London-based Cloudreach is purchasing privately-held Relus Cloud in a move to boost its data analytics and machine learning capabilities for enterprise customers moving operations to a multicloud environment. The deal also continues a number of similar acquisitions made by Cloudreach after investment firm Blackstone acquired the company last year.

Cloudreach CEO Aaron Painter said the Relus acquisition will make it easier for the company to help enterprise customers, build, migrate, optimize, modernize, and maintain applications in the cloud. He explained that Relus’ platform will also bring deeper insight from data analytics and machine learning.

“This is something that most companies I have spoken with are looking for as they pursue a migration into the cloud,” Painter said. “It’s become as important for them to have data analytics and machine learning as it is to have security across their cloud.”

The deal will expand Cloudreach’s push into the North America market.

Relus is based in Atlanta and was formed in 2013 as a consulting services company focused on Amazon Web Services (AWS) adoption, migration, and enablement. It’s also a consulting partner in the AWS Partner Network, and counts more than 300 customers, including Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting. Painter said Relus is arguably the largest AWS enterprise partner in the Southeastern United States.

The combined entity will count more than 700 employees in eight countries across Europe and North America.

Painter was recently named CEO of Cloudreach replacing company co-founder Pontus Nolen. Painter had previously served as vice president and general manager for Microsoft in China where he led a team that provided cloud-based ERP and CRM software solutions to enterprises.

Cloudreach was formed in 2009, and helps enterprise customers build, migrate, optimize, modernize, and maintain applications in the cloud. It is a member of various partner programs with AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. It counts enterprise deals with BP, Hearst Corporation, and Volkswagen Financial Services.

Cloudreach’s platform includes a pair of in-house offerings: Sceptre, which is an infrastructure automation tool that is used to provision, maintain, and manage AWS resources; and Connect, which is an integration platform-as-a-service (PaaS).

Cloudreach’s platform is also multicloud, which Painter said allows it to differentiate itself in the market when compared with larger cloud providers.

“Being cloud native and multicloud allows us to work backwards with our customers in finding what their needs are first and then bringing in the appropriate cloud resources to serve those needs,” Painter said.

Cloudreach will integrate Relus’ platform into its operation. That platform will use the Cloudreach brand going forward.

“We are using this as a time to refresh our own product map,” Painter said, adding that the deal will help Cloudreach continue to double its annual top line revenues, which it has accomplished every year since its founding.

The management integration is still being worked out. “They have a strong management team and we are looking forward to having that boost operations,” Painter said.

Blackstone purchased Cloudreach for an undisclosed amount in early 2017. Painter explained that the deal added a layer of operational support that was one of reasons he made the move to Cloudreach.

“They have really brought in a lot of brain power,” Painter said of Blackstone. “Whenever we need something or want to think through something, they always seem to have the people on staff to help.”

The acquisition has allowed Cloudreach to grow its operations. Last year Cloudreach acquired U.S.-based cloud professional services company Emerging Technology Advisors and cloud migration company Cloudamize.

“Those deals really furthered our strategy for software enablement services for organizations,” Painter said.