3fifteen adds weight to its CRM capabilities with the acquisition of BMO Software

Local Microsoft development powerhouse and Britehouse subsidiary 3fifteen has announced the acquisition of Microsoft CRM specialist BMO Software for an undisclosed cash sum.

The acquisition allows 3fifteen to position itself as one of the largest Microsoft CRM consultancies in the country and grants it the ability to capitalise on the growing demand for large CRM solutions in the local market.

BMO Software in turn gains access to the resources, investment capital and infrastructure it requires to take its activities in the CRM space to the next level.

“It's a deal that works out perfectly for both parties,” says James Baber, Managing Director at 3fifteen.

Baber says that his company's decision to acquire BMO was driven by the fast-growing demand for CRM solutions in the South African market.

“While we've had good success in securing and delivering on business in the CRM market, our foray into this space revealed that we needed to scale our operation up in order to capitalise on opportunities we simply weren't reaching,” he says.

“While growing our CRM team organically would have suited us best, an acquisition would have allowed it to immediately gain access the scale it needed to chase new opportunities.

“The close cultural fit we found when we took a closer look at BMO, as well as the fact that BMO is well-known as the delivery muscle behind many of the larger local Microsoft partners' CRM implementations sealed the deal for us,” he adds.

”We feel like we're gaining the benefits of growing organically and by acquisition with this transaction - we're extremely positive about the opportunities it presents,” he says.

Paul Slade managing director of BMO says that his company is extremely satisfied with its decision to sell to 3fifteen.

“We've known that acquisition was going to be our primary route for expansion for some time now,” Slade explains.

In fact, he says, 3fifteen's offer is the eighth his company has entertained thus far.

“The previous seven bidders quite simply didn't have the cultural fit we were looking for,” he adds. “3fifteen and BMO however fitted each other perfectly.

“It really was a no brainer,” he says. Looking forward, Baber says that the CRM expertise gained through the acquisition will allow it to begin addressing an entirely new group of customers and at the same time bring new expertise into existing accounts.

There is however no reason that relationships BMO held with Microsoft partners in the local market should end, he says.

“We have experienced the shortage of skills in the CRM environment first hand and remain open to partnerships with other Microsoft-aligned partners,” Baber says.

Baber admits however that the company will remain focused on chasing new CRM opportunities in the market and bringing its new expertise to its existing clients.

The transaction is effective immediately and the companies are already meeting with key customers and partners to discuss the transition.

“Largely, the news has been met with enthusiasm,” Baber adds.

“We're convinced that this positive sentiment will carry through to the rest of the market,” he concludes.