Revision 894715125 of "The Access Group" on enwiki

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox company
|logo=The Access Group logo.svg
|name = The Access Group
|type = Private
|foundation =[[UK]] (1991)
|location=	Stratford st Mary, [[UK]]
|industry=			[[Software consultancy and developer]]
|products=		Access Dimensions, FocalPoint, Dimensions Lite, SupplyChain (ERP), Access Insight, thankQ, GoldMine (CRM), Dashboard, Service Manager, SelectHR, SelectPay (HR & payroll), Access Delta, TeamSeer, PeoplePlanner.
|revenue=			£143.1m (2018)<ref>https://www.theaccessgroup.com/company/news/uk-tech-unicorn-the-access-group-reports-42-annual-turnover-growth-and-70-ebitda-growth/</ref>
|key_people = Chris Bayne, CEO<ref>http://www.theaccessgroup.com/about-us/meet-the-team.aspx</ref>
|num_employees = 1500 (2019)<ref>https://www.theaccessgroup.com/company/news/uk-tech-unicorn-the-access-group-reports-42-annual-turnover-growth-and-70-ebitda-growth/</ref>
|homepage= [http://www.theaccessgroup.com theaccessgroup.com]
}}
'''The Access Group''' is a software consultancy and developer, selling primarily to UK mid-market businesses <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fsn.co.uk/channel_mid_range_accounting/access_group_a_new_paradigm_for_meeting_the_needs_of_mid_market_companies|title=FSN Business Systems News and Analysis}}</ref> with 19 offices across the UK and France<ref> Stratford St Mary near Colchester, [[Harpenden]], [[Sheffield]], [[Canterbury]], [[City of London|London City]], [[Edinburgh]], [[Canterbury]], Hastings, Bangor, Manchester, Loughborough, Nuneaton, Dublin, and Paris. -{{cite web|url=http://www.theaccessgroup.com/about/office-locations.aspx|title=The Access Group office locations}}</ref> The organisation was founded in 1991 with its current structure formed in June 2009 following the absorption of five companies<ref>[[Access Accounting]], Armstrong Consultants, Access Accounting Ireland, Asyst Solutions and Access Supply Chain</ref> into a single operation. Since 2011, Access has been mostly owned by [[Private Equity]] companies, first Lyceum Capital and from 2014 [[TA Associates]].

== History ==

===1991-1995: Early development===
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.

===1996 - 2007===
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.

===2008 - 2011===
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,<ref>[http://www.theaccessgroup.com/news/press-releases/access-completes-rebrand-project-with-launch-of-new-website.aspx Access completes rebrand project with launch of new website<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.realwire.com/release_detail.asp?ReleaseID=14988 Access acquires mid-market HR [[solution]]s provider Select Software<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> 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-premises software. In the same year, Access Mobile was released, making functionality such as timesheets and expenses available on the [[iPhone]] <ref>[http://www.theaccessgroup.com/news/press-releases/access-eases-burden-of-managing-expenses-with-new-iphone-app.aspx iPhone expense management software released by Access | Access UK<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and [[BlackBerry]].

===2011 - Present===
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
* Rapidata - A direct debit bureau with a focus on the not-for-profit sector

==Products==
*'''Access Dimensions''' is a modular accounting and financial management suite including financials, job costing, [[stock control]], [[document management]], reporting and [[payroll]]. 
*'''Access Financials''' is a modern SaaS accounting and financial management suite including core finance, project ledger, job costing, [[document management]], reporting and [[payroll]] delivered through Access Workspace
*'''FocalPoint''' is a web-served portal which integrates with Dimensions-format databases, for viewing & approval, and other resources including purchase orders, invoices, expenses, timesheets and other items online.
*'''SelectPay''' is a HM Revenue and Customs-approved payroll.
*'''SelectHR''' is a [[.NET Framework|.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.
* '''Access CRM''' is a customer relationship management tool with activity tracking, pipeline management and marketing tools delivered through Access Workspace
* '''Access Alto Cloud Hosting''' is provided as a VMware and OpenStack managed cloud hosting solution with optional Disaster Recovery as a Service and Backup as a Service solutions.
* '''Access TeamSeer''' is provided as a web-based workforce management system for automated staff absence approvals, tracking absenteeism and managing teams.

==Accreditations==
Access Group is a [[Microsoft Gold Certified Partner]] and is a member of the Business Application Software Developers Association (BASDA).<ref>[http://www.basda.org/members/ Members<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Individual Access [[solution]]s are accredited by industry authorities, including [[HM Revenue and Customs]] and the [[ICAEW]] (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales).

==See also==
* [[Comparison of accounting software]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.theaccessgroup.com/ Access Group]
* [http://www.theaccessgroup.com/solutions/supply-chain-management/ Supply Chain Division]
* [http://www.theaccessgroup.com/solutions/recruitment-software/ Recruitment Division]
* [http://www.theaccessgroup.com/solutions/hosting/ Access Alto]
* [http://www.theaccessgroup.com/solutions/business-suite/absence-management/ aCloud TeamSeer]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Access Group}}
[[Category:Software companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1991]]
[[Category:Companies based in Colchester]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Cloud_computing providers]]
[[Category:Web hosting]]