About Direct Impact Solutions
About Direct Impact Solutions
Simplifying work through smart digital [business] solutions.
Since our creation in 1996, we’ve preserved our founding values through our many mergers and acquisitions.
At Direct Impact Solutions, our values are more than just words. They guide every decision, shape our culture, and inspire how we collaborate with clients, partners, and colleagues. Here’s how they come to life every day:
Our Involvement in the Community
Educational Partnerships
We support educational institutions in Quebec by offering our certified FileMaker trainer services to UQAM and Collège Maisonneuve. We facilitate access to educational FileMaker licenses with various institutions that teach how to use the platform to their students, such as Laval’s École hôtelière et d’administration and Collège Shawinigan.
Eco-Responsibility
Every year, we use the Electronic Recycling Association’s (ERA) services to dispose of our old electronic equipment. Also, employees are encouraged to collect their obsolete personal electronic equipment to allow for a collective pickup by ERA.
Socioeconomic Engagement
Our president, Philippe Lazzaroni, sits on the Laval Économique’s Mobility and International Affairs Advisory Committee, since 2021. He is also part of the Collège Montmorency’s Board of Directors, since 2022.
Our Timeline Since 1996
Company Founded
1996
Regional Recognition & Team Growth
- Patrick Daneau joins Direct Impact.
1997
Claris Alliance Membership
1998
Team Expansion
Mathieu Lefebvre joins Direct Impact Solutions.
1999
Hosting Service Launch
Launch of Direct Impact Solutions’ hosting service.
2001
Dunamis Award Winner
Winner: Dunamis Awards
(Business Technology & Communications category, Laval)
2002
Dunamis Finalist
Finalist: Service Company
(25 employees or fewer category)
2003
Datafusion Client Integration
Integration of Datafusion clients (Montréal, Québec)
2005
CAI Informatique Integration
Integration of CAI Informatique clients (Montréal, Québec)
2006
Claris Platinum Partner Status
Direct Impact Solutions becomes a Claris Platinum Partner.
2008
International Conference Speaker
2010
FileMaker Excellence Award
Winner: FileMaker Excellence Award, Evangelist of the Year.
2012
Headquarters Relocation
2014
Expansion into France
2015
Toronto Office Opening
2016
Fin Finaud Client Integration
Integration of Fin Finaud clients (Montréal, Québec)
2017
Service Company of the Year
Winner: Dunamis Award
(Service Company, 25 employees and more)
2018
France Expansion & Claris Award
• Integration of Kermac clients (Lyon, France)
• Winner: FileMaker Advocacy Excellence Award
• Opening of the Paris office.
2019
North American & European Growth
• Integration of CoreSolutions clients (London, Ontario)
• Founding of Direct Impact Solutions USA Inc.
• Integration of KiSoft clients (Toulouse, France)
2020
U.S. Expansion & Licensing Division Launch
• Integration of AppWorks clients (Portland, Oregon, USA)
• Creation of Direct Impact Services Inc. for license resale.
2021
Dunamis Recognition
• Winner: Dunamis Awards (Service Company & Export categories)
• Finalist: Finalist in the Fédération des chambres du commerce du Québec’s (FCCQ) prestigious Mercuriades contest in the International Market Development EDC category
2022
International Recognition & Partnerships
• Winner: Claris Advocacy Excellence Award
• Strategic partnership with Italian Claris experts sinapsi@work srl & FMGuru.
2023
National & International Distinction
• Finalist: Fédération des chambres du commerce du Québec (FCCQ) Mercuriades (International Market Development – EDC category), second consecutive year.
• Recognition: 2024 Prix performance Québec
• Winner: Dunamis Award (Export category, second time)
• Winner: Claris Humanitarian Excellence Award
2024
Our History
In September 1996, Philippe Lazzaroni begins the process of starting an IT services company. The company was officially created on December 30, 1996, under the name Informatique Direct Impact Inc.
With support from several financial partners, including the Société québécoise pour le développement de la main d’œuvre, the Ministère de l’Industrie et du Commerce, the Business Development Bank of Canada and the National Research Council of Canada, the company hired Patrick Daneau as Director of Marketing in fall 1997.
In summer of 1999, Mathieu Lefebvre joins the team. His technological vision allows the company to flourish and broaden its range of services to become a leader for all IT projects. In 2015, the company opened offices in Toulouse (France), through a subsidiary called Direct Impact Solutions France, and then, in 2016, a second office in Toronto (ON).
In September 2018, after refocusing its services on custom application development, the company adopted the legal name Direct Impact Solutions Inc. to better reflect the new nature of its activities and at the same time simplify communications with its customers outside of Quebec.
In recent years, Direct Impact Solutions has acquired the assets of Fin Finaud Consultant (June 2017), Kermac (July 2019), CoreSolutions (March 2020), KiSoft (December 2020) and AppWorks (February 2021). The group now has offices in Paris (France), Lyon (France), London (ON), as well as offices in Portland (OR) and New York (NY) through a subsidiary called Direct Impact Solutions USA Inc.
The growing demand in Claris FileMaker licenses allowed for the creation of Direct Impact Services Inc., in 2021, which focuses on license resale.
Awards
The company has distinguished itself in its early years by winning various competitions, including the regional award of Devenez Entrepreneur contest (1997), the Bourses jeunesse Raymond-Blais award (1998 and 1999) and a distinction for the Bourse Desjardins Jeunes entrepreneurs (2000).
The company also received several awards at the prestigious Dunamis Competition of the Laval Chamber of Commerce and Industry, including the ATAC Award (2002) and as a finalist in the Service Company category – under 25 employees (2003).
For its contribution to the Claris FileMaker platform awareness, our company received the FileMaker Advocacy Award at the FileMaker Business Alliance Excellence Awards Ceremony in 2012 and 2019.
In 2018, the company was named Service Company of the Year (25 employees and more) at the same Dunamis Competition.
In 2022, Direct Impact Solutions won a Dunamis award in the Service Company and Export categories.
In March 2023, Direct Impact Solutions was nominated to be a finalist in the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec’s (FCCQ) prestigious Mercuriades contest in the International Markets category.
Direct Impact Solutions wins the 2023 Claris Advocacy Excellence Award.
In 2024, for a second year in a row, Direct Impact Solutions was among the finalist in the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec’s (FCCQ) Mercuriades contest in the International Market Development EDC category.
In 2024, Direct Impact Impact Solutions received a mention at the 2024 “Prix performance Québec (PPQ)”. This recognition aims to highlight the work of organizations that have successfully applied the best management practices.
In 2024, Direct Impact Solutions wins a second Dunamis Award in the Export category of the Dunamis Competition organized by the Laval Chambre of Commerce.
For a second year in a row, Direct Impact Solutions wins a Claris Excellence Award. This time, the company was awarded the 2024 Claris Humanitarian Excellence Award for the pro bono work done for NPO Heartbeat Denver Men’s Shelter.