Craig Hollingum is preparing to transfer ownership of Micro Com Systems to Consentia Inc. after 46 years with the Vancouver document scanning bureau he helped build. The transition concludes Hollingum's tenure that began in 1979 when he answered a newspaper advertisement for a sales representative position at a micrographic service bureau.
Hollingum joined Micro Com Systems in 1981 and progressed through the organization, becoming one of three owners in 1992 before eventually becoming sole owner in 2010. Facing retirement considerations, Hollingum confronted the common challenge for business owners: identifying appropriate successors. Statistics Canada data showing average retirement age of 65.3 years prompted serious evaluation of his options, though immediate departure wasn't feasible given ongoing operations and employee welfare.
The owner assessed four potential paths: family succession, gradual wind-down, external acquisition, or what he humorously characterized as dying at his desk. With family members declining to assume control and gradual closure threatening employee positions, Hollingum initiated buyer exploration in early 2023. Initial discussions with similar companies yielded limited results until one party re-engaged earlier this year expressing serious interest in British Columbia market expansion.
After extended negotiations, both parties reached agreement that will see Edmonton-based Consentia Inc. assume proprietorship of Micro Com Systems effective December 1, 2025. Consentia operates a comparable document scanning service bureau in Edmonton and maintains established customer satisfaction records in imaging services. The acquisition preserves Canadian ownership of the Vancouver business, with both companies being locally owned and operated.
Hollingum expressed confidence in the transition, stating comfort in transferring the business to Consentia before advancing to life's next stage. The company's comprehensive service offerings, detailed on their website at https://www.microcomsys.com/, include document imaging and management, archival and book scanning, medical imaging, optical character recognition, and specialized scanning services. The successful transfer ensures business continuity for Micro Com Systems clients and employment security for staff, representing carefully orchestrated succession benefiting all stakeholders.
This ownership transition demonstrates effective business succession planning in the technology services sector, particularly relevant for leaders considering long-term organizational sustainability. The handover maintains Canadian ownership while ensuring service continuity for clients relying on document management solutions. For industry observers, the acquisition highlights consolidation trends among specialized technology service providers and the importance of structured exit strategies for founding entrepreneurs approaching retirement.
