Acadia is a SaaS platform that helps increase the productivity and efficiency of frontline workers, dubbed by Gartner as “Connected Worker.” The Acadia platform is designed around digital work instructions that provide step-by-step guidance – from machine maintenance and line changeovers on the shop floor to account reconciliations in the back office.
As part of growth acceleration initiatives and succession planning, Ric Hughes, Acadia’s CEO, was looking to explore strategic alternatives, including raising capital or a potential sale of the business. SC&H Capital met with leadership and the Acadia board to review the Connected Worker market – M&A activity and perceived major players at the intersection of enterprise resource planning (ERP), manufacturing execution software (MES), human capital management (HCM or HRIS), and quality management systems (QMS).
SC&H demonstrated both an understanding of ERP/HCM/private equity M&A priorities and how the Acadia value proposition would fit, specifically as a solution covering multiple end markets. SC&H Capital was engaged to run a targeted process with the most strategic potential growth acceleration partners, and ultimately the Acadia leadership team and board selected Epicor – a Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader for Cloud ERP, with whom they found the substantive potential integration opportunities most appealing.
