ACS buys competitors to target data

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) has acquired four other industry groups, namely the Association for Data-Driven Marketing and Advertising (ADMA), the Institute of Analytics Professionals of Australia (IAPA), the Digital + Technology Collective (DTC) and Data Governance Australia (DGA).

ACS President Yohan Ramasundara told CRN the intention of the transaction is to unify groups that address data management, in pursuit of the Society’s mission to help Australian organisations wield technology effectively. He added that clever, ethical and secure use of data are now core business skills, so the ACS wants to weigh in.

“It is important to have a holistic view and an ecosystem approach,” Ramasundara told CRN. “By bringing these associations our fold we can get that sort of alignment.”

Ramasundara said looser alliances would not achieve the same outcomes, making the acquisition the best option. He also feels that consolidation is more likely to ensure each group’s aims are met, because businesses only have so many resources to expend on both fees for and involvement with industry groups.

Bringing the five organisations under one umbrella is therefore hoped to make all more viable and attractive.

The president said the four associations will live on, initially as their own brands, but that over time their work may be taken on by the ACS’ specialist committees. Each association’s focus and brand will remain.

Andrea Martens, ADMA CEO, is certainly on board, offering a canned quote to the effect that “In guiding the custodians of the data and technology systems that feed the data value chain, ACS is like a turbo charger for our associations that support the capture, storage, access, analysis, insights and action of data.”

“By joining ACS, we have access to enhanced resources and facilities as well leading edge thinking and education in the IT sector that will only expand our position in the marketplace and give our members even more reasons to join,” added Martens.

The ACS will do alright too: ADMA, IAPA, DGA and D+TC have over 600 corporate members between them, all now attached the ACS.

Terms of the acquisition were not revealed, but CRN understands the four acquired organisations operated under the umbrella of a single holding company and it’s that entity that has been acquired.