all about mining the plethora of data available to us and - most importantly - making the most effective use of it to inform the decision-making process.
"Our approach to data means that we can work with clients from the very earliest stages of strategic planning, right through to operational delivery, helping them to draw valuable insights that ultimately help to drive the best performance of their assets. Our EDA Analytics software already has a proven track record in the UK water, energy and transport sectors, and we are excited that by combining this with Arcadis' global reach, industry insight and deep asset knowledge, it will allow SEAMS to build new capability and access new clients and markets.
"The global demand for Advanced Analytics is at a major tipping point and the acquisition by Arcadis not only affords excellent career stability and development for our staff, but also presents the perfect strategic opportunity to propel both companies forward into their next stage of growth."
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Improving quality of life
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
ARCADIS INVESTOR RELATIONS
Jurgen Pullens
Mobile: +31 6 51599483
E-mail: jurgen.pullens@arcadis.com
ARCADIS CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
Joost Slooten
Mobile: +31 6 27061880
E-mail: joost.slooten@arcadis.com
ABOUT ARCADIS
Arcadis is the leading global Design & Consultancy firm for natural and built assets. Applying our deep market sector insights and collective design, consultancy, engineering, project and management services we work in partnership with our clients to deliver exceptional and sustainable outcomes throughout the lifecycle of their natural and built assets. We are 27,000 people, active in over 70 countries that generate €3.3 billion in revenues. We support UN-Habitat with knowledge and expertise to improve the quality of life in rapidly growing cities around the world. www.arcadis.com
ABOUT SEAMS
SEAMS was founded in Sheffield in 2002 and has since grown to become one of the UK's leading asset management software providers, working with organisations across the globe to help reduce costs and improve service. Our unique decision analytics software - Enterprise Decision Analytics (EDA) helps our clients manage the Asset Investment Planning process and ensures they are making the best decisions on balancing investment vs performance and risk whilst achieving the best possible business delivery outcomes.
