21 Jan 2008
IRIS has announced that it has taken a controlling interest in
PH-media, a leading provider of web native specialist project
management and practice management software to Architects,
Engineers, IT and Management Consultants and Marketing Agencies
with its product, PROJECTminder.
PH-media, which was founded in 2001, is
achieving business growth at a rate of almost 50% year on year.
This is a significant move for IRIS as it
underscores the investment it is making in the next generation of
its applications, specifically in the online world. The business
will join the growing portfolio of IRIS Accounting and Business
Solutions based in Bournemouth, which already comprises the award
winner Exchequer product, Accounts Office and Accounts Office
Online.
With in excess of 60,000 UK organisations
using IRIS Software, the company already has leading positions in a
wide range of specialist vertical markets, being:
- The No 1 provider to UK accountancy
practices
- The No 1 provider to UK law firms, barristers
and coroners’ offices
- The No 1 provider of payroll and accounts to
GPs
- The No 1 provider to the UK Not for Profit
Sector
- The No 2 provider of Payroll and HR Software
Solutions
PH-media, based in Brighton, East Sussex,
specialises in the provision of project management software
solutions and reporting tools that allow professional service
organisations to become more efficient through improving and
simplifying the way in which projects are secured, costed, managed
and billed. The business will continue to be based in the Brighton
area with a move to new and larger premises scheduled for February
2008. The founders, Steve Penfold and Andrew Heath, will continue
to remain actively involved in driving the rapid growth of the
business under the IRIS brand umbrella and with access to the
support and resources of the wider IRIS Group.
Richard Watney from PH-media said: “Our
partnership with IRIS is a great endorsement of the success of our
strategy of delivering high quality professional services software
via the web. The strategic fit is perfect and we will be leveraging
their scale, resources and experience to build on our existing
solution PROJECTminder offering our clients a service that meets
all their project management and financial reporting
requirements.”
Martin Leuw, IRIS CEO said:
“We are delighted to have Steve, Andrew and
the PH-media team on board. They already have a reputation for
innovation, developing best-in-class web native software for
professionals with a real commitment to providing excellent
customer service. These are exactly the qualities we look for when
making strategic investments.
“The PROJECTminder Software fits with our
Software as a Service strategy (“SaaS”) and provides the perfect
extension to our existing professional services automation
software, SharpOWL, enabling IRIS to support professional services
organisations of all sizes. As always, our emphasis will be very
much on ensuring ‘business as usual’ for the PROJECTminder customer
base”
