The Constellation Group has just taken control of the integrator specializing in the supply of reconditioned computer equipment BESTinfo. This acquisition allows the company to advance a little further in supporting its customers in improving their carbon footprint. According to the company’s president, it introduces the company directly into the circular economy.
Digital services company (DSC) Constellation has acquired more than a dozen companies since its founding in 2016. By quickly strengthening its expertise with these deals, the company has achieved its dream of raking in 100 million in revenue by 2021. This goal was originally expected to be reached by 2022. From now on, the integrator is aiming to achieve revenues of 150 million dollars this year, and 200 million dollars in 2025.
To achieve its goal, Constellation could call on IT freelancers . The trades in this sector are increasingly looking for these freelancers for a variety of reasons. Some hire them to overcome the shortage of talent wanting to become employees.
The group has taken over BESTinfo
This year, the ESN has already acquired five companies. Three of these acquisitions have been made official. One of them is BESTinfo, which is based in Cormeilles-en-Parisis in the Paris region. This operation follows the establishment of the new Impakt subsidiaries, Kanopée which have respectively for mission to :
- Measuring the carbon footprint of companies ;
- Draw their attention to decarbonization through trainings.
Currently, Constellation realizes 30% of its billings in the distribution of equipment, exclusively new for the moment. By acquiring BESTinfo, the integrator intends to support the public sector, which accounts for 12% of its users, in its ecological transition . Today, refurbished products must represent at least 20% of purchases:
- Local authorities and their groupings ;
- Buyers from the French state.
This rule was instituted by the AGEC law enacted last April.
The IT services group does not plan to limit itself to the public sector, however. It intends to rely on its subsidiary Impakt to switch private companies to repackaged. 80% of their greenhouse gas emissions so far come from inputs, ESN says . These refer to the commercial activity of IT companies, which acquire digital services/goods to offer them to their customers.
ESN wants to bring a repackaged alternative to all its customers
With BESTinfo, the integrator also plans to offer a repackaged solution to some regulars. This option is primarily aimed at those whose contracts are worth more than 100,000 dollars. Its objective: to test the proposal on a limited number of files before extending it to its entire portfolio .
The new subsidiary has 1,000 square meters of IT equipment inventory and employs about 10 people. It ended the 2022 fiscal year with euro4.3 million in revenue. The ESN specializes in business-to-business trade. However, it is aimed both at final consumers and at redistributors to whom spare parts are offered, among others .
Launched in 2004, BESTinfo’s offer is based on three principles:
- The revalorization and recycling of computer equipment ;
- The extension of maintenance agreements ;
- On-site installation and supply of refurbished IT equipment.
To conduct the first service, the company collects itself some components like hard disks, batteries … This to recondition them and put them on sale as spare parts. Then, a service provider is hired to recycle them in accordance with the standards on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
According to Constellation’s founding president, Etienne Besançon, BESTinfo is the missing piece of their decarbonization strategy .