Publicis Groupe explores connected commerce; acquires Expicient
Publicis Groupe has acquired Expicient Inc. (Expicient), a global omni-channel services firm with expertise in inventory and order management systems (OMS), a capability that marketers need to manage inventory, pricing and offers across channels for today’s connected consumer who moves fluidly across digital and physical stores. Expicient will be integrated into the Publicis.Sapient platform under the Rosetta brand.
“Today’s always-on consumer makes no distinction between devices and channels. As a result our retail clients are increasingly looking for us to build systems inventory, supply chain, omni-channel commerce that enable the experience a 2015 consumer demands. Expicient joining Publicis.Sapient allows us to significantly strengthen our client’s ability to integrate offer information, order information, inventory information and pricing information across channels, which is a significant change from a world where the on-line stores and physical stores operated separately,” said Publicis.Sapient, CEO Alan Herrick.
The Groupe expects Expicient to strengthen Publicis.Sapient’s marketing, commerce and consulting offerings. In joining the Publicis Sapient platform, Expicient will be led by the Rosetta team and will contribute to Publicis.Sapient’s Global Distributed Delivery model, whereby the platform creates significant shared service capabilities accessible to all its clients.
“Rosetta is perfectly positioned to lead the integration of Expicient and help accelerate the benefit for Publicis.Sapient clients. SapientNitro, Razorfish Global and DigitasLBi are all highly recognised as leaders in omni-channel commerce, and together through the Publicis.Sapient platform we are unmatched. Expicient’s impact on our total business will be significant,” said Tom Adamski CEO Razorfish Global.
The announcement comes weeks after Publicis Groupe announced the completion of the Sapient acquisition and the formation of Publicis.Sapient. The creation of Publicis.Sapient combines global leaders SapientNitro, Razorfish Global, Rosetta and DigitasLBi, with the deep industry expertise of Sapient Consulting.
Expicient and Publicis.Sapient brands SapientNitro, Razorfish Global and Rosetta have previously collaborated on a number of global omni-channel commerce assignments with marketers including Staples, Target, Kroger, Fast Retailing, Marks & Spencer, Belk and Ralph Lauren. The agencies expect to quickly and seamlessly merge delivery capabilities and increase the value that can be offered to clients. Expicient’s capabilities will be shared across the Publicis.Sapient platform so that all clients benefit. As a result of the acquisition, Publicis.Sapient will now have the deepest OMS offering in the market, with expertise in IBM/Sterling, Manhattan and SAP/hybris.
“The opportunity ahead of us, to create differentiated customer experiences is tremendous. We are living in an unprecedented time of connected consumers and commerce. For Expicient, combining forces with Publicis.Sapient will allow our teams to deliver a full range of marketing and commerce solutions while significantly expanding our global reach. We’re excited to be a part of Publicis.Sapient and to meaningfully add to global commerce capabilities already recognised as the best in the world,” said Darpan Seth CEO and founder of Expicient.
Founded in 2008, Expicient is based in Andover, Massachusetts, with additional offices in the United Kingdom and India, in Gurgaon and Bangalore, where Publicis.Sapient also has a significant presence. Expicient serves a global roster of leading brands, including: The Aldo Groupe, Argos, Bed Bath & Beyond, BJ’s Wholesale Clubs, DHL, eBay Enterprise, Guitar Center, J. Crew, Lily Pulitzer, Lockheed Martin, Marks & Spencer, Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Staples, Target, Tesco and Williams Sonoma, among others.
