This article is part of our retrospective series on the foundational technologies that shaped the modern event rental infrastructure.
The Evolution of Event Rental Software: A Retrospective on Solutions by Computer
In the landscape of modern cloud-based ERPs and AI-driven logistics, it is easy to overlook the foundational systems that digitized the rental industry. For decades, one name was synonymous with rental management: Solutions by Computer (SBC).
Based in Springfield, MA, SBC was not just a software vendor; it was the operating system for a generation of event production and equipment rental businesses. Before the industry shifted to SaaS (Software as a Service) models, SBC’s flagship products, CounterPro and Enfinity, set the standard for how inventory was tracked, quoted, and billed.
The CounterPro Era
Launched during a time when many rental businesses were still relying on physical whiteboards and paper contracts, Solutions by Computer introduced a level of digital rigor that transformed the sector.
At its peak, the company’s systems were installed in over 2,300 rental operations worldwide. Crucially, this included more than 500 specialized lighting, audio-visual, and event production businesses—a sector documented extensively in industry resources like the Live Design Software Buyers Guide.
The software was revered for its ability to handle the specific “quirks” of the rental trade:
- Real-time Inventory Tracking: Managing availability across future dates, preventing double-bookings.
- Rate Setting: Handling daily, weekly, and monthly price tiers automatically.
- Transaction Processing: Integrating point-of-sale (POS) functions directly with back-office accounting.
The Constellation Acquisition
The legacy of Solutions by Computer took a decisive turn in 2008. On June 13, 2008, the company was acquired by Constellation Software Inc., a Toronto-based conglomerate known for acquiring mission-critical vertical market software companies.
This acquisition validated the specialized nature of the rental software market. Rather than absorbing SBC into a generic accounting platform, Constellation recognized the value of the specific IP developed in Springfield.
From Legacy to InTempo: The Modern Era
Following the acquisition, the technology foundation laid by Solutions by Computer eventually evolved into InTempo Software. This transition marked the shift from on-premise, server-based hardware (which often required dedicated training and toll-free support lines) to the mobile-first, cloud-based applications we see today.
While the branding has changed, the core logic developed by SBC remains a critical case study in vertical software. They proved that generic “business software” could rarely compete with purpose-built solutions designed for the high-velocity, high-complexity world of event rentals.
Today, as we analyze zero-trust security models and cloud infrastructure on SBC Tech Journal, we acknowledge that the roadmap for specialized rental ERPs was drawn decades ago in Springfield.