SmartFreight® acquires Compdata (Supplymaster) and the Desktop Connote Generation Division of tdX

SYDNEY: Leading Australian and global shipping software provider, SmartFreight®, part of the Interactive Freight Systems (IFS) Group of Companies, today announced two acquisitions - Compdata Technology Services (Supplymaster), and the shipping software arm of transport and logistics business - tdX (The Data Exchange). The buy-out reinforces SmartFreight®’s position as the largest provider of multi-carrier shipping solutions in Australasia.

As part of SmartFreight®’s accelerated global growth strategy, the move strategically consolidates its critical mass driving continued investment in leading edge multi-carrier shipping solutions. The acquisition allows SmartFreight® to optimise control of operating cost structures and to maintain competitive price strategies while reinforcing already strong relationships within the transport sector and other associated alliance partners.

Commenting on the business deal Ken Aitken, SmartFreight® CEO, said, “This is a huge win for all stakeholders in the Australian supply chain industry and global e-commerce arena, with customers, transport providers, software partners and freight management partners alike, all set to benefit.

“Today marks the convergence of some 50 years of combined technology experience in the shipping software industry. We are extremely pleased to have been able to achieve this with two such respected industry players,” Aitken added.

Guyren Smith, Director, Compdata Technology Services commented, “I am extremely proud of what the Compdata team has achieved over the last 20 years and confident that the combined Compdata and SmartFreight teams will deliver positive outcomes for all our valued customers.”

Echoing Smith’s sentiments, Grahame Williams, Managing Director at tdX said, “There’s great alignment with SmartFreight®. At tdX we share the same ethical values and customer service ethos – so this was a natural fit. While my decision to step away from the divested part of the business to concentrate on our core competencies in customised solutions is one I’m personally excited about, Ken’s leadership will undoubtedly see SmartFreight® continue to be upheld as the pre-eminent shipping solution provider in Australia and across all territories in which they operate globally.”

“We’d also like to take this opportunity to welcome the Compdata team into the IFS Group. Compdata will help to expand our team’s existing skillset and build on the exceptional business they have created over the years. Likewise, we look forward to collaborating with tdX on key projects in the future, growing the reach of our solutions to assist customers with extended workflow processes in their supply chain, which is tdX’s core strength,” said Aitken.

SmartFreight®’s enlarged team complements its objective to remain nimble and responsive to all customer needs. Service enhancements will include an increased multi-lingual customer facing team across all facets of the business, and an increased human IP resource pool to ensure a positive customer experience.

In 2016 SmartFreight® was the recipient of three major accolades at the 2016 Australian Business Awards. These were in the Technical Innovation, Product Excellence and New Product Innovation categories. The wins continued a spate of Australian Business Award wins that SmartFreight® has been awarded since 2011.

Later this year SmartFreight® plans to launch a new technology platform that promises to firmly cement SmartFreight®’s position as market leader by encapsulating all the very best features of all companies into one single, leading edge global platform. It will allow customers to ship their customers’ orders globally with real time diagnostics and information whilst achieving full visibility of shipment delivery status. The solution is the culmination of years of experience coupled with invaluable customer feedback, addressing the challenges businesses face when shipping today and the ever expanding omni-channel ecommerce needs of our clients.

http://smartfreight.com

 Information to Editors

CRITERIA	PRE ACQUISITION	POST ACQUISITION
Freight value shipped by our clients	AUD475,000,000 pa	AUD750,000,000 pa+
Items shipped	45,000,000 pa	72,000,000 pa
Shipments	18,000,000 pa	30,000,000 pa
Users	10,000+	16,000+
Transport providers offered globally	600+	650+
Countries freight shipped to	251	251
Alliance Partners	215+	230+

                                               

On completion of the acquisition program SmartFreight® will ship over three quarters of a billion dollars of freight annually or 72M items shipped per year.

 

About the IFS Group (SmartFreight®)
We are an award-winning and independent Australian based organisation which has provided customers with true multi-carrier shipping solutions since 1997.

 

Our solutions offer versatility, transparency, accountability and efficiency. Suite of products offered include SmartFreight® Express, SmartFreight® Professional, SmartFreight® Enterprise and SmartFreight® Tracker4Transport (T4T), ,

http://smartfreight.com/interactive-freight-systems

 

IFS employs some 6o+ people across the business, with a  presence in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, UK and South Africa and customers domiciled in China, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and the USA.

 

Award wins
2016 Australian Business Awards, Technical Innovation

2016 Australian Business Awards, Product Excellence

2016 Australian Business Awards, New Product Innovation

2013 Australian Business Awards, Product Excellence

2013 Australian Business Awards, Product Value

2013 Australian Business Awards Best Software Product

2012 Australian Business Awards, Product Excellence

2012 Australian Business Awards, Best Product Value

2011 Australian Business Awards, Best E-Business Product

2011 Australian Business Awards, Best Software Product