Irish Business Systems, often referred to as IBS, was an Irish office-technology company whose history began in Cork in 1972. Founded by Jerry Carey, the business developed over several decades as office equipment and document technology changed. It became known for providing printing, digital imaging, office equipment, and managed print services to businesses across Ireland. A major turning point came in 2010, when Xerox acquired Irish Business Systems for approximately €21 million. At the time, IBS had eight offices, about 180 employees, and more than 11,000 customers. Its later integration into Xerox makes IBS an interesting example of how a locally established technology company became part of a major international corporation.
Quick Information Table
| Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Irish Business Systems |
| Abbreviation | IBS |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Founder | Jerry Carey |
| Original Base | Cork, Ireland |
| Industry | Office Technology |
| Main Business Area | Printing and Digital Imaging |
| Key Service | Managed Print Services |
| Primary Market | Business Customers |
| Xerox Acquisition | 2010 |
| Acquisition Value | Approximately €21 million |
| Offices at Acquisition | 8 |
| Employees in 2010 | Approximately 180 |
| Customers in 2010 | More than 11,000 |
| Later Brand | Xerox |
1. What Is Irish Business Systems?
Irish Business Systems was an Irish company specialising in office technology and document-related solutions. Its business was primarily focused on helping organisations obtain, use, and manage equipment used for printing and document production. Over time, its activities expanded beyond traditional office machines as businesses adopted newer forms of digital technology.
The company became particularly associated with managed print services and digital imaging. These services were designed for organisations that needed dependable printing and document technology on an ongoing basis. Instead of simply selling equipment, IBS developed longer-term relationships with business customers by supporting their technology requirements.
2. When Was Irish Business Systems Founded?
Irish Business Systems was established in 1972 by Jerry Carey in Cork. The company began operating during a period when office technology depended heavily on physical equipment such as typewriters, photocopiers, and other machines used to create and reproduce documents.
As technology developed, IBS also changed its business activities. Historical accounts of Ireland’s computer industry indicate that the company became involved with photocopiers, printers, typewriters, and personal computers. This development shows how IBS expanded its focus as computers and electronic office equipment became increasingly important to businesses.
3. Where Did Irish Business Systems Operate?
Cork was the company’s original home and remained closely associated with its identity. However, Irish Business Systems eventually expanded beyond Cork and developed a wider presence across Ireland. When Xerox announced its acquisition in 2010, IBS had eight offices and more than 11,000 customers. The company had established operations serving different parts of Ireland, giving it a broader reach than a single-location office-technology business. In the years following the acquisition, its Irish operations also included locations such as Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Belfast, Portlaoise, and Derry.
4. What Services Did Irish Business Systems Offer?
Irish Business Systems provided a range of office-technology products and services. Printing equipment, digital imaging systems, photocopiers, and related office technology formed important parts of its business. It also provided support connected with the ongoing operation of these systems.
Managed print services were particularly significant. Businesses with large numbers of printers and multifunction devices could use managed services to organise their printing environment more effectively. Such arrangements could involve equipment, maintenance, supplies, and technical support rather than treating each individual machine as a separate purchase.
5. What Were Managed Print Services?
Managed print services involve the organised management of an organisation’s printing and document equipment. For a company with many employees and multiple offices, printing can involve much more than buying printers. Equipment maintenance, replacement supplies, usage, technical support, and overall management can all become important considerations.
IBS developed expertise in this area and became recognised as a managed print services provider. This was one reason its business was relevant to Xerox, which was also active in document technology and managed printing. IBS’s existing customer relationships gave Xerox an established route into parts of the Irish business market.
6. What Was the Company’s Connection to Digital Imaging?
Digital imaging was another important part of Irish Business Systems’ activities. As office technology developed, multifunction equipment increasingly combined printing, copying, scanning, and other document functions into integrated systems.
This shift changed what businesses expected from office equipment providers. Customers increasingly wanted technology that could perform several tasks while receiving continuing technical support. IBS’s involvement in digital imaging therefore fitted naturally with its broader focus on document production and office technology.
7. Who Were IBS’s Customers?
Irish Business Systems mainly served organisations rather than individual household consumers. Its customers required office equipment and document solutions for regular business operations.
By the time Xerox acquired IBS, the company had more than 11,000 customers. This established customer base was an important part of the company’s value because it represented long-standing business relationships across Ireland. Xerox identified IBS’s customer network, distribution capabilities, employees, and managed print expertise as significant aspects of the acquisition.
8. Why Did Xerox Acquire Irish Business Systems?
Xerox acquired Irish Business Systems in 2010 as part of its expansion of document-management and managed print services. IBS already had an established position in Ireland, particularly among small and medium-sized businesses.
The acquisition was announced in January 2010, with Xerox stating that it would pay approximately $31 million, equivalent to around €21 million. The deal was completed in cash. Xerox also planned to use IBS’s existing network and customer relationships to broaden its presence in the Irish market.
9. What Happened After the Acquisition?
Following the acquisition, Irish Business Systems became a wholly owned Xerox subsidiary. However, the IBS name did not disappear immediately. The business initially continued operating under its established identity while becoming part of Xerox.
The relationship also brought Xerox products into IBS’s portfolio. Xerox stated that IBS would sell its document-management products and expand its offering with Xerox printing and multifunction systems. This allowed the existing IBS operation to combine its local market presence with Xerox’s broader product range.
10. Did IBS Continue to Grow Under Xerox?
The business continued to develop within the Xerox organisation after the acquisition. In 2013, Xerox announced the consolidation of IBS with most of Xerox Ireland’s operations, creating IBS, A Xerox Company. Around that time, the combined operation employed approximately 300 people, and plans were announced to create 90 additional jobs across its Irish offices. This should be understood as a consolidation of operations rather than simply an increase in the original IBS workforce from 180 to 300 employees.
11. When Did IBS Become Xerox?
The transition to the Xerox identity happened several years after the original acquisition. In 2017, reports stated that Irish Business Systems was rebranding as Xerox and would operate under the Xerox name.
This marked the end of IBS as a distinct operating brand within the Xerox organisation. Although the company’s original name had been used for years after the acquisition, the rebranding brought the operation more directly under the global Xerox identity.
12. Is the Modern Irish Business Systems the Same Company?
This is an important distinction when researching Irish Business Systems today. The historical company that Xerox acquired should not automatically be confused with a modern business using the same name.
The current Irish Business Systems website describes a separate business focused on business systems, consulting, and automation. It also states that it is independent and is not affiliated with Xerox, IBS Limited, or the former Irish Business Systems entities. Therefore, information about the modern company should not be presented as information about the historical Xerox-owned IBS.
13. What Is the Legacy of Irish Business Systems?
Irish Business Systems has an important place in the history of Ireland’s office-technology sector. Starting in Cork in 1972, the company adapted as businesses moved from traditional office machines toward computers, printers, digital imaging, and integrated document systems.
Its acquisition by Xerox in 2010 was the most significant corporate development in its later history. With eight offices, approximately 180 employees, and more than 11,000 customers at the time, IBS had developed into a substantial Irish business. Its eventual transition to Xerox branding illustrates how a locally established technology provider became integrated into a global document-technology company.
Final Thoughts
Irish Business Systems developed over more than four decades from a Cork-based office-technology business into a company serving customers across Ireland. Its services centred on printing, digital imaging, office equipment, and managed print solutions, reflecting the changing technology requirements of modern workplaces.
The 2010 Xerox acquisition was a major milestone. IBS brought Xerox an established Irish customer base, offices, employees, and experience in managed print services. The company continued operating within Xerox for several years before the IBS name was replaced by Xerox branding.
Today, understanding the company’s history also requires distinguishing the former Xerox-owned IBS from the separate modern business that uses the Irish Business Systems name. Keeping those two entities separate helps prevent historical and current information from being incorrectly combined.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What was Irish Business Systems?
Irish Business Systems was an Irish office-technology company founded in Cork in 1972. It provided printing, digital imaging, office equipment, and managed print services mainly to business customers.
2. Who founded Irish Business Systems?
Jerry Carey founded Irish Business Systems in 1972 in Cork. Under his leadership, the company developed from an office-equipment business into a broader provider of printing and document-technology solutions.
3. When did Xerox acquire Irish Business Systems?
Xerox announced the acquisition of Irish Business Systems in January 2010. The transaction was valued at approximately €21 million, and IBS became a wholly owned Xerox subsidiary.
4. What happened to IBS after Xerox bought it?
IBS initially continued using its own name while operating under Xerox ownership. Its activities were later consolidated with Xerox Ireland, and the business eventually moved to Xerox branding.
5. Is today’s Irish Business Systems the former Xerox company?
No. The modern business using the Irish Business Systems name identifies itself as an independent company and states that it is not affiliated with Xerox or the former IBS organisation. The historical Xerox-owned company and the modern business should therefore be treated as separate entities.
