Descartes announces acquisition of Minneapolis-based GroundCloud

Waterloo, Ontario-based Descartes, a provider of logistics based on-demand, software-as-a-service offerings, is expanding its final-mile services portfolio, announcing this week it has acquired Minneapolis-based GroundCloud, a cloud-based provider of final-mile carrier solutions and road safety compliance tools.

The purchase price was $138 million, according to Descartes.

GroundCloud is a leader in final-mile logistics automation, combining operations, safety and compliance in an integrated platform, noted Descartes. The company said that inal-mile carriers leverage GroundCloud’s platform to receive customer delivery orders, plan and execute routes against those orders, train and monitor drivers on safety and performance, manage assets and resources, and analyze the operating efficiency of their business. And GroundCloud’s platform incorporates video telematics to provide driving event detection and verification, combined with reactive coaching solutions designed to improve safety.

“To deliver safely and efficiently on customer expectations in today’s dynamic market conditions, final-mile carriers need a holistic approach to operations, safety and compliance,” said Andrew Roszko, Chief Commercial Officer at Descartes, in a statement. “This challenge is even more complex for the thousands of subcontracted delivery service providers working as agents for larger carriers. GroundCloud helps ensure seamless operations, end-to-end visibility, and standards of safety and compliance are met, including helping final-mile carriers comply with the various safety mandates of large transportation brands.”

What’s more, Descartes said that bringing GroundCloud into the fold will benefit final-mile carriers, in various industry verticals, in various ways, including:

• Seamlessly fulfill orders and meet delivery commitments efficiently with worker and community safety at the forefront;
• Train and monitor drivers on safety and performance, for the thousands of subcontracted delivery service providers working as agents for larger carriers; and
• Manage assets and resources, and analyze the operating efficiency of their business

Descartes continues to remain very active on the acquistion front, having made several in recent years, including: Supply Vision in January 2023; NetCHB in February 2022; Foxtrot in April 2022, GreenMile in July 2021, ShipTrack in November 2020, and Kontainers in June 2020.