While software giant Oracle Corp. got most of the attention for its $8.5 billion takeover of middleware provider BEA, it has been Descartes Systems Group, a Canadian software vendor of supply chain execution solutions, that has been the most active in its strategic acquisition of companies and technology assets. For slightly under $6 million, Descartes added routing, scheduling and ocean freight management solutions to its portfolio.
Comments Adrian Gonzalez, director of ARC Advisory Group's Logistics Executive Council, "[Descartes] has been very disciplined and methodical in its acquisition strategy. Simply stated, Descartes is focused on extending the number of participants and solutions on its Global Logistics Network by acquiring financially-stable companies with proven solutions and good customer bases."
The following scorecard highlights significant corporate moves in the supply chain technology sector since our last update in the January 2008 IW.
| Company/Product | Parent Company | Transaction Type | Technology |
| Asaph Transportation & Logistics Consulting | LPS | merger/new name | logistics and procurement software |
| AssetPoint | Triton Pacific Capital Partners | acquisition (majority interest) | enterprise asset management software |
| BEA | Oracle Corp. | acquisition | middleware |
| Blesco Inc. | Viastore Systems | acquisition | material handling systems design |
| Configuration Solutions Inc. | Consona Corp. | acquisition | ERP/customer relationship management |
| Cornerstone Shipping Services | Newgistics Inc. | acquisition | parcel shipping solutions |
| Encentuate Inc. | IBM Corp. | acquisition | identity and access management software |
| FourSoft Ltd. | TAKE Solutions | merger | supply chain management solutions |
| Freeborders' PLM division | Lawson Software | acquisition | product lifecycle management |
| Generate Inc. | Dow Jones & Co. | acquisition | business intelligence |
| Incuity Software Inc. | Rockwell Automation Inc. | acquisition | enterprise manufacturing intelligence |
| Industriaplex Inc. | Agility | acquisition (minority stake) | sourcing solutions/services |
| Interactive Capacity Gateway | NLM | spin-off | shipment management software |
| LeanLogistics | CHEP (Brambles) | acquisition | transportation management software |
| Mobitrac | Descartes Systems Group | acquisition of assets | routing and scheduling software |
| Mojix Inc. | n/a | launch | RFID technology |
| Open Channel Solutions Inc. | CMGI Inc. | acquisition | e-business management solutions |
| Pacific Coast Tariff Bureau | Descartes Systems Group | acquisition of assets | contract management (ocean freight) |
| PowerKey | I.D. Systems Inc. | acquisition | vehicle monitoring systems |
| RouteView Technologies | Descartes Systems Group | acquisition | map-based routing software |
| RSI ID Technologies Inc. | Sirit Inc. | acquisition | RFID hardware (passive) |
| Spider Systems | Infogain Corp. | acquisition | ERP |
| Vorhoff & Associates | LPS | merger/new name | logistics and procurement software |
See Also
