Loughborough University-based business management software provider The Access Group has announced the acquisition of Edinburgh-based digital commerce platform QikServe, a hospitality order and payment specialist.
The deal represents a profitable exit from QikServe by investment firm Maven Capital Partners.
Investments from shareholders Par Equity, Equity Gap, Scottish Enterprise and Maven Capital Partners helped QikServe from early stage through growth capital.
“QikServe will become part of the group’s Hospitality division, which provides IT solutions for all aspects of the hospitality business, from guest booking, EPoS, table management and marketing to procurement, facilities management, training and hotel PMS,” said The Access Group.
“QikServe, founded in 2011 by entrepreneurs Daniel Rodgers and Ronnie Forbes, developed a patented business-to-business cloud platform for the hospitality sector.
“The platform allows customers to order and pay for items from a smartphone, tablet or self-service terminal. Digital ordering has seen an explosion in growth as hospitality operators realise the benefits of digital on both operations and on sales.
“Self Service Kiosks deliver 32% higher transaction values while freeing up staff to focus on delivery and customer satisfaction.
“QikServe’s technology is deployed in over 8,000 outlets in over 40 countries and processes hundreds of millions of transactions, delivering over £3bn digital sales for hospitality operators.”
Daniel Rodgers, founder and president of QikServe, said: “We are very excited to be joining forces with Access. We are immensely thankful and proud of the QikServe team, whose passion, tireless dedication, and hard work have driven our success, delivering technology for some of the most inspirational hospitality brands worldwide.
“Without them, none of this would be possible. Being part of The Access Group unlocks huge potential for both businesses, and we can’t wait to get started.”
Tony Murphy, CEO of QikServe, said: “QikServe and Access have been working together for over five years, delivering best-in-class integrated Food and Beverage digital ordering solutions for hospitality. This exciting new chapter for QikServe opens new opportunities for digital transformation across our combined customer base.”
Access Hospitality’s managing director Champa Magesh said: “QikServe brings us new capabilities and a strong customer base in cafés, quick-service restaurants, hotels, casinos and resorts, which complements our existing UK operations and helps us further our international expansion plans.
“Our goal is to build an integrated hospitality suite of solutions, on a single platform, which helps operators deliver the best guest experience, makes them more effective and ultimately more profitable. The acquisition of QikServe is an important step in bringing this vision to life through its innovative CMS, kiosk solution, connectivity and data orchestration capabilities.”
David Milroy, Partner at Maven, said: “We’re thrilled with what we have been able to achieve alongside the management team at QikServe over the past eight years; entering new markets and further strengthening their proposition.
“In Access we have found a buyer that shares QikServe’s vision for the hospitality tech market and can support the business as it continues to scale globally.
“I would like to personally, and on behalf of Maven, thank the entire QikServe team and particularly CEO Tony Murphy, Founder and President Dan Rodgers, and Chairman Steve Tilly for their commitment and leadership, it has been a privilege working with them.”
Murphy added: “As CEO of QikServe, I’ve been working with the Maven team since 2019. Their investment in the business has been instrumental in driving our growth.
“But more than that, their ongoing commitment has ensured that the executive directors set the right strategy, drove consistent results, and dealt with the many challenges faced. I want to personally thank Maven, who have been strong and value-added partners throughout my tenure.”