Unit4 is an Enterprise Resource Software company that designs and delivers enterprise software and ERP applications and related professional services for people in services organizations, with a special focus on the professional services, education, public services, and nonprofit sectors. It has subsidiaries and offices in 23 countries across Europe, North America, the Asia-Pacific region and Africa.

Unit4
Company typePrivate
IndustryCloud computing software, software
Founded1980
Key people
  • Mike Ettling CEO
Products
  • ERP
  • FP&A
  • Human Capital Management
Services
  • Software
  • Professional services
Revenue€372.2 million (2019)[1]
Number of employees
2,600
Websitewww.unit4.com

The company is best known for its People Experience Suite including Unit4 ERP, Unit4 Financials, Unit4 FP&A, and Unit4 Talent Management.[2] In 2015, Unit4 announced a partnership with Microsoft to build self-driving business applications on the Microsoft Azure cloud. Unit4's software is available in either cloud or on-premises setups, with support for on-premise ending in December 2024. In 2020, the company launched a Global Channel Partner Programme to aid partners in implementing Unit4 software.[3]

History

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Unit4 was founded in 1980 by Chris Ouwinga and listed on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange in 1998.[4]

In 2000, Unit4 merged with the Norwegian ERP software house Agresso Group ASA[5] and the company name was changed to Unit4Agresso.

In March 2014, Unit4 was acquired by international venture capital firm Advent International.[6]

In 2015, Unit4 rebranded its Coda financial management software package as Unit4 Financials.[7] The Unit4 People Platform was also launched in 2015 as the foundation for Unit4 business applications using Microsoft Azure technology.[7]

In April 2019, Mike Ettling, former president of SAP SuccessFactors and CEO of NGA Human Resources, became Unit4's CEO.[8]

Global growth private equity firm TA Associates announced the strategic growth buy out of Unit4 for more than $2bn in March 2021. Global private markets firm, Partners Group, will invest alongside TA.[9] In April 2021, Unit4 released ERPx, its next-generation intelligent Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution[buzzword] built for mid-market, people-centric[buzzword] organizations.[10]

Acquisitions

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Acquisitions by Unit4
Acquisition number Acquired company Acquisition date Specialty Country of origin Acquisition costs
9 Scanmarket 2022 Source to Contract Denmark
8 Compright 2021 Compensation Planning San Francisco
7 Intuo[11] 2019 Talent Management Belgium
6 Assistance[12] 2017 Professional Services Netherlands
5 Prevero[13] 2016 CPM Germany
4 Three Rivers[citation needed] 2015 Education USA
3 Prosoft[citation needed] 2015 HRM Asia
2 Teta[citation needed] 2010 Accounting and Services Poland
1 Unit4 Financials by Coda[citation needed] 2008 Accounting UK [14]

Recognition

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In 2023 Unit4 has been recognized as:

  • One of the leaders both in the EPM, ESG and Financial Consolidation, Close Management, and Financial Reporting(FCCR) Market Studies by Dresner Advisory
  • A notable vendor on Forrester’s The Environmental Sustainability Procurement Technology Landscapes Q3-2023
  • A key vendor on three Constellation Research’s shortlists (Healthcare ERP, Service-Centric ERP and Enterprise Application Platforms)
  • A sample vendor on two Gartner Hypecycles (ERP and Autonomous Accounting)
  • A Major Player on DC MarketScape: Worldwide SaaS and Cloud-Enabled Procurement Applications 2023 Vendor Assessment
  • An Exemplary Vendor in Ventana’s Total Compensation Management Value Matrix
  • A Champion on both the Software Reviews’ Strategic Sourcing Quadrant and Emotional Footprint

References

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  1. ^ "Unit Who? The Unit4 sleeping giant awakes". 24 February 2020.
  2. ^ Melissa Evatt (17 January 2023). "Unit4 launches new Marketplace platform". ERP Today. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Secured five-year agreement worth NOK 10 million". Finansavisen. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  4. ^ Claus Jepsen (14 April 223). "How Integration-As-A-Service Could Be The Missing Link For People-Centric Organizations". Forbes. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  5. ^ Steve Brooks (25 April 2023). "Unit4 opens up App Studio to customers and partners to innovate solutions". Enterprise Times. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  6. ^ Islam Soliman (6 March 2023). "New CRO joins Unit4 to lead global GTM activity". IT Europa. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  7. ^ a b Jochen Wießler (10 April 2023). "Digital businesses are more flexible post-lockdown than before, but there's still a lot of work to be done". Sysbus. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Unit4 Announces General Availability of App Studio". Emerce. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  9. ^ Phil Wainewright (31 July 2023). "Unit4 CEO Mike Ettling on enterprise resilience, ChatGPT, and the BRICS effect". diginomica.
  10. ^ Mike Ettling (28 June 2023). "Intelligent Transformation In A Multipolar World: Why Organizational Resilience Is Critical". Forbes.
  11. ^ Sara Portell (20 October 2023). "Full automation: a vision of the future". ERP Today.
  12. ^ Claus Jepsen (26 October 2023). "Is It Time To Reconsider Your PaaS Usage?". Forbes.
  13. ^ Phil Wainewright (10 November 2023). "Unit4 rolls out packaged services to help its on-premise customers go cloud in the next 2-3 years". diginomica.
  14. ^ https://www.unit4.com/products/financial-management-software
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