What P&Q Software does

P&Q International plc (operating as P&Q Software) is a privately-held UK software company founded in February 1979 by Managing Director Donald Q Gardiner, headquartered in Cambridge. Its core product is Q>TAR, a modular integrated platform for Time & Attendance, Flexitime, Access Control, Shop Floor Data Collection, Inventory Control, and Lone Worker Protection, originally developed in 1984 as the world's first Time & Attendance Recording package for microcomputers. Q>TAR is built on a proprietary 4th Generation Language and Rapid Prototyping Development System, written in C and C++, and runs across Windows, Unix/Linux, Open VMS, and mobile (Windows CE/Mobile/Pocket PC) with single-user, multi-user, and client-server configurations. The system integrates with a broad hardware reader ecosystem including proximity, smart card, magnetic stripe, barcode, RFID, and biometric devices from HID, ZK, SAFRAN Morpho, Amano, Motorola/Symbol, Datalogic, Intermec, Feedback Data, Accu-Time, and SALTO electronic locks.

The company operates a direct enterprise sales model selling complete turnkey solutions — analysis, design, hardware, software, installation, commissioning, training, and three-tier ongoing support (Bronze/Silver/Gold). Revenue is generated from one-time software licenses, recurring maintenance and support contracts (software and hardware), hardware sales, and professional services including badge preparation bureau. The customer base is concentrated in UK and Irish manufacturing (Cadbury, Kraft/Terry's, Goodyear Dunlop, Caparo Precision Tubes, Crown Cork and Seal, LEONI Wiring Systems, British American Tobacco, Dunlop Oil & Marine), corporate services (Capita, Unisys Insurance Services/Abbey Life), aerospace (Monarch Aircraft Engineering), and timber (Howarth Timber), with international presence in New Zealand (associate BCS Systems since 1988) and West Africa via Aeon Ventures Ltd. The company has held ISO 9001 certification since 1998 (updated to ISO 9001:2015) and is SAFEcontractor accredited. Time Bureau is offered as a cloud-based alternative to on-premise Q>TAR.

Name

P&Q Software

Legal name

P&Q International plc

Website

https://pandq.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

P&Q International plc is a privately-held UK software firm founded in 1979, selling the Q>TAR modular platform for Time & Attendance, Access Control, Data Capture, and Inventory Management to medium-to-large enterprises primarily in UK manufacturing, aerospace, and financial services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Management Software

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Computer & Office Equipment (3570)

akta.pro primary industry

Testing, QA & Release/Deployment Enablement (BPAEAAAN)

Keywords

• Time and attendance systems
• Access control solutions
• Workforce management software
• Shop floor data capture
• Lone worker protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses: Sale of Q>TAR software systems as complete solutions, including modular packages for Time & Attendance, Access Control, Data Capture, and Inventory Management. Systems can be configured as single-user, multi-user, or client-server configurations.
2. Annual Maintenance and Support Contracts: Three-tiered support model: Bronze (basic telephone/email hotline + software maintenance), Silver (remote support + yearly on-site training), Gold (highest response times + bespoke report writing and customisation). Both software and hardware maintenance contracts offered.
3. Hardware Sales: Supply and installation of readers, data capture devices, security equipment including turnstiles, gates, barriers, CCTV, and badge production equipment. Hardware includes Proximity/Smart Card readers, Barcode scanners, RFID readers, biometric devices.
4. Professional Services: Software consultancy, analysis, design, customisation, installation, configuration, commissioning, and training services. Badge preparation bureau service with next-day delivery available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

P&Q develops, supplies, and installs the Q›TAR family of integrated business systems, delivering Time & Attendance, Flexitime, Access Control, Shop Floor Data Collection, Inventory Management, Product Traceability, and Lone Worker Protection solutions. The company sells complete turnkey packages including hardware (readers, terminals, gates, CCTV), software, consultancy, installation, training, and ongoing maintenance, targeting medium to large enterprises with multi-platform deployments.

Product overview

P&Q International is a software company offering the Q›TAR family of integrated business systems. Q›TAR is a modular platform providing Time & Attendance, Flexitime, Access Control, Labour Costing, Stock Control, Data Capture, and Lone Worker Protection solutions. The core Q›TAR system uses a Rapid Prototyping and Development System with an application-oriented 4th Generation Language. The platform runs on Windows, Unix/Linux, and Open VMS operating systems, and supports various deployment configurations including single-user, multi-user, and client-server architectures. Individual modules include Time & Attendance Management, Flexitime and Flexible Working, Access Control and Monitoring, Shop Floor Data Collection (SFDC) and AIDC, Inventory Control and Product Location, Timber Stock Identification and Location, Product Traceability, Lone Worker Protection, and Integrated Solutions. The company also offers a cloud-based alternative called Time Bureau, hardware solutions, and partners with SALTO for access control door locks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Q>TAR Primary software platform providing integrated Time & Attendance, Flexitime, Access Control, Labour Costing, Stock Control, Data Capture and Lone Worker Protection solutions. Uses a Rapid Prototyping and Development System with an application-oriented 4th Generation Language for Data Capture applications. Runs on Windows, Unix/Linux, Open VMS, and mobile devices (Windows CE, Windows Mobile, Pocket PC), with single-user, multi-user, and client-server configurations.
• Time Bureau Cloud Time & Attendance Cloud-based Time & Attendance service offered as an alternative to on-premise Q›TAR installation.
• Q>TAR Hardware Time & Attendance readers, data capture equipment, access control equipment, security gates, fencing, turnstiles, CCTV, and badge production equipment supplied and installed by P&Q as part of integrated Q>TAR solutions.
• SALTO Access Control Solutions Electronic door locks using Virtual Network technology, supplied and installed by P&Q as part of integrated access control solutions.
• Software Consultancy and Development Software consulting, analysis, design, and customisation services for Q>TAR deployments and bespoke data collection applications.
• Installation, Configuration and Commissioning On-site installation, configuration, and commissioning services for Q>TAR systems and associated hardware.
• Software Support and Maintenance Three-tiered annual support contract (Bronze, Silver, Gold) providing telephone/email hotline, remote support, on-site training, bespoke report writing, and software maintenance.
• Hardware Support and Maintenance Hardware maintenance contracts covering supplied readers, terminals, and security equipment.
• Badge Preparation Service Badge preparation bureau service with next-day delivery available.

Quantifiable outcome

• Howarth Timber reduced pack fetch time from up to 1 hour to near-instant location identification across 20,000+ stock items
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered regional, core and minor.

• BCS Systems (New Zealand)regionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1988Associate company opened in New Zealand in 1988 to serve the New Zealand market. Part of P&Q International's international expansion.
• SALTO SystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationP&Q supplies and installs SALTO electronic door locks using Virtual Network technology as part of integrated access control solutions. SALTO locks provide cost-effective wireless access control without requiring wiring or electromagnetic radiation.
• Quality Management Systems International plc (QMS)minorOthersExternal quality auditors who carry out annual ISO 9001 audit of P&Q's quality systems and procedures.
• Aeon Ventures Ltd (Ghana)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepresents P&Q in West Africa, providing local presence and support for customers in Ghana and surrounding region.
• My-BodyguardcoreTechnology or IntegrationMy-Bodyguard personal alarm devices integrated with Q>TAR Lone Worker Protection system. Provides location tracking and man-down alarm functionality for remote workers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ADP Workforce Now: ADP provides payroll, HR and time & attendance solutions including Workforce Now (mid-market) and Enterprise. Overlaps with P&Q on T&A and payroll integration but bundles much broader HCM functionality.
• Workday: Workday HCM includes Time Tracking and workforce management modules used by large enterprises. A broad-suite HCM competitor that increasingly encroaches on standalone T&A systems through native functionality and tight payroll/HR integration.
• Ceridian Dayforce: Dayforce (formerly Workforce Software) is a single-platform HCM with deep workforce management capabilities including T&A, scheduling and labour costing. Direct functional overlap with P&Q for enterprise manufacturing and shift-based environments.

Direct peers

• UKG (formerly Kronos): UKG is the global leader in workforce management and Time & Attendance, offering cloud and on-premise solutions comparable to P&Q Q>TAR. Direct competitor for enterprise T&A, access control, and labour management, though at vastly greater scale and broader feature scope.
• Reflexis Systems (Zebra Technologies): Reflexis (acquired by Zebra) provides workforce management, task management and store operations solutions for retail and shift-based workforces. Comparable on labour costing, scheduling and shop floor execution, though more retail-skewed than P&Q's manufacturing base.
• Infor WFM: Infor Workforce Management (formerly Workbrain) provides T&A, scheduling and labour analytics for complex industries including manufacturing, retail and healthcare. Closely comparable to Q>TAR in target use cases for shift-based, multi-site enterprises.

Regional players

• Bodet Software: Bodet is a French workforce management specialist offering T&A, access control and HR solutions for mid-market and enterprise across Europe. Comparable to P&Q in product scope and target verticals, with a stronger presence in continental Europe.
• Selima Software: Selima is a UK-based provider of workforce management solutions including T&A, e-rostering, payroll integration and access control. Comparable to P&Q in scale, geographic focus and product breadth, often competing for similar UK enterprise customers.
• Civica UK: Civica is a UK-headquartered software company serving public sector and regulated industries with workforce management, HR and payroll solutions. Comparable to P&Q in UK enterprise T&A market, particularly for local government and healthcare.

Emerging players

• Timetastic: Timetastic is a UK-based cloud T&A and absence management solution for SMB and mid-market. Represents the modern cloud-native direction of the T&A market that P&Q is approaching through Time Bureau.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 P&Q Software