Avanade agrees to acquire Manchester AI and automation specialist Robiquity
Financial terms were not disclosed for the deal, which still needs regulatory approvals and must meet standard closing conditions.
Avanade, the London-based company founded by Microsoft and Accenture, has agreed to buy Robiquity, a Manchester firm specialising in intelligent automation, low-code development and AI-first business solutions.
Financial terms were not disclosed. Completion depends on regulatory approvals and standard closing conditions, and Robiquity says it remains “business as usual” until then.
Avanade was set up by Microsoft and Accenture in 2000 and is now majority owned by Accenture, with Microsoft keeping a stake of around 20%. It bills itself as the world’s leading Microsoft expert and has 165,000 certifications and 60,000 Microsoft professionals worldwide.
Robiquity was founded in Manchester in 2016 and now also has offices in Leeds and London, with a global footprint that includes North America and the Middle East. It automates business processes using Microsoft tools such as Power Platform, Copilot and Azure, and its staff hold more than 200 Microsoft certifications.
Its clients have included Greater Manchester Police, NHS Scotland, EVRi, Virgin Media O2, the Ministry of Justice and WebBeds.
Avanade said the deal will strengthen its ability to help UK mid-market and enterprise clients put AI and automation to work. Robiquity, for its part, adds automation delivery, low-code development and agentic AI capability, and in return reaches a bigger client base and gains global reach.
The deal comes as many businesses struggle to turn AI investment into tangible results.
Chris Howarth, Avanade’s CEO, said: “Robiquity has built something special, a team with deep Microsoft expertise, a genuine commitment to client outcomes and a culture of continuous learning that aligns closely with our own.
“That combination of technical excellence and people-first values is exactly what our clients need as they look to move from AI ambition to real, lasting impact.”
Tom Davies, chief executive officer of Robiquity, said: “Joining Avanade is a natural next step for our business, creating exciting opportunities for our clients and our people.
“Becoming part of Avanade will allow us to bring our expertise to more clients and markets, while building on the culture and approach that have shaped Robiquity.”
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