CCMS provider Smart Central acquired by long term partner Zenith Payments Group

Smart Central, the child care management software provider, has been acquired by leading payments processing and prepaid card provider, and long term partner, Zenith Payments for an undisclosed sum. 

The transaction marks the end of a busy twelve months for Smart Central after it acquired early learning documentation and communication platform KindyHub and launched Kindyhub All-in-One, a new CCMS solution.

“Taking SmartCentral into the Zenith group of companies is a major step forward for us, providing us with the extra support and resources to  get behind and drive forward our plans for the future,” Darryl Winder, Smart Central Managing Director said. 

“It’s a great compliment to me and my team that the Zenith executive have fully endorsed our ambitious and innovative product roadmap and vision for the future.”

Zenith’s purchase of Smart Central will see it move into the child care software space for the first time although it has a long history of servicing payments for the sector, and Smart Central, through its Childcare Easypay brand. 

Andrea Slark, Zenith CEO said, “SmartCentral is a wonderful addition to the Zenith stable, typifying our own ethos of best in market products and exemplary customer service.” 

“Zenith does not work just in the childcare sector; we also have businesses processing payments for schools, real estate agents, travel agents and all types of small businesses so the new Childcare Solutions Division represents our commitment to invest and grow our presence in the ECEC sector through building strong products and stronger partnerships that provide real solutions to the community.”

Historic relationship and shared values underwrite “business as usual” outlook 

Smart Central’s relationship with Zenith has stood the test of time since it was established in 2008 when Childcare Easypay became the payment gateway of choice for the Group. 

“We’ve had a long relationship with the Zenith group that stretches well over a decade. Our history, shared values and mutual managerial and operational knowledge made them a natural fit for us,” Mr Winder said.  

“With that as a starting point we have managed to skip most of the challenges of combining two businesses and get ‘right to it,’even down to the day to day level.” 

“More importantly we both share a vision for the product and the sector based on building and improving partnerships to deliver solutions which is central to our strategy.”

Smart Central continues to attract a growing number of partners offering complimentary solutions that may even overlap with parts of their own product in the pursuit of ensuring the customer has the flexibility to make their own choices if they desire.

“The customer is at the very center of everything that we do, and will continue to be going forward,” Mr Winder added.

Management team to remains in place to drive “dual strategy” execution 

As part of the deal, Mr Winder will remain as an executive leader of the team at Smart Central but also hold a position on the broader Zenith leadership team.

“As a newly minted member of the Zenith executive team I will be staying with the group to head up the Childcare Solutions Division, which is now the home of SmartCentral and Kindyhub, and drive our dual strategy forward,” Mr Winder said. 

“This is a key differentiator for us.”

“Not only do we have a first class, tried and tested all-in-one solution but we are also actively welcoming new partners into our ecosystem even if their solution might ‘overlap’ part of ours so as to give the ECEC community exactly what they need.” 

“It will be an interesting and exciting challenge to not only deliver on our roadmap but also explore other opportunities for further integrated solutions in other markets. I’m looking forward to us releasing major product updates and an industry first new product in time for the ECA conference in October in Canberra.”

To learn more about Smart Central visit their website.