Descartes acquires last-mile expert ShipTrack

Descartes, a leader in supply chain and logistics software solutions, has taken over the Canadian company ShipTrack, a provider of last-mile solutions for e-commerce companies, in an acquisition valued at US$25 million.

ShipTrack provides cloud-based mobile resource management and shipment tracking solutions. The solutions help customers to automate dispatch and updates on shipment status and estimated time of arrival (ETA), and minimize paper-based delivery processes. The platform’s focus on efficient last-mile delivery makes it especially suitable for the home delivery, parcel and medical courier markets.

Managing expectations with real-time information

“The challenge for today’s last-mile carriers is how to handle increasing volumes alongside rising consumer expectations for delivery choice and real-time information,” says Shawn Winter, co-founder of ShipTrack and now VP Mobility Solutions at Descartes.

“Our platform helps last-mile carriers meet that challenge head-on with powerful workflows across delivery processes and the ability to expose information to consumers in real time. By joining forces with Descartes, we see an opportunity to create a truly differentiated product that combines our advanced last-mile solutions with Descartes’ route optimization and reservations capabilities,” he adds.

E-commerce solutions

“We believe there is a permanent shift in buying preferences underway that will continue to see an increasing number of goods being bought online. Descartes continues to invest in our e-commerce capabilities to make sure that our customers, large and small, can fulfil orders and meet delivery commitments efficiently,” comments Edward J. Ryan, CEO of Descartes. “ShipTrack complements this strategy and, when combined with our advanced routing, mobile and telematics suite of solutions, fills a gap in the market.”