Acorio Joins NTT DATA in Strategic Move to Strengthen ServiceNow Consultancy Leadership

NTT DATA Services has completed an agreement to acquire Acorio LLC, marking a significant consolidation in the ServiceNow consulting space. The Boston-based firm, recognized as the world’s largest pure-play ServiceNow consultancy, brings deep platform expertise and vertical-specific knowledge that will substantially enhance NTT DATA’s transformation capabilities.

Why This Deal Matters for the ServiceNow Ecosystem

Acorio has built an impressive track record in the fast-expanding ServiceNow market. Named Inc. 5000’s fastest-growing U.S. company for three consecutive years and selected as ServiceNow’s Industry Solutions Partner of the Year (Americas) in 2020, the firm ranked in the top ten globally for ServiceNow certifications. This acquisition allows NTT DATA—itself a ServiceNow Elite Partner—to significantly amplify its reach across enterprise clients seeking to modernize their workflows through automated and intelligent solutions.

The move reflects broader market trends: enterprises across healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, high tech, and retail are accelerating digital transformations and demand specialized partners capable of implementing complex ServiceNow platforms at scale. By integrating Acorio’s approximately 250-person team, NTT DATA gains the capacity to serve Fortune 500 and Global 2000 organizations more effectively, leveraging regional hubs spanning the U.S., Spain, and Australia.

Acorio’s Competitive Edge

What sets Acorio apart is its laser focus on ServiceNow—the firm dedicates 100 percent of its resources to the platform across multiple domains: Employee and Customer Workflows, HR Service Delivery, Customer Service Management, Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC), and custom applications. This specialization has earned recognition from multiple industry bodies, including appearances on Gartner’s select Global ServiceNow Consultancy List, SPI’s Best of the Best Consulting Firms, and the Boston Globe’s #1 company to work for (three consecutive years).

The consultancy also stands out for its leadership pipeline: with 50 percent women in executive roles, Acorio was named to the 2019 Commonwealth Institute’s Best Women-Led Business list and Forbes Best Startup Employers (2020).

Strategic Benefits for NTT DATA

For NTT DATA, the acquisition strengthens several dimensions of its ServiceNow practice: application development, implementation, operations, and platform strategy. More importantly, it expands the company’s talent acquisition pipeline at a time when skilled ServiceNow professionals remain in high demand.

Ellen Daley, Acorio CEO, emphasized the alignment: “Our clients will benefit from access to NTT DATA’s global R&D, applications, and infrastructure investments. The combination allows us to maintain our relentless focus on ServiceNow while offering truly global scale and innovation resources.”

Eric Clark, Chief Digital Officer of NTT DATA Services, added that the partnership positions both organizations to support “modern enterprises’ rapid adoption of ServiceNow” by delivering unmatched platform expertise and vertical-specific solutions.

Market Implications

The consolidation underscores ServiceNow’s growing importance as a centerpiece of enterprise automation strategies. With ServiceNow’s strong growth trajectory, this acquisition positions the combined entity to capitalize on expanding demand for consultancies that blend platform depth with global delivery capability. The deal also signals NTT DATA’s commitment to competing in the high-stakes services market for enterprise workflow transformation.

The acquisition is expected to close in 2020, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. Once complete, Acorio will operate as part of NTT DATA Services, maintaining its client-first culture while accessing substantially greater resources for scaling operations and innovation.