Analysts have welcomed Dell's recent purchase of UK-based IT services provider ACS.

According to Gartner, the deal enhances Dell's service resources and competency in infrastructure consulting, especially application packaging.

Dell announced on 14 November that it had acquired ACS (UK) Ltd, a service provider based in Glasgow employing 150 workers in the UK and 50 in India.

The firm provides application packaging and consulting services focused on Microsoft, VMware and RSA Security.

Gartner research vice president Alan MacNeela explained that the ACS application packaging business will be integrated into Dell's managed service business, and its consulting business into Dell's professional service business.

Dell plans to develop the application packaging capabilities into a global offering within its service portfolio.

"The acquisition enhances Dell's services resources in the UK and improves its competencies, especially in application packaging services," said MacNeela in a recently published briefing paper.

"Acquiring ACS extends Dell's service capabilities and supports its aggressive growth plans for its services business."

Dell has built a $5bn service business over the past five years, primarily in product-related services such as roll out, maintenance and support.