Jobs saved following Lancashire IT firm’s takeover deal
A Lancashire IT firm has saved more than 20 jobs in a takeover that is expected to enhance its earnings in the 2024 fiscal year.
Kirkham based Smart IT, a group focused on the design and implementation of Odoo ERP (enterprise resource planning) solutions to medium and enterprise clients, has acquired the trading business of Rugby-based Odoo Community partner, Opus VL, for an undisclosed sum.
Odoo is a Belgian suite of business management software tools.
The acquisition, effective last month (July), complements the existing solution offering of Smart IT, and extends its footprint into pockets of the public sector, particularly the NHS where Opus has had significant success.
The group intends to retain all Opus staff and the move significantly bolsters the group’s development capability with the transfer of Opus VL’s software development centre, based in the Midlands, to Smart IT.
Barry Bullen, Smart IT CEO, said: “Our software development strategy is built on a UK-based, employee-only model to ensure quality and project continuity, so this acquisition dovetails perfectly with an addition of around 10 developers to our team.”
He added: “The acquisition also brings the opportunity to offer Smart IT’s existing portfolio to OpusVL customers, both the Odoo enterprise platform and our managed IT services.
“We also see a real opportunity to extend the market presence in the OpenEyes and Flexibase Auction products where Opus VL has an impressive footprint.”
