IBM Acquires Optevia for Undisclosed Sum

IBM (IBM) has acquired Software as a Service (SaaS) specialist and systems integrator Optevia for an undisclosed sum, the company announced earlier this week. The acquisition is expected to help Big Blue address increasing demand for CRM SaaS solutions within the public sector.

Optevia, which deals mostly with Microsoft Dynamics CRM solutions for the public sector, is slated for integration within IBM’s Global Business Services division.

No further information regarding Optevia’s C-suite or other details of the integration were provided in the press release.

IBM said it plans to scale the company’s solutions to other areas worldwide. Currently, the company plays heavily in providing solutions to the public sector in the United Kingdom, including UK Emergency Services, Central Government, Local Government, Health Authorities and more.

“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 – Europe, in a statement. “This strategic acquisition will help strengthen IBM as a SaaS provider and Global Software Integrator.”

The purchase could prove to be a smart decision, especially given estimates that the worldwide CRM industry currently totals more than $23 billion, according to industry analysts. Cloud-based CRM solutions alone are expected to account for more than half of that total.

The acquisition is IBM’s most recent purchase in the cloud space, after the company acquired Meteorix last year. M&A Advisory Firm Martin Wolf said the acquisition will allow IBM to keep pace with other players in the CRM SaaS market as the space becomes increasingly more competitive.