EMA

Name

EMA

Legal name

EMA Group, Inc.

Website

https://ema-inc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Utility Consulting Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Water Supply (4941), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

SCADA, Instrumentation & Controls Integration for Water/Wastewater Projects (IMAFAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Desalination Plant EPC, O&M & Performance Optimization (EUANAFAK), Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) Risk-Based Design (AFALAOAN), Environmental Data Management Platforms (EHS/EMS, LIMS, ELN, Compliance Data Hubs) (EUAHAKAA), EMS Integration (ISO 9001/45001/50001) & Integrated Management Systems (EUAHAIAC)

Keywords

• Water utility consulting
• Wastewater management services
• SCADA system planning
• Enterprise asset management
• Utility digital transformation

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Consulting and Advisory Services: EMA generates revenue through project-based consulting engagements with water and wastewater utilities. Services are delivered through collaborative, long-term client relationships where EMA acts as a trusted advisor. Engagements are structured around the OPT framework and typically address complex, organization-wide challenges requiring expertise across operations, technology, strategy, customer service, workforce, and asset management.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

EMA provides project-based consulting and advisory services to municipal and investor-owned water and wastewater utilities, applying its proprietary OPT (Organization, Practices, and Technology) framework to deliver holistic transformation across operations, technology, strategy, customer service, workforce, and asset management. Service offerings span SCADA master planning, cybersecurity assessments, enterprise asset management implementation, customer information systems, advanced metering infrastructure, and AI/chatbot integration.

Product overview

EMA, Inc. is a utility consulting and technology services firm that offers a comprehensive portfolio of professional services to water and wastewater utilities across the United States and Canada. The company operates as a 100% employee-owned business founded in 1975, headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. Rather than a single software product, EMA delivers an integrated suite of consulting and implementation services organized around their proprietary OPT (Organization, Practices, Technology) methodology. The service portfolio spans six core categories: Operations Consulting, Technology Services, Strategy Services, Customer Services, Workforce Services, and Asset Management Services. These services address the full spectrum of utility needs including SCADA systems, cybersecurity, data analytics, customer information systems, enterprise asset management, and advanced metering infrastructure. EMA also incorporates AI capabilities including Large Language Model utilization and chatbot technology for customer service automation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OPT (Organization, Practices, Technology) Consulting Approach A holistic consulting methodology that simultaneously addresses clients' organization, work practices, and technology implementation to ensure successful water and wastewater utility transformation projects, refined over 50 years.
• Operations Consulting Services Performance and compliance management systems, energy management programs, mobile workforce management, and operations practices optimization for water and wastewater utilities.
• Technology Services Cybersecurity assessments, data management and analytics, control system operations optimization, SCADA master planning, IT strategy, GIS implementation, and enterprise system integrations for water utilities.
• Strategy Services Strategic planning, business process redesign and optimization, program management, benchmarking, and organizational effectiveness consulting for water and wastewater utilities.
• Customer Services Consulting Contact center optimization, customer information system implementation, Meter to Cash program management, customer self-service portal selection, and billing/debt management strategies for water utilities.
• Workforce Services Organizational assessments, workload analysis, training and development, knowledge retention, and staffing optimization for water and wastewater utility organizations.
• Asset Management Services Enterprise asset and work management gap analysis, requirements capture, application evaluation and selection, implementation support, mobile application implementation, on-premises to SaaS transitions, and database conversion services for water utilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Results include sustainable investments, cost savings on asset repairs, organizational alignment, self-sufficient utilities, people-focused culture shifts, resilient systems, data-backed decisions, customer satisfaction improvements, and optimized programs — though specific quantified figures are not publicly disclosed.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SynopsyscoreTechnology or Integration · 14 April 2026NASA selected Synopsys and EMA (Electro Magnetic Applications, Inc.) to research and verify Artemis spacesuit charging levels from triboelectrification and electrostatic discharge risks. The two companies apply physics-based analysis workflows using Ansys Charge Plus simulation software, paired with validation testing at EMA's Space Environment and Radiation Effects Laboratory, to evaluate spacesuit materials and reduce risks to extravehicular activity systems. EMA and Synopsys collaborate on both simulation and physical testing for the NASA Artemis program.
• NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026NASA selected EMA (Electro Magnetic Applications, Inc.) alongside Synopsys for the Artemis program spacesuit testing project. EMA provides its Space Environment and Radiation Effects Laboratory for physical testing of spacesuit materials and design under simulated lunar conditions, analyzing triboelectrification and electrostatic discharge risks to protect extravehicular activity systems and mission-critical electronics.
• Smart Water Network Forum (SWAN)minorOthersEMA holds active membership in the Smart Water Network Forum, participating in an industry ecosystem focused on smart water technologies and digital transformation in the water sector.
• National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA)minorOthersEMA maintains active membership in NACWA, the national trade association representing publicly owned wastewater treatment utilities, supporting advocacy and professional development in the sector.
• The Water Research Foundation (WRF)minorOthersEMA participates in The Water Research Foundation as a member, supporting research and innovation in water quality and utility management.
• American Water Works Association (AWWA)minorOthersEMA holds active membership in AWWA, the largest nonprofit water supply association, participating in industry standards, training, and advocacy.
• Water Environment Federation (WEF)minorOthersEMA is a member of the Water Environment Federation, a not-for-profit association that provides technical training and resources for water quality professionals.
• Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA)minorOthersEMA participates in AMWA, representing publicly owned water utilities, as part of its industry engagement and thought leadership positioning.
• RiSWP (Water Customer Care Forum)minorOthersEMA holds an Ambassador Agreement with the RiSWP (Water Customer Care Forum), supporting best practices in customer service and billing operations for water utilities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Brown and Caldwell: Employee-owned consulting and engineering firm exclusively focused on water and wastewater utilities. Closest comparable to EMA on domain specialization, ownership model (ESOP), and consultative delivery to municipal utilities.
• Carollo Engineers: Employee-owned water and wastewater engineering and management consulting firm. Directly comparable in vertical specialization, advisory-plus-technology delivery, and U.S. utility client base.
• Hazen and Sawyer: Water and wastewater specialty consulting firm serving municipal utilities across the U.S. Comparable in vertical-only focus and project-based advisory work to EMA.
• CDM Smith: Global engineering and construction firm with a major water and environment practice serving municipal clients. Overlaps with EMA on water-utility advisory, SCADA, and asset management engagements, but at significantly larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Black & Veatch: Large global engineering, procurement, and construction firm with a substantial water business. Competes with EMA on utility transformation, SCADA, and cybersecurity but is broader and more infrastructure-capex-heavy.
• Stantec: Global engineering, consulting, and project delivery firm with water as a core vertical. Overlaps with EMA on utility advisory and digital transformation, but is much larger and more diversified geographically.
• HDR Inc. Engineering and consulting firm with a dedicated water business group serving municipal utilities. Comparable on water-utility advisory and asset management, but broader across transportation, healthcare, and federal markets.
• Jacobs Solutions: Global professional services firm with a significant water and advanced facilities practice. Overlaps with EMA on utility consulting, SCADA/cybersecurity, and asset management, but is far larger and more diversified.
• Arcadis: Global design and consultancy with a water and resilience practice serving utilities. Comparable to EMA on water-sector advisory, but with much broader international footprint and scale.

Emerging players

• West Monroe Partners: U.S. management and technology consulting firm with a dedicated utilities practice covering AMI, customer experience, and digital transformation. Competes with EMA on the IT/technology side of utility engagements, especially AMI and customer information systems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ema-inc/posts/?feedView=all
• Xx.com/emaconsulting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EMA