Helios-IT to Spearhead NORRIQ’s International Expansion Plans

12-01-2009

The ERP supplier NORRIQ, based in Denmark, is purchasing Helios-IT as a first step in the company’s European expansion plans. With an extensive network of international partners and offices in both Belgium and the Netherlands, Helios-IT will help to lay the groundworks for NORRIQ’s global Microsoft venture.

NORRIQ, a leading supplier of business solutions based on the Microsoft Dynamics platform, now adds the considerable resources of Helios-IT to its already growing presence in the Western European IT market. With this most recent acquisition, NORRIQ adds 100 employees and five new offices in Belgium and the Netherlands to its 300 employees in Denmark. At the same time, NORRIQ further strengthens its vision of bringing superior, transparent business solutions to customers throughout Europe. The partners are not disclosing the particulars of the deal.

The architect behind NORRIQ is CEO Bo Martinsen, who established NORRIQ in 2007 with the acquisition of three Danish IT consultancies. Backed by a group of Faroese investors, NORRIQ has been built on Microsoft Dynamics’s roots in Denmark, but with the idea of international expansion from its very outset.

“Microsoft Dynamics solutions bring a very real business understanding and benefits to customers, and there is a great demand for professional services in this field. That is where NORRIQ comes into the picture, and I am excited to mark our formal entry onto the European scene with such an incredible asset as Helios-IT. We are looking forward to supporting Helios-IT’s local and international efforts,” says CEO Bo Martinsen, NORRIQ.

In recent years, Microsoft Dynamics has been a major growth market and has extraordinary potential for continued development. NORRIQ aims to be the motor that generates the international growth in this important market.

Helios-IT – The Obvious Choice

Helios-IT complements NORRIQ’s expertise within Microsoft Dynamics and likewise specializes in industry-specific solutions within the consumer market. Just as NORRIQ has an acknowledged range of solutions targeted to the retail, food and leasing industries, so Helios-IT has specialized in the automotive and beverage industries.

“In making our first international acquisition, it was important that we find a company with similar ambition, energy and skill. Helios-IT has managed to exhibit impressive growth while creating successful strategies in both local and international markets, and that takes a special kind of talent. As a part of NORRIQ, we can now give Helios-IT the backing that leads to even better solutions and broader possibilities for customers,” says CEO Bo Martinsen, NORRIQ.

In addition to its local consultants, Helios-IT works with a network of partners throughout EMEA and Asia and as such, brings along a number of international collaborations and opportunities. Today Helios-IT has over 600 customers, and vertical solutions such as Drink-IT® and Drive-IT/Incadea® mean that many industry leaders, for example Carlsberg, have turned to the company for solutions and service.

“We are now at a stage, where we need the expertise of an international powerhouse to grow and secure the business. Joining NORRIQ will benefit our customers, employees and the local market in general – it is the right step for us at the perfect time,” says Partner Alex Vandereycken, Helios-IT.

Alex Vandereycken will continue his leadership of Helios-IT in Belgium, while Roelof J. Bolt will remain in charge of Helios-IT in the Netherlands.

360° Service to the SMB Market
In addition to being specialists in Microsoft Dynamics business solutions, NORRIQ focuses on infrastructure and integration. NORRIQ thereby offers the entire Microsoft palette – both classic Microsoft products (Outlook, Office, etc.) and Dynamics solutions – in one package, while providing the best consultants to integrate and implement the systems.

“Customers today demand suppliers who understand their industries, know the technology, and have the vision to make IT simpler and more productive. At NORRIQ, we are on the forefront of developments. For example, we are right now working to redefine the way people handle data by combining customers’ IT and telephone systems – and it is this attitude – this constant customer focus – that we want to bring with us as we expand,” says CEO Bo Martinsen, NORRIQ.

The acquisition of Helios-IT is the first outward move in NORRIQ’s global strategy of becoming the leading provider of Microsoft-based business solutions.

Further Inquiries
CEO Bo Martinsen, NORRIQ A/S

About NORRIQ

NORRIQ is a leading supplier of business systems based on Microsoft Dynamics. NORRIQ was founded in 2007 with the acquisitions of the Danish IT consultancies Munk IT, Conzern, and Senseit Business Solutions. This year NORRIQ has acquired NetPartner and now totals almost 300 employees. NORRIQ has via Munk IT been a Microsoft Gold Partner since 2003.

About Helios-IT

Helios-IT focuses on the implementation and the support of ERP solutions based on Microsoft technology. With headquarters in Belgium (Keerbergen) and the Netherlands (Groningen), Helios-IT brings together a team of 100 highly qualified people and offers specialized industry solutions within the automotive and beverage and brewery industries. Helios-IT is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner in the areas of Microsoft Business Solutions and Independent Software Vendor. Read more at www.helios-it.com.