Paytronix, a US-based provider of guest engagement for restaurants and convenience stores

Paytronix is based in Newton, Massachusetts. Its platform is deployed in over 50,000 sites across 1,800 brands and has processed over 40 billion consumer transactions. At the time of acquisition, Paytronix had approximately 250 staff. It is one of The Access Group’s most significant acquisitions and a major step forward in both Hospitality and growing the Group’s US footprint.

Chief Data Officer, Lee Barnes, shares his experience

"The acquisition began discreetly around mid-2024, initiated through Great Hill Partners, when Paytronix was approached by Access, which was looking to expand its US hospitality footprint. The deal moved quickly, with a Letter of Intent signed in July 2024.

Patronix had been on the radar of several private equity firms, but preferred a strategic buyer, and Access, although initially unfamiliar, became an attractive option as the team learned more. The diligence process was handled mainly by the CEO and CFO to minimise disruption to the day-to-day running of the business.

Once we discovered more about Access, it felt like a really exciting opportunity. The team went from ‘who’s this?’ to ‘this could be a good place for us to land’. Six months on, I still feel the same about that - this is a good home.

Access ran a tight, respectful diligence process. It never felt like we had a lot of unnecessary meetings. It never felt like we were fetching sticks for no good reason, and everything we were asked to do and provide made sense.

Post-acquisition, Access behaved exactly like they said they were going to. While it’s still early days for us in terms of integration, most employees' day-to-day operations have remained unchanged. However, the benefits of being part of a larger group (e.g., career mobility, shared products) are beginning to emerge.

With Access Group’s presence in the US still in its early stages, there remains some uncertainty around what 'full integration' truly entails. Nonetheless, we’re optimistic about the future and growth. As additional US acquisitions are anticipated, Paytronix is well-positioned to serve as the cornerstone of Access’s Americas tech stack, paving the way for greater internal mobility and stronger alignment with the broader Group."