What CIE-Group does

CIE-Group Ltd is a UK-based value-added distributor, founded in 1964 and headquartered in Bulwell, Nottingham, specialising in professional door intercom, access control, video surveillance, and audio-visual equipment. The company operates as an intermediary between tier-1 international manufacturers (2N, Akuvox, CYP, Axis, Grandstream, Zenitel, Salto, Wavelynx) and the UK installer/integrator channel, stocking and supporting complete product ranges with free system design, consultancy, and pre-sales specification support. Its portfolio is organised around IP-based intercom and access control as the core platform, complemented by AV distribution (AV-over-IP, matrices, extenders), IP audio and PA systems (including EN54-compliant PAVA), video surveillance, and assistive listening products.

Revenue is generated primarily through trade hardware distribution, with a complementary stream of value-added services including system design, training, and technical support. Pricing is account-based and not publicly disclosed; customers access trade pricing through a dedicated e-commerce platform (shop.cie-group.com) or via a field sales team for project-based enterprise deals. CIE differentiates itself from catalogue distributors through an industry-recognised training infrastructure — HowToAV.tv and the AV-over-IP Academies — that has trained over 200 delegates and won CEDIA Best Training Course (2019), and through a 25+ award history including Inavation Distributor of the Year (2020) and 2N Distributor of the Year (2018, 2019). The company is BSI ISO 9001 certified and holds AVIXA CTS Provider, CEDIA, ISCVE, and PLASA accreditations. Customer segments span residential multi-dwelling developments, commercial buildings, retail chains, education, hospitality, and healthcare, with named end-customers including NEXT (500+ stores), Marks & Spencer, Vodafone, MediaCity Manchester, Honda, Grosvenor Casino, and Bicester Village.

Name

CIE-Group

Legal name

CIE-Group Ltd

Website

https://cie-group.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CIE-Group is a UK value-added distributor (founded 1964, Nottingham) specialising in professional IP door intercom, access control, and AV equipment from tier-1 brands, serving AV and security installers and system integrators with trade pricing, training, and project design support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bulwell

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Product Distribution: Sale of professional AV equipment including door intercoms, access control systems, video surveillance, audio equipment, and AV distribution products. Revenue generated through markup on products distributed from manufacturers.
2. Value-Added Services: Free system design and consultancy, expert training, and end-to-end project support bundled with product sales to differentiate the distribution offering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CIE-Group is a value-added distributor of professional door intercom, access control, video surveillance, and audio-visual equipment in the UK. It distributes and supports products from leading manufacturers including 2N, Akuvox, CYP, Axis, Grandstream, Wavelynx, and Zenitel to professional installers and system integrators. The company differentiates its distribution offering through free system design and consultancy, expert training via HowToAV.tv and AV-over-IP Academies, and end-to-end project support.

Product overview

CIE-Group is a UK-based value-added distributor specializing in professional intercom, access control, video surveillance, and audio-visual equipment. The portfolio is organized around a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on IP-based door intercom systems (2N and Akuvox brands) complemented by AV distribution (CYP), audio equipment, and connectivity solutions. Core products include 2N IP intercom stations (Verso, Force, Base, Indoor Touch 2.0), Akuvox smart intercoms (S538, X910, R25K, DRK series), access control readers, IP audio systems, and AV-over-IP distribution equipment. The offering includes add-on services like the Akuvox SmartPlus smartphone app, free system design consultancy, expert training via HowToAV.tv, and technical support. Products integrate with SIP systems, ONVIF-compliant NVRs, home automation platforms, and support multiple authentication methods including facial recognition, RFID, NFC, Bluetooth, and QR codes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Akuvox S538 Premium 8-Inch Smart Intercom Premium 8-inch smart doorphone with triple-camera system, facial recognition and multiple authentication methods (PIN, QR, BLE, NFC, RFID, mobile app) running Android 12, IP66/IK08 rated for outdoor access control.
• Akuvox X910 Smart Door Phone Luxury residential smart doorphone with AI-powered parcel detection, dual-camera system (5MP + 2MP), IP66/IK08 ratings and support for Bluetooth, NFC, QR codes, RFID and mobile app access.
• Akuvox R25K IP Video Door Intercom Robust IP video door intercom with 4MP camera, 150° ultra-wide viewing angle, MIFARE/DESFire/NFC card support, SIP/ONVIF compliance, IP65-rated aluminium housing for outdoor installation.
• Akuvox DRK Series Intercoms DRK range of Akuvox intercoms including the R25A-DRK single-button video intercom, R20KS-DRK compact multi-credential intercom and E12W-DRK smart doorbell with WiFi.
• 2N IP Style Digital Touchscreen Door Intercom Digital touchscreen door intercom with Bluetooth and RFID authentication, modern design for residential and commercial access control applications.
• 2N Indoor Touch 2.0 Door answering unit with 7-inch HD touchscreen, Android 6.0 OS, video messaging answering machine, available in WiFi and non-WiFi versions. Red dot design award winner.
• 2N Indoor Compact Compact touchscreen digital intercom answering panel with 4.3-inch display, scratch-resistant glass, PoE or 12V DC power, compatible with 2N Verso, Force and Base intercoms, manageable via the My2N cloud portal.
• 2N Indoor Talk Audio-only door communication device for indoor use with IP connectivity, HD audio, remote door unlocking, capacitive buttons with RGB LED backlighting.
• 2N IP Verso Modular Intercom Modular IP door intercom system with flexible configuration options for access, communication and identification. Winner of Smart Building Awards 2019 Best Security Solution.
• 2N IP Force Door Intercom Vandal-resistant IP door intercom with IK10 impact protection and IP69 rating for high-risk areas including prisons, universities, and hospitals, featuring 10W speaker and dual microphones.
• Akuvox S567W 10-inch Indoor Touchscreen Panel 10-inch IP indoor touchscreen answering panel with WiFi 6 and Bluetooth, running Android 12, for premium intercom and access control applications.
• Akuvox MR01 Fall Detection Device AI-powered radar fall detector for assisted living and care environments, integrating with the Akuvox SmartPlus cloud service to push real-time alarms.
• Akuvox X937 Premium Indoor Monitor Premium indoor monitor with AIClaw firmware featuring enhanced AI intelligence, Android 14 GMS certified, for modern residential and commercial interiors.
• Chiayo FOCUS PRO38 Portable PA System 70W portable PA system with wireless UHF microphone, rechargeable battery, MP3/Bluetooth connectivity, USB/SD card inputs, deployed by NEXT stores for in-store announcements.
• CYP AV Distribution Products Professional AV connectivity solutions from CYP including AV-over-IP, matrices, extenders, switchers, splitters, scalers and converters, featuring HDBaseT and HDMI-over-IP technologies.
• CYP IP System Controller & Configurator AV-over-IP system controller enabling configuration and management of CYP IP-based audio-visual installations.
• Wavelynx APEX Reader Range Access control readers from Wavelynx with advanced credential reading capabilities for secure building access.
• SAFR SCAN Face Authentication Readers Facial recognition access control readers for secure identity verification at building entry points.
• Grandstream GXP1625 IP Telephone Audio-only IP telephone with PoE, 2 SIP accounts, 3-way conferencing and HD audio, fully compatible with the 2N IP Intercom range for door answering.
• Zenitel Public Address & Voice Alarm (PAVA) EN54-compliant public address and voice alarm portfolio for keeping people safe, informed and connected in commercial and public buildings.
• AV-over-IP Academies Training Programme Free UK-wide face-to-face full-day training academies covering Audio-over-IP, Video-over-IP and IP Intercoms, delivered to AV and security integrators (over 200 delegates trained to date).
• HowToAV.tv Training Platform Free online video training platform providing educational content on AV-over-IP, video-over-IP, and IP intercom technologies for industry professionals. Winner of CEDIA 2019 Best Training Course award.
• Total Project Management Service End-to-end project support service covering free system design, consultancy, specification, supply and after-sales support for professional installers and enterprise customers across intercom, access control and AV projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trained over 200 industry delegates through AV-over-IP Academies
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability15 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• CYPcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial distributor for the full range of CYP Audio Visual solutions including AV-over-IP, matrices, extenders, switchers, splitters, and converters. CIE stocks and supports the complete CYP product range with expert advice on product choice, system specification, and after-sales service.
• 2N (Nethemba)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMain UK distributor for 2N Telecoms range of professional IP intercom and IP door entry systems. CIE distributes the complete 2N range including Verso, Force, Base, and indoor answering units.
• AkuvoxcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial UK distributor for Akuvox smart intercom and access control products including R series, X series door phones and access control units.
• Axis CommunicationssupportingTechnology or IntegrationIP technology partner supporting CIE's AV-over-IP Academies training program. Provides IP audio technology expertise for the training curriculum.
• ImagesoundsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAudio visual supplier partner for retail projects. Imagesound specified CIE's Focus Wireless Portable PA Systems for NEXT store deployments.
• GrandstreamsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes Grandstream IP telephone handsets that integrate with 2N intercom systems for SIP-based door entry solutions.
• ZenitelsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCIE introduces Zenitel Public Address & Voice Alarm (PAVA) portfolio - EN54-compliant communication solutions for safety and information.
• SaltosupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCIE explores Salto Room Key Apple Wallet integration for smarter hospitality access management.
• WavelynxsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCIE distributes Wavelynx APEX Reader Range for enhanced access control solutions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ciegroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ciegroupltd
• Facebookfacebook.com/ciegroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cie-audio-visual-intercoms
• Instagraminstagram.com/cie_group

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CIE-Group