Hewlett-Packard VARs Pepperweed Consulting and JCube Consulting Services will join forces, both announced Dec. 13, creating a significant presence in the business process management and business technology optimization spaces.

Pepperweed, of Indianapolis, agreed to acquire JCube, of San Diego, according to Pepperweed.

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The merger positions Pepperweed as "leading channel provider of HP business technology optimization software." It expands Pepperweed's offerings to include asset tracking, expense controls and process automation.

Sam Melehy, managing partner of JCube, said the merger was emblematic of the consolidation trend sweeping the channel.

"Consolidation of the enterprise management software market will drive corresponding activity within the consulting community," he said. "Customers will continue to strive for the ability to obtain a broad range of technology solutions from a smaller number of companies."

Neither company released terms of the acquisition or details of the merger.

Pepperweed calls itself a virtual company, with employees remotely "headquartered" in 38 states. The practice provides IT infrastructure and process designs, based on ITIL, Six Sigma and other process standards.

JCube, founded in 1996, provides workplace management consulting and software solutions, focusing on IT service desk, asset management, messaging/notification and mobile integration. The firm's JCube Mobile product line provides out-of-box integration with enterprise applications such as HP ServiceCenter Software, HP AssetCenter Software and HP Service Desk Software.