Paragon Software Systems has completed the acquisition of
a majority shareholding in Axida, a company that has been a business partner of
Paragon for many years, jointly developing integrated software solutions for
managing and optimising home delivery services. Established in 1995 and based in Hull,
Axida was jointly owned by Wayne Holgate and Len Robinson. This share purchase
coincides with Robinson’s retirement. Holgate will retain a large part of his
existing shareholding and is fully committed to working with Paragon and
continuing to head up the Axida business.
The acquisition ensures the continued investment in and development of
the combined portfolio of home delivery products, which is key to the group’s
future growth in the expanding home delivery sector. This includes Paragon HDS,
which is a Paragon-Axida product integrating multi-channel order management
with continuous route optimisation.
Effective
immediately, Axida will now be known as “Axida – a Paragon group
company”. Paragon and Axida will continue to operate as individual
businesses. With Paragon in Dorking and Axida remaining in Hull, this gives
each company a base in each other’s geographic regions. Axida and Paragon already have a
successful joint home delivery product in Paragon HDS, and Paragon is also
integrated with Axida’s full HDi product. The two companies have a number of
joint clients, including Argos, Dreams, Wickes, Wincanton, Indesit and IKEA.
“We have
worked in partnership with Paragon for many years, and the combining of our
expertise and resources makes perfect sense,” said Axida’s Wayne Holgate.
“There will be significant benefits to our respective customers as there
will now be a single supplier for their systems. With future developments,
implementation and support being coordinated under one company, it will help
consolidate our lead in the home delivery market.”
“Overall
this represents a very exciting opportunity for both Axida and Paragon, and
will enable us to really build our presence in the fast growing home delivery
sector,”
said William Salter, Managing Director, Paragon.
“The deal also affords us the opportunity to sell Axida’s new
proof-of-delivery software product, called fleXipod, to our large client
base.”
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