History

The Infotel Group was founded in 1979 by a team of experts: Bernard Lafforet, Michel Koutchouk, Alain Hallereau and Josyane Muller. In the beginning, the company was based in Paris, with a focus on providing databases as well as services, training and software for large companies. A few years after its founding and following on the success of its software, Infotel opened an office in the U.S.

The company continued to grow by opening its Toulouse agency in 1989 and setting up a new Infotel company in Germany (Infotel GmbH) in 1990.

Throughout this period, the Group also undertook the development and launch of new software utilities for databases. The Group carried out its first external growth operation in 1998 and obtained ISO 9001 certification in the same year.

On 21 January 1999, Infotel entered the New Paris Stock Market (now known as Euronext Paris, compartment B (Mid Cap)). This saw Infotel making another historic step forward in its development by acquiring the means of financing its projects for growth. In the same year, the company signed its first agreement with IBM for the development of Db2 utility software sold by IBM.

Also in 1999, Infotel adopted its strategic Web-to-Database positioning, a comprehensive technical offering to meet evolving needs and help companies open their information systems.

In December 1999, the Group incorporated the S12 company and, the following year, two other companies, Sporen and Innovaco Formation.

At the beginning of 2006, Infotel continued to follow its external growth strategy by acquiring and subsequently integrating the Odaxys group, based in Rennes and Nantes, a major IT player in France’s Western Region. Expansion continued with the opening of regional agencies in Lyon, Bordeaux, Le Mans and Niort.

The company grew in geographic terms with the acquisition of Addax in 2010, giving it a presence in the Nice region (Sophia Antipolis), Aix-Marseille and Monaco. Subsequently, the acquisition of Empeiria in early 2012 provided coverage of the Lille region.

Meanwhile, the software offering expanded by involvement in the creation of Archive Data Software, opening up a new channel of distribution for Arcsys archiving software. Acquisition of the German company Insoft Software GmbH took place in June 2011, completing this offering.

The Infotel Group is continuing its expansion by pursuing a key account growth strategy accompanied by IT services focused on mobility. The company has also helped key accounts in managing big data and has increased the size of its international business.