VENDORiQ: Atturra to Acquire Blue Connections – What Should Clients Do Now?

Why it Matters

This acquisition is a logical, strategic move for Atturra, continuing its recent pattern of purchasing specialist capabilities to fuel growth. Atturra has a solid history of organic growth in the public sector, built on its expertise with platforms such as TechnologyOne, Boomi, and Microsoft. This latest investment signals a clear intent to both expand its service catalogue and penetrate the enterprise and corporate markets where Blue Connections has an established foothold.

The rationale is sound; combining Atturra’s strengths in software and consulting with Blue Connections’ expertise in hybrid cloud, security, and device management creates a more complete offering. In theory, the acquisition will allow Atturra to compete for larger, more complex and ‘end-to-end’ transformation projects.  Given Atturra’s track record of integrating previous acquisitions, the initial transition for Blue Connections’s customers is expected to be relatively stable, so IBRS predicts that Atturra will be able to fulfil its goal of bringing Blue Connections’s capabilities into the fold.

However, as with any merger, clients of Blue Connections must be vigilant. While the companies project a seamless integration, CIOs should anticipate medium-term changes to account management, service delivery frameworks, and support processes. Over time, service catalogues will merge and expand, which could present both opportunities for new services and risks of dilution or changes to existing ones. Proactive engagement will be critical to ensure service continuity and to understand the future strategic roadmap. IBRS recommends Blue Connections clients conduct an assessment of the potential impact as detailed in the ‘Mergers and Acquisitions – ICT Processes and Checklist’. (Please contact [email protected].au for a complimentary copy of this advisory paper and checklist.)

Who’s Impacted?

• CIOs and Heads of IT: They must manage the strategic vendor relationship, assess risks to ongoing projects and services, and evaluate the potential benefits of the newly combined service portfolio.
• Procurement and Vendor Managers: This group needs to review all existing contracts and service level agreements (SLAs) with Blue Connections, paying close attention to change-of-control clauses and future pricing structures.
• IT Operations Managers: As the individuals responsible for day-to-day service delivery, they will be most directly affected by any changes to support ticketing systems, technical contacts, and operational procedures.

Next Steps

For clients of Blue Connections, we recommend the following actions:

• Proactively contact your current account manager to schedule a briefing with the new Atturra leadership team.
• Request a detailed 12 to 18-month roadmap outlining the plan for service, platform, and process integration.
• Conduct a thorough review of your current contract and SLAs to understand your organisation’s position.
• Assess how Atturra’s broader capabilities could benefit your organisation, while also identifying any potential service overlaps or risks.
• For a structured approach, consider using an established M&A due diligence checklist to ensure all key operational and contractual areas are examined.