Accenture acquires OPS Rules to expand machine learning and analytics offering

Accenture has agreed to acquire the US-based analytics consulting firm OPS Rules.

The acquisition allows Accenture to expand its machine learning and operations analytics capabilities, helping it deliver data-driven transformation.

OPS Rules, founded in 2012, specialises in the application of data science to create supply chain and operations analytics solutions.

The company offers inventory optimisation, custom supply chain analytics, supply chain risk management and dynamic pricing services to help businesses enhance operations and business results.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor of engineering systems David Simchi-Levi is the chairman of OPS Rules, which has offices in Waltham, Massachusetts and Richardson, Texas.

As part of the deal, Simchi-Levi and his team will join Accenture Analytics, a part of Accenture Digital, and will be a part of Accenture’s Data Science Center of Excellence.

Upon completion of the acquisition, Accenture aims to add new operations analytics professionals to its team that apply machine learning and optimisation techniques to develop new analytics approaches for clients in several industries.

OPS Rules chairman David Simchi-Levi said: "By joining Accenture, we will be able to tap into its global footprint, ability to deliver at scale, and deep industry knowledge to collaborate on advanced and operational analytics strategies that can empower even greater change.

"Together, we can help clients to innovate through advanced data science and transform into insight-driven enterprises."

Accenture Analytics chief analytics officer Narendra Mulani said: "OPS Rules’ expertise and techniques will continue to enhance our ability to create value at scale for our clients through data-driven transformations."

Last year, Accenture acquired Gapso, an analytics services and solutions provider in Brazil that assists enterprises to solve supply chain and logistics challenges.

Gapso provides operational planning solutions based on advanced analytics methods to enable data-driven decision making.

Accenture Analytics helps clients to use analytics and artificial intelligence for generating actionable insights.

It delivers services and solutions that include analytics-as-a-service via the Accenture Insights Platform, continuous intelligent security, machine learning, and IoT Analytics.