Zisson today announced the expansion of its customer dialogue offering through its acquisition of Socialboards, one of the fastest-growing marketing technology companies in Norway. Socialboards gathers all customer dialogue in social media, live chat, and emails in one inbox. Together, Zisson and Socialboards will deliver improved customer center solutions to the market.
“We are pleased that Socialboards’ team and technology will be part of Zisson. We have collaborated well for a long time. We have seen how sought after their solutions are, at the same time as our customers have asked for integration with Socialboards’ technology. Together, Zisson and Socialboards cover all customer communication channels. This merger strengthens our in-house competence and will bring even better solutions to both existing and new customers”, says André Jensen, CEO of Zisson AS.
Socialboards is one of the most exciting marketing technology companies on the Norwegian market. The company grew its revenue over 45% in 2020, and has numerous large and well-known companies including DNB, REMA 1000, NorgesGruppen, Sport1, Avinor, VikingLine (SE), PostNord and Berg Hansen as customers.
Anne Kristine R. Grude, CEO of Socialboards, shares her excitement on now being a part of Zisson: “Our technology and Zisson’s solutions create a completely new, common platform for systematisation and analysis of customer inquiries in larger contact centers. Together with Zisson, we look forward to providing even more companies the right tools for good customer dialogues.”
The acquisition of Socialboards comes after a very active 2020 for Zisson, which has delivered socially critical solutions during the pandemic to several private companies and public institutions like Helse Nord; pandemic information telephones, and customer centers with switchboard functionality to several public institutions like NTNU, Ålesund Municipality, Oslo Municipality, and more. Zisson has also continued to grow in Sweden, following acquisitions there in 2019.
André Jensen continues: “We experienced a sharp upswing in demand for our contact center solutions in 2020. With Socialboards on the team, we aim to grow through sales to both new and existing customers in Norway, Sweden, and internationally in 2021.”
Zisson’s and Socialboards’ subscription revenues amounted to NOK70 million in 2020. Zisson is supported by Verdane, a specialist growth investor who partners with ambitious Northern European technology-enabled companies to help them grow internationally.
“The underlying digitalisation of customer communication has been further strengthened as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Zisson covers a growing need in the market, and we are delighted with both the company’s development and that Socialboards’ team and technology will now merge with Zisson’s on its continued growth journey”, says Nils Vold, Partner at Verdane’s Oslo office.
About Zisson
Zisson is an innovative IT company with offices in Oslo and Stockholm, which develops and operates contact center and switchboard solutions. Zisson was established in 2007 with the ambition to simplify and improve communication between companies and end customers. Our vision is simple – to be the preferred solution for all businesses with a professional customer journey approach! www.zisson.com
About Socialboards
Socialboards AS was established by Anne Kristine R. Grude and Erik Platou Lundquist, who have worked together on customer service solutions since 2007. The idea around the service “Socialboards” was created in the period when the customer dialogue really changed after the introduction of social media, and Socialboards has since then worked purposefully to build a product that makes customer service a better experience in all channels – both for the consumer, and the customer service heroes who work daily with the customer journey in companies in and outside Norway’s borders. Current customers include some of Norway’s most celebrated customer service departments, including DNB, REMA1000, NorgesGruppen, Sport1, Avinor, Telia, and many more. www.socialboards.com
About Verdane
Verdane is a specialist growth investment firm that partners with tech-enabled and sustainable European businesses. Verdane can invest as a minority or majority investor, either in single companies or through portfolios of companies, and looks to deploy inside two core growth themes; digitalisation and decarbonisation.
Verdane funds hold over €6 billion in total commitments and have made over 400 investments in fast-growing businesses since 2003. Verdane’s team of over 140 investment professionals and operating experts, based out of Berlin, Munich, Copenhagen, Helsinki, London, Oslo, and Stockholm, is dedicated to being the preferred growth partner to tech-enabled and sustainable businesses in Europe.
Verdane is also a certified B Corporation, the most ambitious sustainability accreditation globally. The firm only backs businesses that pass its 2040 test, which indicates whether the company can thrive in a more sustainable future economy.
Verdane is partly owned by the Verdane Foundation, which is focused on two areas: climate change and more equitable and inclusive local communities.
More info: www.verdane.com
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Press Contact
Verdane Press Office
press@verdane.com
+46 76 27 28 100
André Jensen, CEO
Zisson
andre.jensen@zisson.com
