The acquisition of the boutique Australian digital agency is part of a mission to extend the strategy and design expertise of IBM iX
IBM has acquired Australian boutique agency, Vivant Digital, as part of an extension to the strategy and design expertise of IBM iX.
With close to a decade of innovation consultancy experience, Vivant uses insights from behavioural science, data and technology to assist Australian startups and corporates, primarily in the financial services and distribution industries.
“Australian companies are looking to disrupt the market and seek out new business models, but need the assurance behind the creative thinking on digital projects," IBM managing partner for global business services A/NZ, Dee McGrath, said. "This acquisition blends industry expertise, technology and experience design, underpinned by business accountability. We believe IBM iX brings a unique offering for this market.”
CEO and founder of Vivant, Anthony Farah, will be appointed as IBM A/NZ digital strategy and iX Leader, and his team will join the IBM iX team to create consumer-grade experiences for Australian clients.
Together, IBM said iX and Vivant, based in Sydney and Melbourne, will address the growing need of clients seeking transformation though innovative digital business models and enhanced customer experiences.
“This is an exciting direction for Vivant clients and employees," Farah said. "We now have scale and greater opportunity to address the growing needs of CEOs and innovation leaders willing to disrupt the market by seeking out new business models. We see it as converging the best of big with the best of small."
This adds to a series of IBM acquisitions has made during 2016 as it rapidly expands its iX global capabilities.
“Customer experience is a critical element as our clients develop their business strategy,” IBM iX global leader, Paul Papas, said. “IBM shares a similar design, consulting and management philosophy with Vivant and our combined teams will raise the bar for experience-led, design driven, digital reinvention.”
The acquisition is expected to close in the final quarter of 2017 subject to applicable regulatory review and customary closing conditions. Financial details were not disclosed.
Follow CMO on Twitter: @CMOAustralia, take part in the CMO conversation on LinkedIn: CMO ANZ, join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CMOAustralia, or check us out on Google+:google.com/+CmoAu
I’ve been a long-time fan of renowned effectiveness experts, Peter Field and Les Binet, and their work. But while their approach is clearly important, the marketing leader’s challenge to deliver effectiveness more often lies in organisational structure. I see the bigger question being whether a marketing chief has a seat at the executive table, and the ear and respect of the CEO and company board.
Every flagship smartphone in Australia includes hardware and software purpose-built for AR. A huge audience is ready and waiting. We have an opportunity to craft extraordinary, innovative work. But to get there, we need to push our creative thinking a little harder, writes Gil Fewster.
There are five tell-tale signs your brand needs to take a long hard look at itself.
In this bonus last episode of this new podcast series, BrandHook MD, Pip Stocks, talks with former ANZ group general manager of marketing, Louise Eyres, talks about the importance of thinking like a customer and using intuition to solve customer painpoints.
Why it's important for me to know that? I don't get it, sorry.
James Fogle
7 things you need to know about Facebook's mood experiment
Info graphic have proven to be very useful to create brand awareness and drive traffic. Thanks for sharing these Information.Graphic Desi...
Govind Dadhich
Image intelligence:10 must-see infographics for marketers
Best web hosting packages Vancouver WA understands that only technical support and domain associated email address can bring huge leads ...
Radiata Solutions
6 Ways to ramp up Social Media to Your Web Design
I had the same vision about change from CX terminology to HX. Even with almost the same title: 'Forget customer experience...' https://ww...
Ekaterina Khramkova
Forget customer experience, human experience is marketing's next frontier
Thank you, so do I.
David Freeman
Sustainability of message: H2coco founder's commitment to consumers