Wisp Acquisition by Harris - Client FAQ

General FAQ

Harris and Wisp are committed to your success and continued partnership. We look forward to working together and building upon our relationship for many years to come.

Please do not hesitate to contact us at for more information and ask any questions that you may have.

 

Who is Harris Computer Systems (Harris)? 

Founded in 1976 and headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Harris provides mission-critical software and services solutions to key vertical markets. Their approach involves acquiring businesses with growth potential, managing them well, and building them for the future. Harris provides a new home for existing businesses, shares their process and best practices and empowers them to elevate their offerings in service of their clients. They grow their business units organically by requiring experimentation with new ideas, as well as acquired growth. 

Harris is one of six fully owned subsidiaries of Constellation Software, Inc. a global software company headquartered in Toronto, Canada with offices in North America, Europe, Australia, South America and Africa. 

 

Why did we select Harris Computer Systems? 

Wisp is successful because of our longstanding commitment to our clients and team members. Similar core values around people and clients are what drew us to this opportunity with Harris. Harris has a long and successful history of helping its clients’ organizations run smoothly and offers Wisp and our valued clients the high-quality management and long-term stability necessary for the ongoing support, services, growth, and innovation of a SaaS based service offering. This change provides assurance for our enduring stability and the continuation of the Wisp product lines for many years to come. 

 

Why did Harris acquire Wisp? 

The primary reasons are: 

You, the Wisp clients. The loyal, long-term clients and partners who are invested in Wisp’s solutions can now rely on Harris to provide the Wisp team the leverage to work with you in understanding the challenges and changes going on in your world. Harris sees great value in these relationships and the partnerships that have been created over the years. You are valuable partners with whom we will share mutual success for many years to come. 

The Wisp team members. They are dedicated, loyal, experienced, and have tremendous knowledge. As a software company, Harris knows that true value is derived from our team members — they create the solutions and deliver the support and services necessary to build and grow great, long-term relationships. 

The Wisp products and services. Wisp’s product portfolio is proven, reliable, stable, feature-rich, and supports the Harris goal of enabling its companies to serve their clients better, who in turn serve their clients better. Harris firmly believes Wisp provides an excellent foundation for future growth in the Smart Building / Space Management market. 

 

Does anything change with access to support? 

No. Please continue to contact support in the same way you always have and expect to receive the same great service from our knowledgeable, dedicated, and experienced team.  

 

Why is the Harris-Wisp combination good for me?  

There are many reasons why you should be excited about Harris and Wisp, including: 

As part of a financially secure and publicly traded company, Harris delivers long-term confidence and stability for all Wisp clients for decades to come. 

Harris does not sell or divest the businesses it acquires — so Wisp, its team members, and clients have a permanent home with Harris. 

Harris is committed to its clients for the long haul with more than 100,000 customers across 25+ verticals. Growing innovation and opportunity within the property technology market has Harris intent on growing their Commercial Real Estate Market offerings, with Wisp being the first key acquisition within the sector. With best-of-breed software integrations as a key tech stack strategy for Corporate Real Estate teams today, we’re especially excited about new potential partnerships within the Smart Building industry. 

The size and scale of Harris and its parent, Constellation Software, Inc. (https://www.csisoftware.com/), provide a solid foundation for future expansion and growth. Consolidated revenues across Constellation last year exceeded US$ 8.4 billion. Learn more under the Toronto Stock Exchange Ticker: CSU.TO 

 

What does this mean for the Wisp Roadmap? 

Harris emphasizes growing with our clients—supporting needs of your business for the long term. Evaluating the roadmap for the evolving needs of Space Management and the new ways of working is a priority. With Harris’s focus on expanding its offerings within the Corporate Real Estate Market, we’re excited to explore new opportunities for strategic partnerships. 

 

Will I be forced to upgrade or change my software application? 

No. All products will continue to be offered and supported. We will meet all contractual commitments and continue working in a manner that supports our existing long-term relationship and your continued success. 

 

What changes can I expect?  

The complete transition from Gensler to Harris will happen over the coming months, and our focus will be on business continuity and consistency of excellent client support. Gensler is committed to supporting a seamless transition and we will be diligent in providing advance communication where possible.  

 

Will there be any change to my contractual relationship with Wisp?
Our relationship will stay the same, and we will continue providing all services without interruption. It is business as usual for Wisp and its many clients. After closing, we will deliver a short notice of assignment with updated billing information, but your pricing and payment timing will remain unchanged.  

 

What is the new vendor and billing details?

A package for new vendor set up, including a W9, will be sent in the coming weeks to establish new vendor details in your systems. The new vendor will be N. Harris Computer Corporation. Until then, you will continue to receive invoices and remit payment with Gensler.

 

Will the transition impact access to services, hosting environments or existing technical organization measures? 

No. Security and accessibility is one of our top priorities and we only expect to see further improvements in this area with the Harris-Wisp combination. 

 

If I have a current implementation or project in progress, will this change impact me? 

No. Wisp implementation and project resources will continue. Your project contacts remain the same, so please feel free to reach out and talk to them.  

 

My company also works with Gensler for other services. Will the Gensler team members still have access to Wisp? 

Gensler has been an excellent home and partner for the past 30 years and we are excited to continue a working relationship as 3rd Party Partners. You will be able to provide access to Wisp just as you would to your other external partners. Please refer to your specific contract or speak to your CSM regarding any notification requirements. 

 

How is this different than other transactions happening in the PropTech / Smart Building / Space Management Market? 

Constellation Software / Harris is a publicly traded Vertical Market Software Company. This is a different business model than Private Equity firms who look for shorter-term investments that return cash to investors at the end of a holding period. On average, holding periods tend to last about 4 years, but could run as long as 7-10 years. 

Harris never sells businesses they acquire. Their “buy and hold forever” strategy allows for long term investments that strengthen the business over time. The focus is on you, the client and the most pressing needs for your business. For more information, please visit Harris’s website at Harris Computer.   

You can read more here about the different equity models: https://www.eaglepointcap.com/blog/constellation-software-the-anti-conglomerate 

If you want to learn more about industry market activity, please speak to your CSM.