Persistent Systems to Acquire Arrka; Advances Data Privacy and AI-Driven Business

Persistent Systems, a global leader in digital engineering and enterprise modernisation plans to acquire Arrka, a Pune-based business known for its decade-long data privacy expertise, pioneering Data Privacy Management platform, and developing competence in AI governance. This strategic purchase significantly strengthens Persistent’s AI-led, platform-driven services, as well as its capacity to provide comprehensive digital governance capabilities such as data privacy, AI governance, and cybersecurity. Persistent will leverage Arrka’s expertise to help clients speed their transformation journeys while guaranteeing ethical, responsible, and compliant AI.

With the growing deployment of AI, organisations across industries are prioritising the implementation and management of digital governance in general, as well as data protection and responsible AI. Persistent is investing in innovative platforms like SASVA™ and acquiring Starfish Associates to strengthen its position in AI-powered contact centres and unified communications. The integration of Arrka is key to scaling Persistent’s AI business and meeting the growing demand for digital governance. It is critical to the Company’s aim of providing responsible, ethical, and complete platform-based digital solutions.

Arrka’s Data Privacy Management platform helps organisations to manage data privacy threats while also meeting multi-jurisdictional legal and regulatory obligations in an integrated manner. Persistent will integrate and significantly enhance Arrka’s services to build deep capabilities in the domain of digital governance and trust, including:

• AI Governance and Ethics: Providing organisations with the tools they need to adopt and manage AI risks, as well as to ensure trust and governance across all AI activities.
• Data Privacy: Expanding Arrka’s Data Privacy expertise to assist organisations in improving and maturing their capacity to comply with different privacy laws and regulations in a comprehensive manner.
• Privacy in AI Product Engineering: Providing privacy-by-design capabilities to assist embed ethical and trustworthy principles in AI development, resulting in visible and explainable systems.
• Consent and Rights Management: Creating customised solutions for managing user consent, handling data subject rights requests, and guaranteeing transparency in data processing across numerous platforms and jurisdictions.
• AI Systems Auditing and Compliance Management: Provides ongoing compliance and auditing solutions to provide full monitoring of AI systems.

Sandeep Kalra, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Persistent “Arrka’s acquisition perfectly aligns with our vision to deliver AI-driven services that fuel innovation and ensure data privacy, ethics, and compliance at every stage. By integrating Arrka’s expertise with our AI-led, platform-driven services strategy, we are empowering businesses to innovate responsibly while managing risk and compliance more effectively. Their mature frameworks and Data Privacy Management platform provide a scalable foundation to ensure this new capability is platform-driven and embeds governance from the outset, which is now critical for successful AI implementations. We’re delighted to welcome Shivangi and her talented team as we strengthen our digital governance and data privacy offerings and shape the future of responsible AI together.”

Shivangi Nadkarni, Co-Founder, Arrka “The acquisition by Persistent catapults Arrka onto the global stage. With the strength and resources of Persistent, we now have the opportunity to go from what has been a specialist, boutique business working with select long-term clients in India, to expanding our footprint into global markets and deepening our expertise rapidly in multiple areas of digital governance. Moreover, this has come at an opportune time, just when this domain is experiencing significant growth globally with the rise of AI. The Arrka team is excited by the opportunities ahead.”

Chirag Mehta, Vice President and Principal Analyst, Constellation Research “As customers accelerate their adoption of AI, the urgency to address data privacy and compliance challenges has never been greater. Persistent’s acquisition of Arrka strengthens its AI-led, platform-first approach, empowering customers to confidently pursue their business goals while tackling these critical security concerns head-on.”