Singtel’s NCS acquires 3 businesses amid regional expansion

NCS, Singtel’s information, communications, and technology (ICT) services unit, said it has acquired three companies to fuel its Asia-Pacific expansion.

Photo credit: NCS

The acquisitions of ClayOPS, Velocity Business Solutions, and Riley will boost the capabilities of NCS’ digital services unit, NCS Next, in Singapore, Greater China, and Australia. The three companies’ network of clients, partners, and local expertise will also advance NCS’ reach into new segments and drive further growth in the digital and cloud services space.

ClayOPS, Velocity Business Solutions, and Riley will function independently under NCS, with their respective senior leadership retaining their current roles within the companies. The three companies will also expand their product and service offerings to create synergies in collaboration with NCS.

The new markets are “seeing digital adoption in both the public and private sectors ratchet up very quickly, and we are investing in critical solutions and digital expertise to build out our suite of integrated services,” said Ng Kuo Pin, CEO of NCS.

Founded in 2010, ClayOPS is a Singapore-based data analytics and consulting services firm that works with large enterprises to transform data into insights for better-informed decisions. Its acquisition will help NCS add an accessible portfolio of local and multinational clients across different sectors such as property, healthcare, and transportation.

See also: Why many of Singtel’s digital bets failed after a decade of trying

Meanwhile, Velocity Business Solutions is a Hong Kong-based data analytics firm that provides a suite of consulting and implementation services relating to data intelligence and analytics, including design, development, support, and enablement. The acquisition is in line with NCS’ growth strategy in Greater China.

Rounding out the acquisitions is Riley, which offers various services relating to cloud-native transformation, data supply chain, and cloud operations. Established in 2010, the company focuses on helping mid-market and enterprise clients transform their businesses through cloud computing. Riley will support NCS’ growth in Australia through its established relationships with partners and access to new market channels.

In July, NCS was recast as a pan-Asian business-to-business digital services provider as the unit aims to capture market share in the 5G space. This new brand identity comes after Singtel announced a “strategic reset” following a period where it shut down many of its new ventures.