Kearney deepens supply chain offerings with Optano acquisition

Global strategy and management consultancy Kearney has acquired Optano, a Germany-based software firm that helps clients with optimising their supply chain planning.

The two companies have been working together for four years, with the relationship intensifying during the Covid-19 pandemic in response to heightened demand for supply chain re-design and optimisation services.

“We have successfully collaborated on more than 30 of our client projects,” said Marc Lakner, global co-lead of Kearney’s Operations & Performance practice. “Our clients have been very impressed by the joint value we have delivered them, so closer integration was the next logical step.”

Founded in 2009, Optano’s AI-driven software enables businesses to optimise their supply chain processes, from production through to planning and transport. Recently recognised as one of Germany’s leading companies in the operations research domain, Optano’s solutions are used by clients in industry, automotive, consumer goods and natural resources, among others.

“We specialise in cracking the complex supply chain puzzles of businesses,” explained Optano managing director, Ingmar Steinzen. Fellow managing director Jens Peter Kempkes added: “From end-to-end network optimisation to portfolio optimisation to planning of transport, our solutions support clients in addressing the toughest operations challenges.”

For Kearney, the addition of the German company and its 25 staff deepens its supply chain and operations practice. “It enables us to do even more to help our clients optimise their supply chains in support of their growth, cost, resilience, and sustainability goals,” said Suketu Gandhi, a leader at the US-headquartered consultancy.

Stephan Krubasik, global co-lead of Kearney’s Analytics practice, added that the suite of solutions will also bolster the firm’s “preeminent data and analytics capabilities for operational challenges.”

Meanwhile, Martin Eisenhut, leader of Kearney in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, said he is delighted to welcome a frontrunning tech player from Westphalia [Optano is based in Paderborn, in northwestern Germany] to the company.”

The acquisition comes around a year after Kearney bolted-on Scandinavian procurement consultancy Prokura. Turning to transactions however remains a rare move from Kearney, with Optano only the firm’s fourth deal in the past dozen years. Earlier, Cervello was purchased in the United States (2019) and Quintel in the Netherlands (2011).