Arcadis has grown its digital and data expertise with the acquisition of Sheffield-based software and analytics firm, SEAMS. Together, both businesses will be able to provide clients with a blend of expert technical and asset knowledge combined with advanced analytics. 

Established in 2002, SEAMS employs 45 people and the acquisition will grow Arcadis’ data analytics and predictive analytics capability to more than 200 people around the UK.

The acquisition will address an increasingly critical issue for water companies, energy providers and infrastructure operators - helping them to improve customer satisfaction, increase affordability and maintain high levels of service.

By combining deep asset knowledge, industry insight and data analytics, Arcadis hope to elevate the traditional consultancy approach and give the nation’s biggest utilities and infrastructure providers the benefit of quicker, more detailed expert analysis. In turn, they say this will lead to reduced business risk at lower cost, equipping clients to provide better service for their customers in the short-, medium- and long-term.

Led by managing director, Mark Engelhardt, and technical director, Mark Turner, SEAMS’ cutting-edge data and predictive analytics help to monitor performance and advise on resilience on behalf of their clients to safeguard their assets, minimise costs and reduce risk.

The acquisition represents Arcadis’ latest move towards a fully digitally enabled business in the UK and overseas, making things faster and more sustainable and improving quality of life.

Commenting on the acquisition, Alan Brookes, CEO of Arcadis UK, said: “The utilities and infrastructure sectors are one of the last to be digitally disrupted and if we’re to meet future consumer and client demands, our industry needs to move forward quickly. At Arcadis, this is our key priority and we are rapidly accelerating the digitisation of our entire business for the benefit of our clients and to improve quality of life for their customers.

“While the volume of data is growing exponentially, the real value lies in our ability to interpret and understand how to use it to deliver valued benefits. This is where the SEAMS team comes in.  Working with our new colleagues to combine our expert industry views with increasingly data-driven insights will ultimately enhance the level of sophistication we are bringing to our clients, helping them to improve their operations and make things better for those that rely on their services.”

SEAMS managing director, Mark Engelhardt, said: “The drive for better corporate performance and returns sits at the heart of most businesses. Our approach is all about mining the plethora of data available to us and - most importantly - making the most effective use of it to inform the decision-making process.

“Our approach to data means that we can work with clients from the very earliest stages of strategic planning, right through to operational delivery, helping them to draw valuable insights that ultimately help to drive the best performance of their assets. Our EDA Analytics software already has a proven track record in the UK water, energy and transport sectors, and we are excited that by combining this with Arcadis’ global reach, industry insight and deep asset knowledge, it will allow SEAMS to build new capability and access new clients and markets.”