Swiss-headquartered Akkodis buys Australia's Barhead Solutions

Global digital engineering firm Akkodis has bought Sydney-headquartered Microsoft business applications specialist Barhead Solutions.

Akkodis is part of the Adecco Group, and employs 50,000 technical experts across 30 countries, focusing on clean energy transition and green mobility solutions.

The deal enhances Swiss-based Akkodis' consulting services, information and communications technology, project delivery and managed services in the Australian market.

Barhead expertise includes customer relationship management, enterprise resource planning, AI and low-code solutions, including with Microsoft Dynamics, Power Platform and Copilot.

This will complement Akkodis' digital transformation, data and analytics, application modernisation, cloud and infrastructure, business applications and consulting services. 

"The combination of Barhead and Akkodis offers the market a modern consulting firm servicing Microsoft business apps, data, and AI services," said John Orrock, co-founder and head of capability of Barhead.

"To capitalise on growing demand, we recognised that expanding our capabilities through a strategic partnership was essential. The timing was perfect, and Akkodis is the ideal firm to amplify Barhead's Microsoft partnership," Orrock added.

Akkodis Australia managing director Peter Hawkins said that by "bringing Barhead into the Akkodis family we are creating an unparalleled powerhouse of Microsoft expertise."

Barhead is a multiple-year Microsoft Business Applications Inner Circle award winner. Barhead was also described as a leader in Power Platform services by global research and advisory firm ISG.

Both companies share a track record in Microsoft's social impact initiatives, winning the tech giant's Partner of the Year awards in recent years. Barhead won the 2024 Microsoft ANZ Social Impact Partner of the Year Award; the fourth time it has been recognised at the POTY awards.

Barhead was also CRN Australia Impact Awards finalist in 2021, in the Platform Innovator category.

"Joining Akkodis amplifies our expertise and broadens the outcomes we can deliver for clients, all whilst maintaining our commitment to innovation and personalised customer service," Ken Struthers, chief executive and co-founder of Barhead, said.

SIX Swiss Exchange-listed Adecco Group is a global recruitment firm.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"The business apps market has seen solid growth and interest over the last few years, driven by strong demand from customers and increasing focus on leveraging the capabilities of core ERP, CRM and ITSM/ITOM platforms in particular," Tech Research Asia's Mark Iles told CRN Australia, noting "several significant transactions in recent years".