Descartes Systems Group (TSX:DSG) (Nasdaq:DSGX), the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, acquired Compudata, a leading provider of B2B supply chain integration and e-invoicing solutions in Switzerland.
Compudata's network (B2BNet) serves a diverse community of trading partners, helping them connect, collaborate and seamlessly exchange electronic data. Compudata also provides e-invoicing and e-archiving functionality essential in international trade and transportation transactions.
"Descartes is establishing itself as the global network for communities collaborating on logistics and supply chain processes. The addition of Compudata's solutions and community to our Logistics Technology Platform is another important step on this journey, and it further strengthens our global market leadership position," said Edward J. Ryan, Descartes' CEO. "Our customers now have access to a broader scale and scope of document-critical functionalities that are key to moving goods. This can help them link critical elements and information in the supply chain, increase data accuracy and make the flow of goods more efficient."
Compudata brings more than 500 customers to Descartes' Global Logistic Network, with the majority of these in Switzerland. Compudata's wider community includes a significant number of retailers and suppliers that will now join Descartes' logistics community, presenting additional opportunities for trading partners to collect and share logistics data earlier in the business process - from purchase order to loading dock door.
"Compudata has set the standard in Switzerland for superior B2B supply chain integration services," said Patrick Maeder, Compudata's CEO and now Vice President of B2B Services at Descartes. "Our market-leading position in Switzerland is a direct result of our focus on enabling our community to achieve operational excellence by increasing automation and improving logistics precision."
Compudata is headquartered in Murten, Switzerland. The all cash purchase price for the acquisition was CHF 16.0 million (approximately USD $17.9 million at December 20, 2013). Descartes funded the purchase price for this acquisition by drawing on its existing acquisition line of credit.