Accenture acquires True North Solutions to bolster industrial engineering capabilities

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has announced its acquisition of True North Solutions, a prominent provider of industrial engineering solutions based in Calgary, Alberta. This acquisition is set to expand Accenture’s capabilities in operational technology (OT), particularly for clients within the oil and gas and mining industries.

True North Solutions is renowned for its extensive experience in designing, building, and commissioning critical assets and infrastructure, which complements Accenture’s advanced digital capabilities. OT, which involves the hardware and software systems used to run and control physical equipment and facilities such as pipelines, refineries, and mines, is a critical area for technological integration and efficiency improvements.

Adam Foster, Accenture Canada’s Energy Portfolio leader, emphasized the strategic value of the acquisition: “True North Solutions brings boots-on-the-ground understanding of critical asset management, enhancing our ability to integrate digital technologies like the digital thread, predictive maintenance, and intelligent asset management to improve the safety and performance of field operations.”

With this acquisition, Accenture aims to better connect clients’ OT with enterprise IT systems to optimize equipment output and safety through real-time data analytics. The collaboration between Accenture and True North Solutions will focus on engineering and commissioning new field operations and facilities, where OT and IT integration and process digitization are foundational.

David Morgenstern, president of Accenture in Canada, highlighted the transformative impact of this acquisition: “By integrating True North Solutions’ expertise into our Industry X and Resources team, we enhance our ability to deliver digitally enabled field operations, driving greater productivity and predictability for our clients.”

Blair Hanel, CEO of True North Solutions, noted the benefits for both clients and the True North team: “Joining Accenture provides our clients in North America with access to leading digital technologies and global scale to advance their businesses. Our team will also gain opportunities to grow and deepen their careers within one of the world’s most innovative and global organizations.”

True North Solutions specializes in engineering and commissioning, industrial automation solutions, enterprise asset management, OT cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure for industrial telecommunications. The addition of True North’s team of 95 automation, instrumentation, and electrical engineering experts will further strengthen Accenture’s Industry X digital engineering and manufacturing service.

This acquisition is part of Accenture’s broader strategy to build capabilities for asset-intensive companies in Canada. Previous acquisitions include Comtech Group, specializing in consulting and program management for infrastructure projects, and Eclipse Automation, known for its customized manufacturing automation and robotics solutions.

As the industry moves towards increased digitalization, Accenture’s acquisition of True North Solutions marks a significant enhancement of its service offerings, positioning it to lead in the evolution of operational technologies across the energy and mining sectors.