Tag: IT|software|transport

UK-based logtech startup Zeus, which is modernising road freight management with its next-generation digital freight matching platform, has raised £1.8m in its first-ever angel funding round.

The company, which achieved 326% growth in total volume in 2021, has now raised over £4.3m since it was first conceived in 2019, and comes as the startup passes its two-year milestone since it was launched in August 2020. Zeus’ growth also reached a key milestone last month after it expanded into Europe, handling freight routes in France, Italy and the Czech Republic for the pioneering international fashion retailer Primark.

This angel round had participation from investors: Robin Ladow, Founder of Marl Capital and Lead Investor; Ahmed Abou Hashima, Chief Executive Officer of Egyptian Steel; Jai Shroff, Global CEO of UPL Limited, a global investor in sustainable development; Nick Crosby, Chief Sales Officer at Data Techniques; James Burrows, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Vertical Futures, the industry-leading vertical farming startup; Jordan’s former Transport Minister Sahel Al-Majali; and Duncan Lindsay, Founder of Networks Centre.

Clemente Theotokis, Co-Founder and joint-Managing Director, said: “Zeus has seen significant growth since its launch. This investment will further fund our expansion into Europe, where we are already rapidly gaining new clients, and the development of new SaaS solutions to further digitise our clients’ supply chains and accelerate the path to implementing sustainable freight.”

Zeus now serves more than 40 enterprise-level clients, including Primark, P&G, Decathlon, AB InBev and Apollo Tyres, handling over 660,000 tonnes of cargo annually worth circa £6bn.

The platform offers a near ‘zero-touch’ approach to managing road freight, with complete end-to-end tracking, reconciliation and system integrations. It reduces road freight administration for both shippers and hauliers, while helping small-medium fleets grow quickly with fast payment terms.

Ahmed Abou Hashima, who steered Egyptian Steel to securing 25% of Egypt’s national steel production and is now one of the biggest industrial companies in the Middle East, said: “Globally, Zeus may be a later entrant to the freight automation sector, however they are showing a true grasp of the need for layers of innovation and invention meshed together with skilled teams and clear strategic planning. The rapid growth of the technology and customer base convinced me that Zeus represents an excellent vision for the future of freight, globally.”

Zeus Co-Founder and joint-Managing Director, Jai Kanwar, added: “We could not be more excited about the completion of this round. These leaders present great strategic value to a fast-growing startup like Zeus as successful business minds as well as savvy financiers. I’m thrilled about what the future holds for Zeus now that we have these amazing partners onboard and the chance to make our vision truly come alive.”

Zeus, the UK-based start-up which is disrupting the freight industry with its next-generation digital platform, has expanded into Europe after signing up the pioneering international fashion retailer, Primark.

The partnership, which will see Zeus handling freight transport for the retailer on distribution routes to France, Italy and the Czech Republic, comes as Zeus recently marked its second anniversary. Under the agreement, Zeus is starting with distribution to destination stores in Italy and fixed ad hoc work to Czechia and France.

Primark is a leading international retailer providing affordable fashion for everyone, from great quality everyday essentials to stand-out style across women’s, men’s, and children’s, as well as beauty, homeware and accessories. It currently has over 400 stores globally, employs more than 70,000 people in 14 countries, with 20 stores in France, 11 in Italy and two stores in their newest market of the Czech Republic.

Zeus was founded in 2020 by young entrepreneurs Jai Kanwar and Clemente Theotokis, and has since undergone phenomenal growth, serving 40 enterprise-level clients handling over 600,000 tonnes of cargo annually worth circa £6bn.

The firm experienced a 100% conversion rate from manufacturers who trialled their platform in 2021, which offers a near ‘zero-touch’ approach to managing road freight, with complete end-to-end tracking, reconciliation, and system integrations.

The platform also reduces road freight administration for both shippers and hauliers, while helping carriers grow quickly with fast payment terms and a generous loyalty programme that includes 50% discounts on premium Apollo and Vredestein truck tyres and prepaid service cards.

Zeus, which aims to reduce the industry average of 30% of trucks running empty to just five% by 2025, achieved a 326% growth in total volume in 2021, and is on track to deliver a 400% growth in revenues by the end of 2022.

Chief Commercial Officer, Zeus, Sam McGuirk, said: “Primark is a great example of how quickly our unique model and freight platform can be applied into  new countries. New verified haulage firms join daily, and we already have over 10,000 trucks signed up. We met Primark’s need for high volume market activation and hope to further build on this relationship.”

Alistair Lindsay, Chief Operations Officer at Zeus, added: “Primark is our latest European client and represents a huge step for Zeus, which we are taking ahead of schedule. This client needed a rapid solution and our technology, teams and unique mixed model approach delivered this. Our easy-to-use platform is designed to help companies like Primark rapidly scale their middle mile supply chain while also helping hauliers find new freight that fits their fleet.”

 

UTA Edenred, a leading European mobility service provider and an Edenred company, and Transporeon, one of Europe’s leading transport management platforms, have joined forces as part of a sales cooperation. From now on, Transporeon offers its European network of carriers a specially created UTA Full Service co-branded card. This card gives Transporeon customers access to UTA’s acceptance network and its comprehensive product and service portfolio.

Transporeon’s leading Transport Management Platform provides its extensive network of +1,300 shippers and retailers and +130,000 carriers and Logistics Service Providers end-to-end transport logistics management software solutions.

For its extensive carrier community, Transporeon offers a wide range of smart solutions, which help optimize route and resource planning. By entering a partnership with UTA Edenred, Transporeon is bringing even more value to carriers. They will get access to the Europe-wide UTA acceptance network and the mobility specialist’s entire range of products and services, which include fuels supply and e-charging, Europe-wide toll services, repair and maintenance, as well as numerous fleet management solutions and transparent reporting and billing.

Carsten Bettermann, CEO of UTA Edenred, says: “Through this important new partnership, we’re simplifying mobility for Transporeon customers across Europe. UTA Edenred and Transporeon share a number of synergies. Notably, UTA Edenred is creating an all-new digital platform to meet customers’ mobility needs into the future, while Transporeon has a successful digital business model. By combining UTA Edenred products with Transporeon services, we’re providing richer and more efficient mobility experiences for customers.”

Gruziana Hoxha, Executive Director of Carrier Management at Transporeon, says: “We’re committed to helping carriers optimise their global transport and logistics processes with regard to time, cost and resources. UTA Edenred, with its nearly 60 years of experience on the market and such an extensive service network, is an excellent European service partner for Transporeon. Together, we will help our customers save time and money in their everyday business.”

With the acquisition of Opheo Solutions GmbH, Solvares Group is expanding its portfolio to include solutions for truck dispatching and route optimisation in the transport sector and is continuing its course of strategic growth.

Solvares says SaaS-based software provider Opheo is an ideal fit for its strategic course. Opheo optimises route planning across truck dispatching. This industry focus is on logistics for building materials and food & beverage, among others. The software automates the dispatch process and relieves dispatch teams of all calculations.

Thanks to AI-based route optimisation and smart forecasting algorithms, kilometres can be reduced and transport resources better utilised. Opheo combines route planning, route optimisation, telematics, and ETA forecasting in a modern workplace environment for dispatchers and drivers – the digital transport control centre.

Opheo, with its 50 employees, is now the fourth company in the Solvares Group. The beginning of the group was the acquisition of FLS – FAST LEAN SMART in 2018. FLS GmbH is the technology leader for route optimisation and specialises in software-supported real-time optimisation for efficient scheduling, route and delivery planning of vehicle, expert, and technician fleets.

Before Opheo, Austria’s impactit GmbH and Germany’s Städtler Logistik joined in 2021. With its SaaS solution portatour, impactit offers its customers targeted and personalised tour planning and route planning, especially in field service optimisation for sales, consulting, and service. Städtler Logistik optimises complex and company-specific logistics and transport processes with software products such as TRAMPAS and LP/2. It takes control of governance tasks such as freight auditing for its customers and has been advising on all logistics issues for over 60 years.

With the third M&A expansion this year, the Solvares Group demonstrates its ability to grow dynamically through mergers & acquisitions. The continued focus is that the group grows sustainably – as a team and to the benefit of all involved. Thus, Dr. Stefan Anschütz, CEO of Opheo, will continue his entrepreneurial work at Solvares and play a key role in driving growth in the tour optimisation business segment both strategically and operationally.

“Solvares convinced me because I can continue to act as an entrepreneur, but move as part of a team with related businesses and entrepreneurs,” said Anschütz. “This allows me to focus primarily on my product and my clients while benefiting from the know-how and synergies of the group. Opheo joining the Solvares Group is a booster for the growth of our business.”

Dr. Jens Stief, CEO of Solvares Group, is pleased with the group’s strengthening: “Stefan Anschütz complements our management team in the field of logistics and will help us to further expand the route planning segment in particular. Opheo enhances our penetrating power in logistics with a universally applicable intelligent product as well as a motivated and capable team.”

The Solvares Group is backed by its investment partner DBAG (Deutsche Beteiligungs AG). Like the Solvares Group, DBAG is thus focusing on SaaS-based solutions, a future market in the field of logistics along the entire value chain.

Ragnar Geerdts, member of the management board of Deutsche Beteiligungs AG, added: “With Opheo, Solvares Group is consistently pursuing its buy-and-build strategy to position itself as a European champion for resource optimisation and to grow both organically and through M&A.”