In a strategic move to bolster its infrastructure and capital projects practice, Accenture has agreed to acquire Soben, a leading global provider of construction consultancy services based in Glasgow, Scotland. This acquisition is set to enhance Accenture’s capabilities in advisory, project, cost, and commercial management, particularly in the data center development sector, as well as in the pharmaceutical and energy industries.
Soben, founded in 2011, has established itself as a key player in capital projects across Europe and North America. The company specialises in project management consultancy, scheduling, project controls, cost and commercial management, consultancy and advisory, and carbon cost management. With a team of 250 professionals, Soben serves a diverse client base spanning Western Europe, the US, Mexico, Brazil, India, and Australia. Its expertise in working with leading global hyperscalers and co-location providers on major data center construction projects will significantly boost Accenture’s offerings in this rapidly growing market.
The acquisition comes at a time when organisations developing capital projects face numerous challenges. According to recent research by Accenture, these challenges include increased scrutiny from stakeholders, supply chain issues, staffing shortages, and cybersecurity risks. As a result, only a small fraction of projects are completed on or ahead of schedule. Two-thirds of projects miss their targets, leading to significant additional costs in labour and penalty fees, averaging 29% above initial estimates.
The data center market is experiencing hypergrowth, driven by the increasing demand for cloud computing and AI, as well as exponential data growth. Accenture estimates that the annual spend on data center development and modernisation will exceed $200 billion over the next three to five years in regions such as the US, Europe, and the Middle East. This rapid expansion puts hyperscalers and co-location companies under immense pressure to deliver projects efficiently.
The combination of Soben and Accenture will provide clients with a comprehensive suite of services that address the complexities of data center development and modernisation. Accenture’s global reach and digital capabilities will enable Soben’s clients to scale their businesses more effectively and achieve exceptional outcomes in their capital projects.
Steve Roberts, Senior Managing Director at Accenture Industry X, highlighted the strategic importance of this acquisition: “The market for capital projects and especially data centers is growing rapidly. Hyperscalers and co-location companies need a provider that brings data center expertise plus proven capital projects experience, which is what the combination of Soben and Accenture will stand for.”
Maddie Walker, Accenture’s Industry X lead in the UK, Ireland & Africa, emphasised the benefits for the UK market, “Soben will enhance our infrastructure and capital projects capabilities across Europe, particularly boosting our practice in the UK. With complex capital projects on the horizon and increasing adoption of AI, the UK is positioning itself for growth.”
Soben’s CEO, Scott Smyth, expressed enthusiasm about joining Accenture, stating, “By joining Accenture, we can realise our vision and offer fantastic opportunities for our people to grow their careers. We’re looking forward to bringing Accenture’s global reach and digital capabilities to our clients to help them scale their business fast and deliver exceptional outcomes for their capital projects.”
This acquisition is part of Accenture’s broader strategy to expand its infrastructure and capital projects capabilities globally. In recent years, Accenture has made significant investments in this area, including the acquisition of Anser Advisory in the US and Comtech in Canada in 2023. In 2024, it added BOSLAN in Spain and IQT Group in Italy to its portfolio. These strategic moves underscore Accenture’s commitment to enhancing its services in the capital projects sector.
The terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and the completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions. As Accenture continues to strengthen its position in the global infrastructure and capital projects market, the integration of Soben is expected to play a pivotal role in addressing the complex challenges faced by clients in the rapidly evolving data center landscape.
