IBM Breaks Into UK Public Sector With Optevia Acquistion

IBM has acquired UK-based cloud CRM specialist Optevia in a bid to boost its cloud services for government and public sector.

Optevia focuses on delivering Microsoft Dynamics CRM Software as a Service (SaaS) systems integration, and will now be part of IBM’s Global Business Services division as IBM looks to find growth outside of its legacy business.

Government

Optevia already sells its services to UK emergency services, both central and local government and health authorities, so IBM’s looking at scooping up a valuable range of customers with the acquisition.

Unfortunately, terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Optevia posted some solid results for its 2014 financial year, including a 100 percent year-on-year boost for its CRM solutions revenue.

Optevia, which also provides solutions for the G-Cloud framework for the  Ministry of Justice and the UK Supreme Court, also claimed that G-Cloud business accounted for 60 percent of its revenue in 2014.

“By acquiring Optevia, IBM will be able to provide Public Sector clients and prospects with a range of unique, industry focused CRM based solutions,” said Joanna Davinson, IBM public sector leader for Europe.

“This strategic acquisition will help strengthen IBM as a SaaS provider and Global Software Integrator.”

Whilst IBM has been selling CRM services for some time now, mostly in partnership with Microsoft, it’s interesting to see the company snap up rivals that specialise in IBM’s weaker areas, like the public sector.

Optevia was founded in 2001, and with a customer list that includes councils, regulators, transport authorities and social housing organisations, IBM clearly wants to be trusted when it comes to the public sector.

But IBM’s plans for Optevia don’t stop there, according to Big Blue. IBM will also scale Optevia’s products across other areas in other countries.

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