ePlus Acquires Systems Management Planning For Strong AI, Collaboration Expansion

‘In 2021, the industry as a whole will see a focus on managed services, cloud, and security as a way to enable digital transformation for remote workforces. Businesses will continue to adapt to the new IT constraints that exist. We’re pretty well positioned in all these areas,’ says Kley Parkhurst, ePlus’ senior vice president of corporate development.

ePlus on Monday said it has acquired competitor and fellow solution provider Systems Management and Planning in a move to boost some of its capabilities to improve how it helps clients with their digital transformation.

The deal to acquire Rochester, N.Y.-based Systems Management and Planning for an undisclosed sum, also brings Herndon, Va.-based ePlus a solidified presence in upstate New York and the northeastern U.S., said Kley Parkhurst, senior vice president of corporate development for ePlus. The deal closed Dec. 31.

“It adds new capabilities in A/V (audio-visual) and collaboration, and brings a strong sales and engineering force,” Parkhurst told CRN. “It brings us some A/V and some artificial intelligence capabilities we didn’t have before. And SMP is deep in collaboration, which is important during COVID. It’s really a good match.”

[Related: 5 Things To Know About Cognizant’s Planned 10th Magnitude, New Signature Acquisitions]

ePlus, which is ranked No. 35 in the CRN 2020 Solution Provider 500 list, and System Management Planning, which is ranked number 244 on the same list, have often competed against each other for years, Parkhurst said. “But over time, we developed a relationship with the SMP management,” he said.

The acquisition, completed in the midst of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, was done primarily on-line, with minimal on-site interaction, Parkhurst said.

“Luckily we had developed a good relationship with SMP’s management and employees over the years,” he said. “SMP is also a well-managed company, and was able to provide us the information we needed easily.”

With the acquisition of Systems Management Planning, ePlus is continuing to build capabilities to meet clients’ digital transformation needs, particularly in the face of the pandemic, Parkhurst said.

“In 2021, the industry as a whole will see a focus on managed services, cloud, and security as a way to enable digital transformation for remote workforces,” he said. “Businesses will continue to adapt to the new IT constraints that exist. We’re pretty well positioned in all these areas.”