HFS Highlight: Accenture acquires industrial robotics and automation solutions provider Pollux

In 2020, we explored how Accenture is executing a focused acquisition strategy for capability augmentation to deliver Industry 4.0 services. Some of its recent key Industry X related acquisitions in the areas of digital manufacturing, operations, and supply chain are industrial operations consulting firm Myrtle (US), technology consultancy SALT Solutions (Germany), PLM Systems (Italy), Callisto Integration (Canada), Silveo (France) and Enterprise System Partners (Ireland) among others. But for the first time, Accenture has acquired an industrial robotics solutions provider, Pollux. This acquisition will expand Accenture’s capabilities in the areas of operations and supply chain for clients in consumer goods, pharmaceutical and automotive industries. When other firms are talking about RPA and focusing on software automation, Accenture has acquired a real industrial robotics firm focusing on smart manufacturing.

Founded in 1996, Pollux has the experience of 1000+ project implementations for manufacturing companies, primarily in Brazil, particularly for some of the world’s largest pharmaceutical and food companies for their Brazil operations, and also for several vehicle manufacturing companies.

The usage of robotics is increasing as a part of smart manufacturing, and it is time to capitalize on its vast opportunities

We recently discussed the applications of robotics beyond their heritage roots in manufacturing. As per the report released by the International Federation of Robotics, “Sales of new robots remain on a high level with 373,000 units shipped globally in 2019. This is 12% less compared to 2018, but still, the 3rd highest sales volume ever recorded.”

AI, in combination with vision and other sensing systems, allows robots to master challenging tasks. The pandemic has also challenged the existing operations and supply chain methods. Thus manufacturers have the opportunity to rethink the operations and supply chain with more productivity and flexibility. Robots also help to make assembly-line much more flexible compared to traditional production lines. COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated robotics beyond established practice and usage.

“Automation and human + machine collaboration are digitally transforming manufacturing and supply chain operations to be more flexible, resilient, sustainable and safe, and to better meet ever-changing customer demands. Tangibly seeing these benefits in practice requires a true integration of information technology and operations technology, which is what Pollux will allow us to offer our manufacturing clients.”

Nigel Stacey, global lead for Accenture Industry X

Pollux provides solutions to optimize manufacturing and logistics processes. It designs, engineers, and deploys fully functional assembly lines, including the robots and the software that controls them. Pollux also offers visual analytics inspection solutions, autonomous mobile robots, and robots as a service for shopfloors and warehouses. Pollux has experience in delivering assembly lines, robotic cells, and machine building solutions that provide a high degree of automation based on advanced manufacturing precepts and Industry 4.0. It also successfully installed 150 collaborative robots throughout Brazil. Pollux is also active across industrial internet development in Brazil and founding member of the “Brazilian Association of the industrial internet.” They have developed Pollux DMS, a software suite for assisting customers in extracting the digital transformation journey’s benefits into five modules: Connect, Monitor, Action, Predict, and Analytics.

Post the acquisition, 290+ professionals of Pollux will join Accenture’s Industry X group.

 “As part of Accenture Industry X, we can offer existing and new clients complete transformation of manufacturing and logistics processes. Combining IT innovations with industrial automation can enable powerful new business models, in which, for example, a consumer’s purchase at home immediately triggers a robot’s next move in a factory on the other side of the planet.”

José Rizzo Hahn Filho, CEO and founder of Pollux

Bottom line: The success of the acquisition lies in Accenture’s capability to expand the deep robotics capability of Pollux across North America, Europe, and APAC clients

Robotics applications are on the rise due to productivity factors, and COVID-19 has accelerated the overall adoption. Besides industrial robotics, Pollux also has strong collaborative robots capability as it introduced collaborative robots by Universal Robots to South America. Thus with the expanding global industrial robotics market, the acquisition of Pollux comes at the right time for Accenture. It now has access to an exhaustive suite of industrial and collaborative robotics technologies and solutions. As Pollux has deep roots in South America, Accenture needs to integrate and imbibe the robotics capability across the Industry X business unit level so that the clients from other geographies can also benefit from the solutions. Accenture will also benefit from Pollux’s experience across automotive and pharmaceutical clients as the automotive industry is the largest user of industrial robots for manufacturing and assembling components. Whereas the healthcare and pharmaceutical segment is also expected to witness growth in robotics applications spanning from manufacturing to applications.