Neckarsulm/Linz, 4 April 2017 – Bechtle AG is further expanding its application solutions business by acquiring Smartpoint IT Consulting GmbH. Founded in 2007 and located in Linz and Vienna, the newest member of the Bechtle Group specialises in Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Dynamics CRM and workflow solutions. Smartpoint’s 66 employees will continue to be led by the company’s three founders, Dr Michael Pachlatko, Clemens Mair and Gerald Werner. The acquisition is still subject to the approval of the Austrian Federal Competition Authority.
By acquiring Smartpoint IT Consulting, an established company in its field, Bechtle is continuing to pursue its strategic course as an IT solutions provider with a strong regional presence, further expanding its software and application solutions business. The new group member is a certified Microsoft Gold Partner in Collaboration and Content as well as Customer Relationship Management. Its services include consultation, design and implementation, as well as operations and training. Smartpoint serves larger midsize companies as well as large corporations and the public sector.
“We are very pleased to have gained, through Smartpoint, an outstanding team of specialists in such future-oriented topics as SharePoint, CRM, workflows, Office 365 and Azure. Their expertise ideally complements the portfolio offered by the Bechtle IT System House Austria, enabling us to more effectively highlight the potential of digital workspaces for our customers. It will also allow us to better support them as they introduce sustainable business and collaboration solutions,” says Andreas Staudigel, Executive Vice President, Bechtle Systemhaus Holding AG. The acquisition of Smartpoint also expands Bechtle’s regional presence to Upper Austria, where the Linz office is located. Moreover, Bechtle expects to unlock substantial synergies and increase crossselling in its traditional infrastructure business.
“For us, joining Bechtle is a key step in further developing Smartpoint. Above all, our customers will benefit from the significantly expanded range of options available to us within the Bechtle Group. We are very pleased to be able to contribute our knowledge and experience to the Group—and we look forward to a successful future together,” says Dr Michael Pachlatko, CEO of Smartpoint.
Smartpoint will continue to operate under its own brand name. Both partners have agreed to keep the acquisition price confidential. In the 2016 fiscal year, Smartpoint generated revenues of some 6 million euros.