Access Group is a software consultancy and developer, selling primarily to UK mid-market businesses. With 14 offices across the UK and France: Stratford St Mary near Colchester, Harpenden, Sheffield, Canterbury, London City, Edinburgh, Canterbury, Hastings, Bangor, Manchester, Loughborough, Nuneaton, Dublin, and Paris.
The organisation was formed in June 2009 following the absorption of five companies – Access Accounting, Armstrong Consultants, Access Accounting Ireland, Asyst Solutions and Access Supply Chain – into a single operation. In March 2011, Access was acquired by its management team and investment company Lyceum Capital Partners LLP in a deal worth £50m.
This period saw founding company Access Accounting focus on building its business and accounting software. Early products included entry-level accounting systems such as Access Horizons and Access Foundations.
In 1996, Access Accounting developed Access Dimensions. This was joined by middleware application Transaction Broker (1998) to facilitate integration at mid-market level. Integration with Microsoft Office (2002) and Outlook Today (2005) saw the company’s initial entry into Business Intelligence software.
Other software releases include integrated CRM, Dimensions Manufacturing/BoM (Bill of Materials) and Access Analytics ‘data cube’ technology (2006), followed by a reverse change VAT upgrade in 2007 to combat carousel fraud.
In 2008, Access Accounting released Accounting for Carbon Emissions (ACE) to help businesses calculate and understand the amount of CO2 they produce.
In 2009, the company released its web-based solution FocalPoint. The company re-branded in June 2009, absorbing Access Accounting and its four subsidiaries to become Access Group. Recent additions include Stock Forecasting functionality (2009) and a Dashboard business intelligence product (2010). The company added HR to its portfolio in 2010 via the acquisition of Canterbury-based Select Software. The company was rebranded Access Select.
In 2011, the group launched its web services API Application Programming Interface, allowing its financial software to be integrated with third-party, on-premise software. In the same year, Access Mobile was released, making functionality such as timesheets and expenses available on the iPhone and BlackBerry.
In March 2011 there was an MBO of Access led by its existing directors and private equity firm Lyceum Capital.
Since then Access has grown both through continued double-digit organic growth and acquisition. It has acquired the following companies/technologies:
- DeltaWMS – warehouse management software
- Prelytis – SaaS-based business intelligence software
- thankQ – fundraising and CRM software for the not-for-profit sector
- Sazneo -SaaS-based communication technology
- TeamSeer – SaaS-based absence management solution
- PeoplePlanner – SaaS-based workforce management software
Products
- Access Dimensions is a modular accounting and financial management suite including financials, job costing, stock control, document management, reporting and payroll.
- FocalPoint is a web-served portal that integrates with Dimensions-format databases for viewing, approval, and more of various resources including purchase orders, invoices, expenses, timesheets, and other items online.
- SelectPay is a HM Revenue and Customs-approved payroll.
- SelectHR is a .NET based solution including functionality such as recruitment, training, self-service and payroll integration.
- Access SupplyChain is an ERP solution, with functionality for manufacturing, distribution and warehousing organisations.
- Access Service Manager offers service management functions such as call centre management, job scheduling, PPM, contract management and meter billing.
- Access Mobile extends functionality offered by Access FocalPoint such as expenses management and timesheets to mobile devices.
- Access Dashboard offers a high-level view of the business, presenting key performance indicators (KPIs) through graphical charts and graphs.
- Access Horizons and Access Foundations are entry-level accounting systems providing core financial functionality and a range of commercial tools for small to mid-sized businesses.
- GoldMine CRM is provided on a reseller basis as Enterprise or Premium edition.
Access Group Matches Gifts. Access Group, Inc:Access Group will match charitable monetary donations up to a specified limit that are made by employees to schools, hospitals and certain other charitable organizations that are recognized by the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as not-for-profit entities which can accept tax-deductible contributions.
Employee: Complete this form and send it together with your monetary donation tothe charitable organization. Upon this form’s proper completion by you and the organization, and its approval by Access Group, the matching gift amount will be sent to the charitable organization. Access Group reserves the right to request additional documentation from the employee and/or the organization.
Organization:If your organization is a not-for-profit entity which is recognized by the IRS as being eligible to accept tax-deductible contributions, complete this form and return it to the following address to receive Access Group’s matching gift contribution.
