Merkle, a data-driven marketing agency, announced it has acquired Axis41, a web and app development agency, to reinforce its customer experience management offerings. The company also said the acquisition will strengthen its partnership with Adobe and enhance its competitive positioning.
The Axis41 acquisition adds a mix of customer experience management services to Merkle’s existing offerings, including brand development, content strategy, graphic design, web development, persona development, content management systems implementation, web marketing, web optimization and demand generation.
This is Merkle’s first acquisition since the company was acquired by Dentsu Aegis in August 2016 for $1.5 billion. Axis41’s full staff of more than 170 employees will join the Merkle team.
Adobe was instrumental in bringing the two companies together, according to Merkle. Both companies partner with Adobe: Axis41 with Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) and Merkle’s partnership with both the Adobe Campaign and Analytics platforms. Merkle said the move will help develop its Alliance Channel strategy. The move also positions the agency strategically as one of the few global partners with specialization in three of Adobe’s major platforms, according to Merkle.
“Our combined partnerships with Adobe create a powerhouse of cloud-based platforms to meet the rapidly evolving needs of the brands we serve,” said David Williams, President and CEO of Merkle, in a statement. “We’re grateful to our colleagues at Adobe for seeing the potential fit between Merkle and Axis41 and making the connection that fits like a glove.”
