{"id":78060,"date":"2026-02-05T19:32:37","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T22:32:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tech.einnews.com\/article\/889786845"},"modified":"2026-02-05T19:32:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T22:32:37","slug":"permitting-software-giant-accela-buys-gis-tech-firm-novotx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/05\/permitting-software-giant-accela-buys-gis-tech-firm-novotx\/","title":{"rendered":"Permitting Software Giant Accela Buys GIS Tech Firm Novotx"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>                              <title>Permitting Software Giant Accela Buys GIS Tech Firm Novotx<\/title>  <!-- Tiny Rich Text Editor --> <!-- Load the site id in order to track the insider locales --> <!-- this will add webcomponent polyfills based on browsers. As of 04\/29\/21 still needed for IE11 and Safari --> <!-- Start of HubSpot Embed Code --> <!-- End of HubSpot Embed Code --> <!-- Google Tag Manager --> <!-- End Google Tag Manager --> <!-- OneTrust Cookies Consent Notice start for govtech.com --> <!-- OneTrust Cookies Consent Notice end for govtech.com -->  <!-- Putting icons here, so we don't have to include in a bunch of -body hbs's --> <\/p>\n<div class=\"BrowserCompatibility\" data-dialogue data-show-on-internet-explorer data-show-dialogue>\n<div class=\"BrowserCompatibility-container\">\n<div class=\"BrowserCompatibility-body\">\n<h2 class=\"BrowserCompatibility-title\"> IE 11 Not Supported <\/h2>\n<div class=\"BrowserCompatibility-text RichTextBody\">\n<p>For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <!-- Microsite Header --> <\/p>\n<div class=\"Page-content\">\n<div class=\"Page-twoColumn\"> <main id=\"readArticle\" class=\"Page-main\" data-module data-padding=\"none\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ArticlePage-lede\">\n<div class=\"ArticlePage-lede-content\">\n<div class=\"Page-breadcrumbs\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/biz\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">GovTech Biz<\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"Page-subHeadline\">The deal seeks to create what amounts to a one-stop shop for permitting and public works. An Accela executive explains the thinking behind the acquisition and what comes next for the combined company.<\/h2>\n<div class=\"ArticlePage-actions-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"Page-byline\">\n<p>February 05, 2026&nbsp;\u2022&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"Page-authors\"> <!-- one off byline --><a href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/thad-rueter\" data-cms-ai=\"0\"><span>Thad Rueter<\/span><\/a> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"Page-lead\">\n<figure class=\"Figure\">    <img data-opt-id=367520332  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"A person reaching to touch a hexagon that says, &quot;GIS.&quot; There are other hexagons with network, satelite, and other symbols.\" width=\"840\" height=\"438\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/erepublic.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/b0dc11f\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/5472x2853+0+397\/resize\/840x438!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ferepublic-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F17%2F79%2Fca94e09746f6a07bc319cab8e4e4%2Fgis-graphic.jpg\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"Figure-content\">\n<p>Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Page-article\">\n<div class=\"Page-articleBody RichTextBody\"> The newest acquisition in government technology combines permitting with public works via GIS.<\/p>\n<p>California-based <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.accela.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">Accela<\/a>, which sells permitting, licensing and other software to state and local agencies, says it has bought <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/novotx.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">Novotx<\/a>, a Utah firm that supplies public-sector clients with GIS-centric tools for asset management.<\/p>\n<p>Terms were not disclosed.<\/p>\n<p><span data-bsp-pv=\"4f8e492c-6f2f-390e-bc61-f176d3a37ab9\"><\/span><span data-bsp-pv=\"0000019c-061c-d3a0-a3be-cebe32a10000\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/main><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Accela\u2019s products focus on such areas as new construction, business and municipal infrastructure licenses, planning, scheduled maintenance and asset improvements. The company launched in 1999 and has more than 600 customers.<\/p>\n<p>Bringing the 12-year-old Novotx into the tent will expand Accela\u2019s tech abilities in work orders, \u201cmap-based operational insights\u201d and infrastructure management, according to a statement.<\/p>\n<p>Accela said Novotx is best known for Elements XS, a GIS platform that public works departments, utilities and others use for service requests, inspections and field operations. More than 150 agencies use the product to help manage roads, street signs, water and sewer operations, parks, fleets and civic assets.<\/p>\n<p>Asset management has long stood as \u201cthe best and strongest\u201d adjacent area for Accela, Vito Giallorenzo, the company\u2019s chief strategy officer, told <i>Government Technology<\/i>. Enough customers use Accela\u2019s offerings in that area that demand was clear for more.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBuilding organically takes time,\u201d he said. \u201cThis company checked a lot of boxes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The combined company \u2014 Accela in the coming months plans to release more details about its integration of Novotx tech \u2014 will offer agencies a sole supplier for a wide variety of needs, Giallorenzo said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s always easier for customers to have a single vendor, especially in government where procurement cycles are difficult and lengthy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>That reflects a larger trend in gov tech \u2014 acquisitions that seek to build what amounts to a one-stop shop, with <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/biz\/cleargov-merges-with-gravity-in-private-equity-deal\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">private equity often financing the deals<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>That trend is unlikely to stop, Giallorenzo said, especially as the industry still has space for companies that, like <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/biz\/tyler-buys-public-administration-permitting-startup-mygov\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">Tyler Technologies<\/a>, can offer various tools that cover a wide range of common governmental tasks.<\/p>\n<p>This acquisition serves as a reminder of the growing use of GIS in gov tech. Agencies are turning to geographic information systems for jobs that range from <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/public-safety\/gis-is-the-data-backbone-for-agencies-battling-l-a-fires\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">firefighting<\/a> to <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/artificial-intelligence\/how-governments-are-using-ai-and-gis-to-fast-track-permits\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">permitting<\/a> to <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/voices\/why-gis-integration-is-key-in-modern-plan-review\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">plan review<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The deal also signals the \u201cclear connection between permitting and public works,\u201d Giallorenzo said.<\/p>\n<p>In 2024, Accela \u2014 itself a <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/biz\/accela-names-new-ceo-months-after-big-private-equity-deal\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">beneficiary of private equity investment<\/a> \u2014 bought permitting and licensing tech firm <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/biz\/accela-acquires-permit-tech-company-opencounter-from-euna\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">OpenCounter<\/a> from Euna.<\/p>\n<p>Then, in April, Accela announced its <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/biz\/accela-adds-to-its-permitting-power-via-acquisition\" target=\"_blank\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">acquisition of ePermitHub<\/a>, which sold streamlined document management and plan review.<\/p>\n<p>Now the company aims to provide more streamlined services.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor years, Novotx has focused on helping agencies understand and manage their assets through GIS-driven workflows. Increasingly our customers have been requesting to seamlessly connect their asset management and permitting workflows,\u201d said Jason Horspool, CEO at Novotx, in the statement. \u201cJoining Accela allows us to better serve our customers with a broader integrated platform that is deeply committed to public-sector innovation and long-term partnership.\u201d <\/p>\n<div class=\"Page-authorInfo \" data-with-image>\n<div class=\"Page-authorInfo-image\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/thad-rueter\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">    <img data-opt-id=1087225692  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image\" alt=\"Thad Rueter\" width=\"100\" height=\"100\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/erepublic.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/43f3f09\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3269x3269+856+0\/resize\/100x100!\/quality\/90\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ferepublic-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F57%2Ff3%2F9e767ef9416fb87c11d204c617a1%2F2305-thad-01.jpg\">  <\/a> <\/div>\n<div class=\"Page-authorInfo-content\">\n<div class=\"Page-authorInfo-name\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/thad-rueter\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">Thad Rueter<\/a> <\/div>\n<p> Thad Rueter writes about the business of government technology. He covered local and state governments for newspapers in the Chicago area and Florida, as well as e-commerce, digital payments and related topics for various publications. He lives in Wisconsin. <\/p>\n<div class=\"Page-authorInfo-seeMore\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/thad-rueter\" data-cms-ai=\"0\">See More Stories by Thad Rueter<\/a> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <!-- Contributors --> <\/p>\n<aside class=\"Page-aside\"> <\/aside>\n<div class=\"Newsletter-container\">\n<p> Never miss a story with the GovTech Today newsletter. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <button class=\"GoogleDfpMobileAd-close\" data-close>  <\/button>    <\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\"> <\/a><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\/acceptable.html\"> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8230; newest acquisition in government <span class=\"match\">technology<\/span> combines permitting with public &#8230; will expand Accela\u00e2\u0080\u0099s <span class=\"match\">tech<\/span> abilities in work orders, &#8230; about its integration of Novotx <span class=\"match\">tech<\/span> \u00e2\u0080\u0094 will offer agencies &#8230; \u00e2\u0080\u0094 bought permitting and licensing <span class=\"match\">tech<\/span> firm OpenCounter from Euna. &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-78060","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78060","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=78060"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78060\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=78060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=78060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=78060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}