Smart Manufacturing Group (SMG), backed by Dutch private equity Capital A, has finalized the acquisition of Forza IT Group, effective October 29, 2026, marking a strategic expansion of its ERP and digitalization offerings. The deal integrates Forza’s deep expertise in Oracle JD Edwards ERP consultancy, document and process digitalization, system integration, and custom business application development into SMG’s portfolio. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Forza IT Group specializes in modernizing and optimizing complex ERP environments, combining ERP consultancy with add-on solutions, cloud enablement, and custom application development. Its flagship product, Scanman, is a financial process digitalization tool built as an add-on for Oracle JD Edwards and enjoys international usage. Additionally, Forza develops tailored ERP systems and applications using low-code platforms such as Thinkwise and Betty Blocks, alongside proprietary AI pipeline tools.
SMG, a fast-growing group of specialized software companies focused on the manufacturing sector, supports production companies with ERP, production planning, shopfloor control, digitalization, and process optimization solutions. The group’s portfolio includes companies like AB, Propos Software, Komexo, Limis, Blending, and now Forza. Together with Capital A Investment Partners, SMG invests in innovation and strategic growth to become a leading technology partner for the manufacturing industry in the Netherlands and Belgium.
According to Richard van de Bospoort, CEO of Forza IT Group, “Joining SMG provides a solid foundation for growth while maintaining our entrepreneurial spirit and client focus. Our expertise in both standard and custom ERP, along with cloud enablement, complements SMG’s existing portfolio.” Joost van Strien, COO at Forza, added, “The strength of this combination lies in pooling knowledge and complementary capabilities. By connecting our specialists and solutions with SMG’s, we can support clients more broadly in modernizing their business processes, aligning perfectly with our ‘ERP+’ approach.”
Roland ten Broeke and Ger Bos, directors at Smart Manufacturing Group, commented, “Acquiring Forza brings an experienced team and valuable expertise, particularly in Oracle JD Edwards. Beyond broadening our ERP activities, the added value includes Scanman and the potential of low-code and AI-driven development. This enables us to support existing and new clients more comprehensively in their digital transformation journeys. We anticipate strong collaboration opportunities within SMG and look forward to advancing with Forza.”
The acquisition aligns with industry trends emphasizing integrated ERP solutions combined with digital process automation and cloud technologies. SMG’s enhanced capabilities position it to better compete in a consolidating ERP services market, where demand for cloud-enabled, AI-driven, and low-code solutions is rising.
While the integration presents challenges such as aligning organizational cultures, merging diverse technology stacks, and retaining specialized talent, SMG aims to leverage Forza’s international client base and proprietary tools to scale its offerings. The combined entity plans to cross-sell bundled ERP and digital transformation solutions, accelerating innovation and market reach.
Looking ahead, SMG intends to integrate Forza’s low-code platforms and AI pipeline tooling into its development processes, expanding customized ERP application offerings. The group also plans to scale the international deployment of Scanman, enhancing financial process automation for manufacturing clients globally.
This acquisition reinforces SMG’s ambition to be a leading technology partner in manufacturing, combining ERP expertise with advanced digitalization capabilities to drive client performance and competitiveness.
