Building on the 2008 acquisition of Axon, HCL Technologies announced Thursday a strategic partnership with UCS Group, and a deal of up to USD 18.5 million to take over its SAP practice. The acquisition adds to HCL AXON's strength in implementation areas related to SAP and process consulting in the retail and wholesale industry. HCL AXON presently boasts process consulting expertise in industries including public sector, aerospace & defense, oil & gas, and transportation.

This acquisition also expands HCL Axon’s global footprint. While the acquisition of UK-based Axon boosted its European market presence, HCL AXON's business is predominantly in North America and Asia Pacific. UCS Group will give HCL AXON a strong presence in South Africa.

Look out for Forrester's latest SAP Implementation Providers Wave, which evaluates 19 vendors across 60+ criteria including vertical expertise, global presence, and ability to provide best-in-class services for all portions of an implementation and each of the service areas. The Wave is set to publish in August.