Kerv takes aim: Inciper acquisition hits the Microsoft mark

Acquisition of Inciper to provide expertise across the entire range of Microsoft Dynamics 365 business applications

Bridgepoint-backed Kerv has acquired Inciper, a consultancy focused on the implementation and support of Microsoft business applications and data analytics.

The acquisition brings with it Inciper’s 75 expert practitioners.

The combined operations will also aim to create expertise across the entire range of Microsoft Dynamics 365 business applications and the ability to transform organisations across all aspects of their operations.

The Inciper team will join Kerv Digital, the group’s Microsoft-aligned digital transformation practice, and will continue to be led by founders, Mark Roberts and Dave Sanderson.

Inciper serves mid-market, enterprise and large public sector organisations including The Welsh Government, Marston Holdings and M&S.

It brings additional revenues in excess of £10m to Kerv, together with an organic growth rate of 20 per cent.

“We are incredibly proud of what Inciper has become over the past eight years and, from the very first conversation with the Kerv team, we recognised that we’d found a kindred spirit, with such close alignment in many areas including the importance of customer and employee experience,” said Roberts.

This addition to the team falls within the multiplication of Kerv’s headcount and revenue in recent years.

Over the last three years, the reseller has seen its revenue grow from £20m to £100m, adding 400 new employees through M&A and organically creating 300 new jobs.

The company ranks 56 in CRN’s Top VARs List.

“We are delighted to welcome the Inciper team to Kerv. Mark and Dave have built a fantastic business that is well known for their leading position in the Microsoft Dynamics F&O market,” said Alastair Mills, co-founder and executive chairman at Kerv.

“We know there is a strong cultural alignment between the teams and together, we’ll focus on achieving our mission of helping organisations harness the power of technology for the good of our people, our customers, our society and our planet, adds Mills.

The funding was provided by Kerv’s investment partner Bridgepoint, with additional support from existing investor LDC and facilities from Apera.

The transaction closed on 30th September 2024.

Partner and vendor consolidation

Kerv is the latest reseller to splash the cash in a move to beef up its Microsoft skills.

MSP Littlefish bought Irish Microsoft business applications consultancy Storm Technology in August to boost its capabilities in enterprise applications and strengthen its Microsoft M365/D365 offerings.

MSSP Performanta CEO Guy Golan recently told CRN he believes cybersecurity vendors are battling it out because of the existence of Microsoft, which is “eating their lunch.”

He stated the domination of Microsoft means other vendors need to either innovate or consolidate.

"For example, the IBM and Palo Alto deal, and Cisco and Splunk, these are retaliations to Microsoft as opposed to a genuine vision,” Golan said.