The Kerridge Commercial Systems Rental Division has been operating for over 25 years, with both the team and customer base continuing to grow worldwide. But let's take a step back to the beginning... Established in 1997 as Maple Software, the team was made up of 10 employees dedicated to introducing the first Windows-based asset management application to the rental industry. The product's name? inspHire. In 2000, the company was renamed after this very product, and two of the individuals who have been instrumental in the success of the Kerridge Commercial Systems Rental Division; Managing Director, Graham Dobbs, and Operations Director, Matt Cunningham. We sat down to talk to Graham and Matt about their journey, significant milestones for the company, and what lies ahead for KCS Rental to mark their personal 25th anniversary with the business.

Before establishing their roots in the hire software world, both Graham and Matt came from the rental industry, working with businesses just like our users. From renting out equipment to the site manager, to keeping track of what assets were on-hire. They gained first-hand experience when it came to the process of renting heavy plant and tools, managing multiple depots, as well as understanding the inner workings of the construction and civil engineering industry as a whole. These insights were a key advantage to Graham and Matt joining Maple Software.  

"When I joined Maple Software, I began in implementation, quickly advancing to Operations Manager. As the team expanded, I transitioned to Operations Director, overseeing implementation, the helpdesk, and product direction. In around 2005, I moved into the role of Sales Director after we developed a strategy to sell in an industry specific and consultative way. My industry and product knowledge allowed me a smooth transition into sales. In 2009, I became Managing Director of inspHire Software, known as Kerridge Commercial Systems today, and haven't looked back since!"- Graham Dobbs, Managing Director. 

"I joined the team in November 1999 as a trainer, primarily working with clients to make the most out of their software. Coming from a rental background, it was revolutionary to see the software first-hand. As inspHire gained momentum, I found myself living in hotels, traveling across the UK to assist businesses in migrating to the first Windows-based solution. This period established the inspHire brand, and I feel privileged to have been part of it. A few years later, I transitioned to a Project Delivery Specialist role, overseeing customer implementations. I then advanced to Operations Manager and subsequently to Operations Director. In my current role, I oversee PSG, Helpdesk, and R&D for the KCS Rental Division on a global scale." - Matt Cunningham, Operations Director. 

When discussing milestones over the past 25 years, there were endless moments. But a few that stood out included being introduced to Elev8 in 2007, an Australian Sage dealer, who then became a reseller of the inspHire software solutions. The collaboration included connecting with the hire industry across Australia and New Zealand, as well as a lot of travel. "On one of my flying visits to the region I recall visiting several major equipment dealers in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane and they were amazed at what we had to offer. This trip was scheduled into only one week, but I could hack the travelling back then as I was much younger! All jokes aside, it was a great success, landing all three deals and our solutions started to become increasingly popular across the AU/NZ region." explains Graham. That's why it was a no brainer when it came to acquiring Elev8 business in 2019 and inspHire Australia was officially born.  

"There are countless achievements, making it difficult to highlight just one. However, collaborating with dynamic and ambitious global corporations, to agile and independent businesses has been an honour. Our customers have contributed innovative ideas to the products that form today's solutions. Every customer has played a role in our growth and product development. Some of our customers have been with us since the early days, and it's important to recognise those that have put their trust in our solutions; AFI Uplift, Balmoral Marine, Hy-Ram Engineering, D&B Solutions , DB Pixelhouse, Allen's Catering Hire - there are so many others, but we sincerely appreciate each and every one of our customers." - Matt & Graham 

Speaking of breaking into different geographies, another key milestone was in 2001 when attending a Hire Association Europe (HAE) event in the West Midlands and the team were introduced to Boels Verhuur. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Boels Rental has been announced as the 4th largest equipment rental company in Europe, and an impressive ranking of 9th in the world. After being introduced, inspHire was invited to provide a pilot scheme as Boels were sourcing a Windows-based solution that had to be agile and scalable alongside their ever-growing global organisation. 20+ years later, KCS Rental are proud to serve Boels Rental through their inspHire Corporate solution! 

In 2018, Kerridge Commercial Systems, a global provider of specialised ERP and business management solutions, acquired inspHire. With thousands of customers across the globe of every size in the wholesale, distribution and automotive sectors - the acquisition was a key part in our strategy to dominate the global hire and rental industry.  

"We had a great portfolio of products, but found it difficult to expand the overseas market. In order to achieve our global growth aspirations, the decision to be acquired was the smart thing to do. Being a part of the KCS group is like being a part of a big family. It hasn't only benefitted our customers, but also in retaining and growing staff and attracting new talent. With KCS investment and leadership, the rental business has been able to triple in size since 2018, as well as establish local rental teams in Nottingham (UK), Brisbane and Perth (Australia), Dallas (North America), Gouda (Netherlands), as well as Stellenbosch and Johannesburg (South Africa). At the beginning, there were a handful of customers, whereas today we have over 4,000+ companies with 25,000+ daily users across the globe. Plus, the magenta pink is great!" - Graham & Matt 

An advantage of being part of the KCS group is the ongoing expansion through recent acquisitions and partnerships. Over the past year, KCS has acquired several leading software companies, including Rain Data, Klipboard, Silkmoth, and Vigo Software. These additions have been a strategic move to not only enter new markets, but also to benefit our existing divisions, including rental. As for partnerships, KCS Rental has been excited to work with companies like Phocas Software and Worldpay, with more collaborations anticipated in the future.

With regards to R&D, the inspHire portfolio has expanded massively over the past 25 years and KCS Rental are committed to remaining at the forefront of the rental software space. In our line-up of solutions, it includes the four core solutions that have been specifically designed to meet the needs of the different ends of the market: inspHire Corporate, inspHire Office, OnRent and Current RMS. 

"We found that inspHire was the best choice for the construction/plant and tool rental industry as well as many specialist rental sectors, but quickly identified a gap in the market for the AV, broadcast, party and event rental companies needing more specific features. That's where Current RMS comes into the picture. Since launching 10+ years ago, Current RMS has well and truly dominated this niche market and boasts over 10k+ users in over 2,000 cities across the world. It's been an incredible journey for Current RMS and a privilege to see its phenomenal growth over the years." - Graham & Matt 

KCS Rental provides a comprehensive one-stop-shop experience for those investing in rental management software. That's why alongside our core solutions, we have introduced a range of layered applications and modules to further improve our customers' operations. These include a dedicated rental mobile app (inspHire Mobile) and the newly launched eCommerce platform (inspHire WebPro). Furthermore, cloud hosting is available to facilitate remote work and enhance security, along with an API that allows users to consolidate their preferred systems and integrate them seamlessly.

Thank you to Graham and Matt for the last 25 years! 

"When Matt and I mention how long we have been in the business, we hear shouts from a growing number of people ‘I wasn’t even born then’ or ‘I was just starting school’. The number 1 song was 'Keep On Movin' by Five (you may have to look that up). But all jokes aside, it has been an absolute pleasure to be around such a great bunch of people over the many years, we love the industry that we work in and have seen our own passion grow each year to make things happen and make a difference for the whole team and our customers globally.  

We want to thank all of the associations we continue to collaborate with each year; HAE, HIANZ, IPAF, PSE, CPA, ERA, HRIA, PLASA, ARA. The publications and tradeshows we work with: KHL, Vertikal Net, Executive Hire News, LSi, The Showman's Show - as well as many others. As well as individuals who have made such a difference in bringing the rental industry forwards over the years; Alan Guthrie, Richard Whiting, Giles Council, Graham Arundell, Carl Bartlett, Paul Gaze, Murray Pollock, Carole Bachmann, Leigh Sparrow - there are too many to mention! Thank you everyone, here's to the next 25 years of KCS Rental!" - Graham & Matt. 

Are you looking for a new challenge? Join the KCS Rental team! Take a look at our open vacations by clicking here.