When it started in 1986, Access International, Inc. was in the business of communications protocol converters. IBM midrange computers ran in synchronous mode, and Access provided a protocol that allowed them to interface with a variety of asynchronous input devices.
In 1989, a pharmaceutical supplier approached Access to develop a complex order entry system that would allow their Sales Reps in the field to send orders to their IBM midrange computer. The result was OrderTaker, a DOS-based order entry system. OrderTaker was later renamed OrderWriter® and marketed to other wholesalers with the IBM midrange computer.
In 1992, Access International created the ACS, a server based on IBM's OS/2 operating system. This allowed OrderWriter® to communicate with any computer, allowing Ai2 to provide their software to wholesalers running other mainframe, midrange, and minicomputer systems.
1993 saw the release of OrderWriter® for Windows, the first commercially available order entry system to permit the use of the pen and tablet PC's that the new Windows operating system made possible. Access focused its attention on sales automation, and providing its customers with highly flexible order entry solutions that could be easily customized to the needs of any wholesaler's business model.
In 1996, Access released WebWriter™, a web-based platform for customer order entry. This allowed a wholesaler to move the task of placing day-to-day restocking orders to their customers, freeing up their Sales Reps for things like increasing account penetration and opening new accounts.
In 1997, Access debuted CityDesk, an in-house order entry system that couples with OrderWriter® to provide the same information to both Sales Reps and Customer Service Representatives.
In 2003, Access took advantage of the developing power of handheld devices, and released POW®, a version of OrderWriter® formatted for the Pocket PC with the added ability to scan. This brought the power of OrderWriter® to a new range of customers, those working with retail stores.
2003 also saw the release of ACS for Windows server. Once again, Access International moved away from closely held backoffice systems to broaden the appeal of our products.
2008 saw a revolution at Access International. The reduced cost of handheld technology made Pocket PC's cost-effective as an order entry device for customers. Access released Hero® and ACE™, smart and simple order entry solutions designed specifically for customer order entry.
Then Access debuted POET®, the integration of over twenty years of sales automation know-how with the revolutionary features of the new Windows family of operating systems. POET® brings the flexibility that Access has always provided to its customers to the users themselves, allowing users to display information in new ways, so that they can better understand their business and provide better service to their customers.
In 2009, Access International became Ai2. This more modern appellation reflects our commitment to implement the most up-to-date hardware features and software capabilities to help our customers serve their customers. Although the name has changed, the ongoing commitment to high quality, flexible, powerful, easy-to-use software remains the same.
As we move into the future, Ai2 is committed to continuing to develop the most flexible and most reliable order entry systems for its customers and their customers. Our goal, as always, is to help you do your business better. Today it is estimated that our solutions are used by over 40,000 users each day to capture over 40 billion dollars in sales each year.