The last part of Fujitsu Consulting to call itself DMR has beefed up its Quebec presence by the acquisition of a neighbouring IT service provider.
The company this week said it had acquired MultiPro Services Conseils, which will add 200 to the 800 people Montreal-based DMR Consulting employs in the province. Fujitsu, which acquired DMR in 1997 as part of its purchase of Amdahl, absorbed the consulting arm into a division that includes the application units of another Fujitsu subsidiary, Europe-based ICL, Fujitsu Systems Business of America and Fujitsu Systems Europe. Though that operation was renamed Fujitsu Consulting last year, the Quebec offices retained the DMR name, where it has a long history from its beginnings 30 years ago as a Montreal consulting firm.
André Pouliot, DMR Consulting’s president, said the MultiPro acquisition is part of a strategic plan which includes reinforcing the company’s position in the private sector. “”In our case, that meant (seeking business in) Montreal,”” he said. “”With all the consolidation over the last two years, it’s created an opportunity to access Tier 1 clients.””
DMR and MultiPro unofficially joined forces earlier this year, when the two firms teamed up to respond to a request for proposals by Desjardins Group.
“”It’s a trend here in Montreal. All major clients that didn’t go with an outsourcing partner think of issuing or selecting three companies they will partners with over the next five years,”” Pouliot said.
Dan McLean, an outsourcing analyst with Toronto-based IDC Canada, said the same kind of trend exists elsewhere, but only among certain enterprises.
“”I think companies that are experienced outsourcers would tend to do it that way,”” he said. “”If I’ve been doing this for a while, I’m comfortable managing all of those relationships. And I know what it is I want to outsource and what I expect.””
DMR sees itself as a value-added consultant that’s good for fixed price projects, Pouliot said, while Multi-Pro addresses delivery services. “”Their commitment is to find the best resources. Today the major clients ask for both at the same time,”” he said. DMR might be called in, for example, if a MultiPro client needed business intelligence expertise for a specific project, he added.
Pouliot did not foresee layoffs as a result of the transaction, the financial terms of which were not disclosed.
“”There will be an integration, but not much,”” he said. “”Of course we will be able now to open our books internally and share our knowledge of the market, but fundamentally, their way of operating will remain.””
Besides financial services, Pouliot said MultiPro may be able to help DMR win more business in the energy market.
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