Tag: acquisition|IT|software

WNS (Holdings) Limited, a leading provider of global Business Process Management (BPM) solutions, has acquired The Smart Cube, a leader in platform-driven research and analytics (R&A) focused on procurement and supply chain, and OptiBuy, a leading European provider of procurement platform consulting and implementation solutions. These assets are complementary to WNS’ existing offerings and strengthen the company’s capabilities in both high-end procurement and advanced analytics.

The Smart Cube

Founded in 2003 and headquartered in London, UK, The Smart Cube provides digitally led market intelligence and analytics solutions. The company’s offerings span four key areas including procurement and supply chain, commercial sales and marketing, digital and analytics, and strategy and investment research. The Smart Cube leverages its proprietary digital AI knowledge management platform, Amplifi Pro, to help clients drive improved procurement and market intelligence and insight-based decision making. The company also brings strong front-end advisory capabilities and a large European footprint to the WNS portfolio.

The company has over 800 global employees including a seasoned leadership team with CXO-level relationships, and more than 600 talented R&A specialists with approximately two-thirds holding a Master’s degree. The acquisition of The Smart Cube was completed for a figure $125m.

“The Smart Cube is proud to become part of WNS, an industry leader in global Business Process Management. Both of our firms share a common philosophy of partnering and growing with clients, and believe our businesses continue to have huge growth opportunities ahead,” said Gautam Singh, Founder and CEO of The Smart Cube. “Over the last 20 years, we have built a strong business based on delivering value for our clients leveraging our unique AI+HI (artificial intelligence + human intelligence) methodology. We are delighted to now join WNS in the next phase of our growth journey.”

OptiBuy

Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Warsaw, Poland, OptiBuy is a leading European provider of procurement platform consulting and implementation solutions. The company helps clients leverage the capabilities of leading 3rd party procurement and supply chain platforms including Ivalua, Jaggaer, and O9, and complements WNS’ existing offerings with platforms such as Coupa and Ariba. In addition, OptiBuy also provides consulting, optimisation, outsourcing, and training services to their clients.

Currently focused on the EMEA market, the company has approximately 90 employees including more than 40 senior-level certified platform implementation professionals based in Poland. WNS views expansion of these capabilities into the North American market as a significant opportunity.

The acquisition of OptiBuy was completed for a figure of €30m.

“On behalf of the entire team at OptiBuy, we are excited to become part of WNS and believe that the combination of our two firms will enable the creation of differentiated, end-to-end digital procurement and supply chain solutions for the global marketplace,” said Mateusz Borowiecki, managing director of OptiBuy. “We look forward to building on the capabilities we have created over the past 12 years and working with the WNS team as we help clients leverage digital technologies to drive long-term business value.”

WNS: acquisitions complement us

“Both of these companies possess unique, digitally-led/human intelligence capabilities which are complementary to WNS’ existing procurement and analytics offerings, and are also complementary with each other,” said Keshav R. Murugesh, WNS’ chief executive officer. “The Smart Cube and OptiBuy bring experienced leadership teams, highly specialised resources, and differentiated technology offerings to the WNS portfolio. These companies also have blue-chip customer bases with extensive cross-selling opportunities, and proven track records of delivering strong top line growth, healthy margins, and high levels of customer satisfaction.

“We believe that The Smart Cube and OptiBuy will significantly enhance our WNS-Denali (procurement) and WNS-Triange (analytics) solutions, and help accelerate our positioning and growth in these strategic areas. On behalf of myself and the entire WNS team, we are excited to welcome the talented teams of The Smart Cube and OptiBuy to the WNS family.”

nShift, a global provider of cloud delivery management solutions for e-commerce shops, retailers, manufacturers and third-party logistics companies has acquired Webshipper. Webshipper is a leading e-commerce cloud delivery management platform, serving over 5,000 e-commerce stores in Denmark, including Hummel, Miinto, Message, Pilgrim, and Shaping New Tomorrow.

Following nShift’s launch in August 2021, Webshipper will become the company’s second acquisition, as it continues to increase its extensive library of 700+ carriers and expand its 90,000+ strong customer base internationally. By integrating Webshipper’s user-friendly interface, advanced back-end technology and prominent support model, Webshipper will further advance nShift’s capabilities as a global leader in cloud delivery management.

“We have experienced tremendous growth as a company, with revenue increasing more than 100% over the last year, and the team quadrupling in size in just two years,” said Thomas Andersen, CEO and founder of Webshipper. “We are now delighted to be joining the growing nShift family and to be working alongside some of the world’s most innovative technology providers in the shipping and logistics sector. As a part of nShift, we look forward to being able to continue the momentum we have created and benefit from the infrastructure and network that nShift has to offer.”

Webshipper is the first Danish company to be acquired by nShift and will join Sweden-based Returnado (rebranded to nShift Return since its acquisition by nShift) in adding critical technology to nShift’s cloud delivery management platform. nShift is owned by two leading technology investors, Francisco Partners and Marlin Equity Partners, both of which are supportive of nShift offering their customers the most innovative full suite of shipping features, widest geographic coverage and deepest domain knowledge and technical expertise available in the market.

“We have been extremely impressed at how quickly Webshipper have scaled their offering, and are excited to begin embedding its frictionless automated shipping technology and bolster our wide portfolio of advanced cloud delivery management solutions for our customers,” added Lars Pedersen, CEO of nShift.“This latest acquisition further demonstrates our commitment to becoming the most innovative player in the business, to continuously enhance and improve the delivery management journey for our customers.”