Solutions Plus acquires BCPrise to expand into Sydney market

Adelaide-headquartered Solutions Plus has acquired Sydney-based BCPrise, securing a presence in the New South Wales market as part of its ongoing expansion strategy.

The acquisition enables Solutions Plus, which provides IT consulting, strategy and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solutions to small and medium-sized businesses across Australia and New Zealand, to enter the Sydney market. The company previously expanded to Perth and Brisbane in 2021, followed by New Zealand in early 2024.

Solutions Plus, now in its 12th year of operation, has steadily increased its presence, doubling its staff numbers to 40 and placing in the top 25 of the Fast Movers SA list for five consecutive years.

BCPrise, established seven years ago, has been serving the small and medium enterprise sector in New South Wales, building a client base in that time.

Allan Morichaud, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Solutions Plus, described the acquisition as a catalyst for additional growth. He said, "The acquisition of an existing firm with a healthy client base allows us to hit the ground running in Sydney where we know that our approach and experience will resonate with SMEs."

Mr Morichaud, who has previously held the role of General Manager at an ASX-listed company, noted that the experience of growing Solutions Plus from two to forty staff has provided the business with insight into the challenges faced by SMEs. "As a business that has grown from two staff members to 40, we have been in the position our clients have been in, and we understand what it takes to grow a business and how technology can support and expedite that."

The company has also strengthened its management team by appointing Simon Jones as General Manager of its Microsoft team and Mark O'Loughlin as General Manager of its SAP S/4HANA team. Mr Jones brings over ten years' experience from Optus, where he spent the last five years as State Manager. Mr O'Loughlin brings three decades of expertise in ERP and project delivery.

Solutions Plus expanded into New Zealand in March 2024 via a merger with ERP company Ozone. The company's New Zealand operation is projecting the creation of approximately 40 hi-tech jobs over the coming years, with support from the Department for Trade and Investment.

Clients in South Australia include REDARC Electronics, Saab, and local wine business Oliver's Taranga Vineyards. Solutions Plus assists clients whose current IT systems are underperforming or not addressing their business process needs.

Mr Morichaud said, "Our clients will often come to us with an underperforming IT system that is incapable of addressing the business process challenges and opportunities they face."

He added, "This is an issue nationwide and technology is moving fast. There is an inexhaustible amount of opportunity for us in markets like Sydney."

Mr Morichaud relocated to Adelaide in 2005 from Denmark and previously held a position at Codan for six years. His business partner, Jay Cheah, has a background in IT and formerly served as Product Manager at Cohda Wireless.