ASI Solutions will partner with CA ANZ and take over the management of hardware, software, and managed services of Kairos, close to two years after the cloud-based tools platform was first launched.
Speaking to Accountants Daily, CA ANZ group executive for member engagement Mark Rice said the decision to partner up was made 12 months after the platform launched, when the firm realised it did not have the skills to support members in integrating the software into their practice.
“After 12 months in the marketplace it became obvious we were very good at the conceptual design, and the product was seen to be quite good but we didn't have the expertise when it came to talking to members around that whole integration of software in each practice,” said Mr Rice.
Accountants Daily understands there are 60 individuals who are currently full-paying subscribers of Kairos, with a further 2,800 members registered as non-paying members.
The rollout of the new arrangement will be executed over a two-step process over the next month that will see ASI Solutions become part of CA ANZ’s Affinity Members’ Programme as the new hardware, software and managed services solutions strategic business partner.
“The main difference would be at the point of enquiry, so whenever a member has called up looking for assistance with Kairos and the technology, they will talk to somebody who has that level of expertise to deliver that to them - that will be the single biggest difference,” explained Mr Rice.
“We didn't have the expertise and that was the sole reason we went looking for a partner.”
CA ANZ could not provide figures for the cost of the Kairos platform but Mr Rice said the new partnership would be of no further cost to the professional body.
“ASI will run the program and we will receive a partial amount of any revenue they make from the program so the cost to us will be zero, and it should over time generate a small amount of income,” said Mr Rice.
“With technology, there are incredibly thin margins; it is a very competitive space so our intention has never been to make a significant amount of money from our members for this.”
The partnership follows CA ANZ’s announcement of its restructure earlier this year, with up to 15 per cent of jobs set to go by December 2019.
It is understood that no redundancies were forced as part of the partnership with ASI Solutions.
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