IBM today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire ecx.io — a full-service digital agency headquartered in Dusseldorf, Germany.
In a press statement, IBM said, the acquisition of ecx.io is the latest strategic move in a rapid-fire series of investments in the design and experience prowess of IBM iX.
In the last week, iX announced its intent to acquire Resource/Ammirati, a US-based digital marketing and creative agency, and Aperto, a digital agency with headquarters in Berlin.
IBM said today’s transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2016 and is subject to applicable regulatory review and customary closing conditions. Financial details were not disclosed.
The proposed acquisition of ecx.io extends the strategy and design expertise of IBM Interactive Experience (IBM iX) with new digital marketing, commerce and platform skills to accelerate clients’ digital transformations.
ecx.io is a digital agency in Europe and one of the few specialized in implementation services across three of the leading commerce and customer platform software providers: Adobe, Sitecore, and SAP hybris.
IBM said the hybris capability deepens its longstanding relationship with SAP, and brings the value of design thinking to the companies’ expansion in e-commerce.
Upon close of this transaction, ecx.io will bring 200 employees specialized in designing and implementing commerce and digital marketing services and platforms to IBM iX.
According to the company, clients will benefit from this range of capabilities, combined with the strategy, analytics, cloud and cognitive depth of IBM.
After the acquisition, ecx.io will continue to serve its clients, including Axalta, SPAR, Hammer and JAB Anstoetz, from existing locations in Dusseldorf, Bracknell/London, Munich, Wels, Varaždin, Vienna and Zurich.
Arya MM
