International: Global growth partner Wunderman Thompson has today acquired Satalia, one of the leading and most exciting companies offering AI solutions for businesses across industries such as retail, grocery, telecommunications, and consultancy. Satalia will join Wunderman Thompson Commerce, enhancing its capability to help organizations deliver winning commerce and technology-based solutions across digital touchpoints. It will also act as a hub of AI expertise for all WPP agencies.
Recognized as one of the UK’s fastest-growing tech companies and noted by London Mayor Sadiq Khan as one of the capital’s most innovative organizations, Satalia uses a combination of machine learning and optimization, building technologies that help clients transform their business strategies and radically improve operational efficiency.
Satalia is the chosen AI partner to many of the UK’s leading companies, including BT, DFS, DS Smith, PwC, Gigaclear, Tesco, and Unilever. Equipped with Satalia’s existing assets and AI capabilities, Wunderman Thompson will be able to drive enormous value for its clients, across multiple digital, commerce, and supply chain touchpoints.
The company was founded by CEO Dr. Daniel Hulme in 2008. Daniel is a globally recognized expert in AI, a regular TEDx and Google speaker, and a Kauffman Global Scholar. He has over 20 years of experience in AI, having received his Masters and PhD in AI from UCL where he is currently an Entrepreneur in Residence. He is also a lecturer for LSE’s Marshall Institute and holds advisory positions in the private and public sectors.
In addition to his role as CEO of Satalia, Daniel will become Chief AI Officer of WPP, working closely with WPP’s Chief Technology Officer and WPP agencies to promote AI capabilities across the company and help shape WPP’s AI strategy including R&D, AI ethics, partnerships, talent, and products.
Employing over 80 people across multiple markets in Europe, Satalia has built many AI assets, including two products:
Satalia Workforce dynamically automates and optimizes the allocation of people to their work and has been adopted by global accountancy and consultancy firms, including PwC.
Satalia Delivery is a leading home-delivery solution, which optimizes the routes and schedules of vehicle fleets every time a new order is made and is used by companies including DFS, HSS, Selecta, and Woolworths, the Australian supermarket chain. Satalia has deep expertise in applying AI throughout logistics and the supply chain, previously helping the development of Tesco’s last-mile delivery solution.
Mel Edwards, CEO of Wunderman Thompson said: “Acquiring Satalia will have immediate benefits for the Wunderman Thompson Commerce business and help us maintain our position as the leading eCommerce platform and consultancy for brands and retailers. As the retail world – and indeed most other industries – become increasingly digital, we will see a greater need for AI technologies to provide solutions to real commerce problems. I’m sure that Satalia will become center stage in our clients’ retail journeys and help them meet increasing consumer expectations while delivering growth opportunities.”
Daniel Hulme (PhD), founder-CEO of Satalia, said: “It’s the absolute perfect time to be joining Wunderman Thompson Commerce and the wider WPP family to help shape the company’s AI strategy. As a like-minded business with a genuine pedigree in delivering the best-in-class solutions to its customers, this is a fantastic opportunity to build on the successes we’ve already had in applying deep technology to solve our clients’ hardest problems. And as the market moves online, organizations are looking for authentic AI services and optimization solutions that will differentiate them from the chasing pack. For retailers in particular, the need to embrace AI across marketing, commerce, and the supply chain is ringing truer than ever.”
Satalia has globally recognized thought leaders in AI safety, ethics, and governance, and its employees have educated thousands of business executives across more than 25 countries on the impact AI will have on business and society.
