Software specialist Descartes acquires industry peer Kontainers for 12 million euros. The acquisition aims to strengthen Descartes' position within the transport domain.
Descartes, which provides software solutions for logistics and supply chain, sees Kontainers as the right partner to build its Logistics Technology Platform, a complete and globally accessible platform for logistics. Kontainers, which has offices in the UK and the US, offers a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) transport platform on which logistics service providers can quote, book transports and exchange documents. Through a dashboard, end customers have real-time insight into transports.
Kontainers' freight platform will be integrated into Descartes' existing systems, and the company's customers will become members of Descartes' Global Logistics Network, giving them access to tariff management and freight forwarding systems.
"In recent months we have seen how quickly the world can change," Edward Ryan, CEO of Descartes explains the acquisition. "This has accelerated the digitisation process. Logistics service providers are facing tight margins and digitisation is crucial to survival. The freight platform provides them with the real-time connections between customer experience platforms and transport handling systems they need to meet high customer expectations. We look forward to working with Kontainers' customers, partners and experts."
The two companies have embarked on an integration period to combine business operations in an efficient manner.
