i-Bos and EWG announce strategic alliance for integrated payroll and payment solutions for superyachts

Isle of Man-based software specialist i-Bos Limited and Jersey-based financial technology firm EWG have announced a new partnership. The alliance brings together CelloPlus, i-Bos’s specialist crew management and payroll platform, with EWG’s international payment, multi-currency, and financial technology capabilities.

The aim is to simplify the administrative and financial processes involved in managing international yacht crews. By connecting crew management and payroll technology with the financial infrastructure required to make international salary payments, the strategic alliance creates a more streamlined journey from crew management, through payroll calculation, to payment. Superyacht crew may represent numerous nationalities, work across multiple jurisdictions, and require salaries to be calculated and paid in different currencies to bank accounts around the world. Crew data, payroll processing, banking, and payment execution can often involve several different systems and service providers.

Through their alliance, i-Bos and EWG intend to reduce this fragmentation. CelloPlus provides operational technology for managing crew information, employment, and payroll processes, while EWG provides the international financial infrastructure required to facilitate multi-currency and cross-border payments.

The initial focus of the alliance will be the integration of CelloPlus and EWG’s payment capabilities. Both companies will continue to explore additional opportunities to collaborate on technology, client services, and international superyacht solutions. According to a joint statement released by i-Bos and EWG, the companies plan to explore increasing levels of automation, reducing unnecessary duplication and manual intervention while providing yacht managers and payroll teams with greater efficiency and control.

Graeme Hackman of i-Bos Limited said: “We have spent many years developing technology specifically around the needs of yacht managers, payroll teams, and crew. The next logical step is to connect that technology more closely with the financial infrastructure required to actually move money around the world.” Warren Sanders, Director and Founder of EWG, said: "Superyacht crew payroll is a particularly good example of where technology can remove complexity. Payroll teams need to manage multiple nationalities, jurisdictions, currencies, and payment destinations, often within very tight operational deadlines."

Both organisations believe there is an opportunity for the Crown Dependencies to play an increasingly important role in the digital transformation of the international superyacht industry by combining maritime expertise, financial services, and specialist technology.