Omegro, a portfolio within Volaris Group that includes Adapt IT, acquires SA-based hospitality software company
SA-born software firm Adapt IT is looking to bolster its place in the hospitality market, using its latest acquisition of Spa Guru to add another piece to its growing portfolio of solutions in the market.
Last week, Omegro, a portfolio within Volaris Group which includes Adapt IT, announced the acquisition of Spa Guru, an SA-based hospitality software company.
The group says the deal shows its commitment to expanding its footprint in the hospitality sector.
After the acquisition Spa Guru will operate under Micros SA, the hospitality unit within Adapt IT.
In an interview Micros SA MD Reginald Sibeko told Business Day Spa Guru would continue to operate as it had in the past.
The acquisition gives it access to clients and expertise within the broader Omegro ecosystem, while giving Micros SA the ability to offer more software solutions and platforms to its customers.
“We’re trying to respond to the inconsistent experience within the market. We find that in certain areas we might not have a [particular] software. We want to create a business that has an ecosystem of hospitality software,” said Sibeko.
He said many fragmented systems were used in the hospitality sector.
We want to create a business that has an ecosystem of hospitality software.
The hospitality industry comprises various players such as hotels, restaurants, bars and spas. Each of these uses myriad systems to run their businesses. For a hotel this includes bookings to check in, dining, room service, activities, facilities and check out.
Adapt IT’s hospitality unit continues to build and acquire many of these services with the aim of becoming a one-stop shop for clients.
“There’s booking engines, and others, that talk to hospitality. Now and again I get [a] request from customers who say: Reggie, I’ve been dealing with vendor A and their software is great. But we’ve had challenges integrating into your software because of A, B, C or D.
“When [they] have total ownership [of the ecosystem] and the leadership of all the businesses is aligned around improving the guest experience, they’re able to work with each other. They’re working towards the common purpose to respond to the enhancement of the customer experience.
“And that’s key for us: how do we increase the value creation in the customer space?”
Spa Guru specialises in software for spas and salons, with tools for streamlining operations such as appointments, bookings, marketing and billing.
The company serves more than 260 clients across 33 countries and “boasts a strong market penetration in SA. Its solutions are trusted by leading brands in the hospitality sector.”
Volaris, which specialises in acquiring software businesses, has operations in more than 35 countries and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Canada-listed Constellation, a $102bn (R1.9-trillion) technology giant.
The Canadian group won a bidding war against local player Huge Group, walking away with about 64% of Adapt IT.
The acquisition resulted in a diversified SA software company being backed by a well-capitalised leading global technology firm that is keen to support further growth.
Adapt IT, now part of the Canadian firm’s Omegro portfolio, represents Volaris’ interests in Africa, where it sees opportunities for growth.
Source: BusinessDay