Access Group Expands with Acquisition of SHR Group

Access Group Expands with Acquisition of SHR Group

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on June 13, 2024

The Access Group, a leading business management software provider valued at over $1.3 billion, is expanding its footprint in the North American hotel tech market with the acquisition of SHR Group. This move integrates SHR’s advanced capabilities into Access's AI-powered platform, further enhancing their end-to-end solutions for the hospitality industry.

SHR Group, based in Houston, Texas, specializes in hotel and casino technology. This acquisition is set to complement Access’s previous acquisition of Guestline, a Property Management Software (PMS) provider with a strong presence in DACH and Europe. By merging SHR’s 2,000 hotel customers with Guestline's 3,000 properties, the combined client base will experience improved efficiency and profitability through a complete digital guest journey.

The integration of SHR solidifies Access Hospitality as one of the few comprehensive software providers in the global hotel industry. SHR’s offerings include a dynamic Central Reservation System (CRS), Internet Booking Engine (IBE), Customer Relationship Manager (CRM), Revenue Management System (RMS), and digital marketing and loyalty program tools. Leveraging AI, SHR customizes content on direct booking sites to increase relevance and maximize revenues through conversion, upselling, and cross-selling.

This strategic acquisition will enable Access to further penetrate the US market and cater to larger hotel groups with more complex distribution needs than smaller boutique and independent operators. Access employs a modular approach, allowing hoteliers to customize their tech stack while ensuring seamless integration of key components.

Jonah Paransky, appointed as Access President of the Americas earlier this year, said “This deal has taken us a step closer to achieving our goal of being the global go-to technology partner for hotels, helping them deliver exceptional guest experiences and increase their profitability. SHR’s pioneering use of technology and laser focus on customer experience make it a natural fit for Access. This acquisition is a key milestone in our drive to grow our market share in the US and tap into the massive growth opportunity the market presents.”

The Access Group, with more than 7,000 employees worldwide, provides software solutions across multiple sectors, including hospitality. Their hospitality division currently supports over 20,000 hotels, multi-site pubs and bars, restaurants, food-to-go, and leisure operators. This division aims to enhance guest experiences and improve venue profitability through fully integrated software solutions.

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Champa Magesh, MD of Access Hospitality, commented “We’ve always worked to provide world-class products and unrivaled technological capabilities and SHR embodies that ambition. SHR is undoubtedly the world’s leading automated hotel technology platform and a significant addition to our hospitality offering. In this competitive and increasingly complex industry, leveraging AI’s immense potential will give hoteliers a competitive edge – enabling them to revolutionize guest experiences, drive operational efficiencies, and increase revenue. It further bolsters our accommodation offer following the acquisition of Guestline last year – a leading hotel distribution and operations platform provider.”

Rod Jimenez, CEO of SHR, echoed this sentiment, saying “Access is already a leader in providing software and services to UK and European hotels. Its focus on offering solutions that support customers with their entire operations enable hoteliers to deliver excellent guest experiences cost-effectively, profitably and sustainably. By joining the Access Hospitality family, SHR’s customers gain access to a complete suite of products and services. The ability to draw on the expertise of Access’ extensive network of partners will not only help our customers; it will provide us with the ability to accelerate capabilities and innovation across our products and customer support services.”

About SHR

SHR Group, established in 2004 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, with offices in Europe and Asia-Pacific, is a leading global specialist in technology and services for the hotel sector. Dedicated to keeping its clients ahead in a fast-paced and competitive market, SHR empowers hotels and resorts to enhance revenue and customer lifetime value throughout the guest journey. This is achieved by integrating the potential of AI with a dynamic product suite of automated and integrated solutions. Additionally, SHR Hotel Services focuses on providing the hospitality industry with a competitive edge through exceptional digital services and consultancy. For more information about SHR, visit www.shrgroup.com.

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About The Access Group

The Access Group, headquartered in the UK, is a leading provider of business management software for small and mid-sized organizations in the UK, Ireland, USA, and Asia Pacific. It serves over 100,000 customers across commercial and non-profit sectors, enhancing their productivity and efficiency. The company's innovative cloud solutions revolutionize business software usage, enabling employees to focus on what matters most. Founded in 1991, The Access Group employs approximately 6,800 people. For more information, visit www.theaccessgroup.com 


Superplum Launches InstaTrace™ to Bring Full Transparency to India’s Fruit Supply Chain

Superplum Launches InstaTrace™ to Bring Full Transparency to India’s Fruit Supply Chain

By Hariharan U

Published on April 10, 2026

Superplum has introduced InstaTrace™, a first-of-its-kind digital intelligence system designed to bring complete transparency to India’s fruit supply chain.

With InstaTrace™, every pack of Superplum fruit carries a unique QR code that allows consumers to instantly access detailed, batch-specific information, without the need for an app or login. From the farm of origin to safety testing and logistics, the system offers a comprehensive, verifiable view of the fruit’s journey.

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At a time when consumer trust in fresh produce largely depends on labels and claims, InstaTrace™ replaces assumption with data. A single scan reveals the fruit’s origin, the farmer who cultivated it, lab-tested safety reports, and the complete supply chain journey.

One of the key highlights of the system is its focus on pesticide safety. Each batch undergoes testing at NABL-accredited laboratories, with actual reports directly accessible through the QR scan. This ensures that consumers are not relying on marketing claims but are instead viewing certified results.

InstaTrace™ also introduces a human element by identifying the farmers behind the produce. Each report includes the grower’s name, photograph, experience, and harvesting details, creating a direct connection between consumers and producers. In select cases, users can even support farmers through additional incentives.

The platform further enhances traceability with GPS-mapped farm locations, offering precise insights into where the fruit was grown. For premium and region-specific varieties, this provides verified proof of origin, adding credibility to quality claims.

Beyond sourcing, the system tracks the fruit’s journey across the supply chain. From harvesting and sorting to transportation conditions such as temperature and humidity, every stage is documented. Hygiene checks across facilities and handling points are also verified, ensuring quality at each step.

Adding a sustainability dimension, InstaTrace™ includes carbon footprint data for each batch, giving consumers visibility into the environmental impact of their purchase, an uncommon feature in the fresh produce category.

Powered by Superplum’s proprietary FreshManager™ platform, the system is the result of years of in-house research and development aimed at digitising and streamlining India’s complex fresh produce ecosystem. Unlike global traceability solutions that offer partial insights, InstaTrace™ combines multiple layers of information into a single, consumer-facing interface.

The launch reflects Superplum’s broader vision of making fruit safety visible and verifiable at scale. Supported by a modern infrastructure that includes cold-chain logistics, automated ripening facilities, and direct farmer partnerships, the company is working to redefine how fresh produce is sourced and consumed in India.

With InstaTrace™, Superplum is not just introducing a feature, it is setting a new benchmark for transparency in the fresh food industry


Hotels Migrate from RFID to BLE door Locks to Stay Relevant

Hotels Migrate from RFID to BLE door Locks to Stay Relevant

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on April 2, 2026

The hospitality industry is entering a new phase where legacy technologies are being left behind. With support for older systems like magstripe and traditional RFID locks gradually coming to an end, hotels are now faced with a clear decision to upgrade.

What was once considered modern is now becoming outdated.

RFID locks, while reliable in the past, no longer meet the expectations of today’s mobile first guests. Key cards are easily lost, duplicated, or demagnetized, and maintaining these systems is becoming increasingly difficult as industry support declines.

In contrast, Bluetooth Low Energy locks [BLE] are built for the way guests travel today.

With BLE, smartphones become secure digital keys. Guests can check in before arrival, skip the front desk, and access their rooms instantly. The experience becomes seamless, fast, and completely contactless.

Security is also significantly enhanced. BLE locks use advanced technologies like AES 128 encryption and mutual authentication, making them far more secure than traditional key based systems. Hotels gain the ability to issue and revoke access remotely, monitor usage, and maintain full control in real time.

Global leaders such as Onity, Dormakaba, SALTO and ASSA ABLOY VingCard are already driving this shift, making BLE locks the new benchmark for modern hotels.

However, upgrading to BLE locks is only part of the transformation. To truly deliver a connected and seamless guest journey, hotels need a platform that brings access, services, and operations together.

This is where products like GuestEzee are playing a key role globally.

GuestEzee is a comprehensive guest management platform designed for the digital era of hospitality. It enables guests to complete check in before arrival, use their mobile phones as room keys through BLE integration, and access all hotel services through a single app. From in room dining to service requests, everything becomes faster, simpler, and more intuitive.

For hotels, GuestEzee integrates with multiple PMS systems, door lock technologies, and F and B POS platforms. This flexibility allows it to work across all types of properties, from independent hotels to large chains and serviced accommodations. It reduces operational dependency on the front desk while enhancing guest satisfaction and efficiency.

With solutions like GuestEzee now available worldwide, the adoption of BLE locks has become easier, more scalable, and more practical for hotels of all sizes.

The shift from RFID to BLE is no longer optional. It is a necessary step toward building smarter, safer, and more connected hotels.

Because in today’s hospitality landscape, the experience begins at the door, and the future opens with BLE.


Palaniappa Electronics Launches Hepi TV for Smarter Hotel Rooms

By Hariharan U

Published on March 28, 2026

In today’s hospitality landscape, guest experience goes far beyond comfort, it directly impacts reviews, repeat stays, and overall revenue. Addressing this shift, Palaniappa Electronics has introduced Hepi TV, a smart in-room hospitality solution that transforms the traditional guest room television into a powerful, revenue-generating platform designed exclusively for hotels.

Powered by the Palaniappa’s Hepi TV Box, the system replaces passive television viewing with an intuitive home screen built around four smart components that focus on convenience, upselling, and operational efficiency.

One of the standout features is interactive restaurant ordering directly from the TV. Hotels can upload their restaurant menus with visually rich video backdrops for each dish, along with pricing. Guests can browse, select items, choose quantities, and confirm orders using the remote. Once placed, the order is instantly shared via WhatsApp with the kitchen team, room service staff, and management, allowing faster processing and billing without any phone calls. This seamless experience encourages impulse ordering and helps increase F&B revenue.

Hepi TV also simplifies room service requests through one-click options available on the screen. Services such as requesting towels, toiletries, laundry pickup, or spa bookings can be placed instantly. Each request is sent via WhatsApp to the relevant department with the room number, enabling quicker response times. The system also generates service usage reports, helping hotel teams understand guest demand patterns and improve planning.

 Another key feature is cab and tour booking through the TV interface. Guests can request transport or tours directly from their rooms, triggering alerts to both the hotel and partnered operators. This adds convenience for guests while opening up commission-based revenue opportunities for hotels.

 On the entertainment front, the Hepi TV Premium Package offers access to all paid HD channels across languages, removing the limitation of single regional DTH packs. Popular OTT platforms are available on the same interface, with complete privacy protection as guest login details are automatically erased at checkout. Adding a personal touch, the guest’s name is displayed on the TV screen from check-in to checkout, creating a warm and premium welcome.

Hotels can further use the platform as a marketing tool by uploading up to six branded 4K videos to promote services, offers, or facilities, turning every TV into an in-room communication channel.

All these features are available at ₹400 plus GST per TV per month, with no capital investment required, as the Hepi TV box is provided free of cost. For hotel owners and general managers, Hepi TV positions itself not as an expense, but as a smart investment that enhances guest experience, improves operational control, and generates additional revenue.

Palaniappa Electronics continues to strengthen its standing as a trusted partner for hospitality electronics, known for reliable quality, timely delivery, and dedicated support. Trusted by multiple hotel brands, the company remains a preferred name in the hospitality industry for innovative products and dependable service.

For more details, contact Palaniappa Electronics | Mr. Muthu at 9003045685 or muthu@palaniappagroup.com.

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