BDO launches BDO Digital advisory business catering to middle market
Accounting and consulting firm BDO USA has launched BDO Digital, LLC, a digital advisory business aimed at helping middle market companies ($10 million to $1 billion in annual revenues) innovate and transform through technology.
According to BDO’s forthcoming 2020 CFO Outlook survey, 54% of middle market organizations are pursuing digital transformation strategies. However, many lack the experience or resources to drive effective transformation.
The newly formed BDO Digital will offer a “holistic portfolio” of technology and transformation services and solutions, customized by industry and tailored to the middle market. Offerings include digital strategy, data analytics, change management, IT outsourcing, risk and compliance, cybersecurity, cloud solutions, and application development.
BDO Digital combines the firm’s legacy technology & business transformation services practice with SWC Technology Partners, an IT solutions firm which was acquired in July 2018. SWC focused on managed services, data analytics, cloud, and custom app development for middle market businesses in the Midwest. The combined business will boast more than 400 digital advisory professionals, including strategists, systems integrators, data scientists, software developers, change management professionals, and industry-specific advisors.
“BDO Digital is focused on the transformational impact of technology on business and people —not just delivering systems,” said Bob Knott, partner of BDO USA, LLP and co-leader of BDO Digital. “We help clients envision the possibilities, develop and implement solutions and, most importantly, guide them through the change management necessary to achieve the desired results. Digital is in our DNA, but we never forget the human element.”
As opposed to PwC Digital and Deloitte Digital, BDO’s business won’t presently incorporate the creative, marketing, advertising, and “digital experience” elements of the Big Four firms. The counterparts are basically digital marketing businesses (acquired at a rapid pace in the last decade) with digital transformation advisory elements added on.
“Over the last decade, BDO has built up a formidable range of digital capabilities, including data privacy and cybersecurity, analytics and automation, IT consulting and digital transformation services,” said Stephanie Giammarco, partner of BDO USA, LLP and co-leader of BDO Digital. “With the formation of BDO Digital, we are integrating those capabilities to provide more comprehensive solutions and strategies that address every aspect of our clients’ digital needs, from architecting a digital transformation strategy to figuring out how to pay for it.”
Other country member firms of BDO International are also rolling out their own Digital businesses, including BDO Belgium.
Based in Chicago, BDO USA has 5,500 employees across more than 60 US locations, with annual revenues of $1.64 billion. It is a member firm of BDO International, which has 88,000 employees in 167 countries, and revenues of $9.6 billion.
