Descartes brings BoxTop technologies into the fold in its most recent acquisition

Continuing its ongoing run of M&A activity, Waterloo, Ontario-based Descartes, a provider of logistics based on-demand, software-as-a-service offerings, said this week it has acquired Windsor, England-based BoxTop Technologies Limited, a provider of shipment management services for small-to-mid-sized logistics services providers (LSP).

The purchase price was approximately $13 million, according to Descartes.

BoxTop’s services focus on helping LSP’s in digitizing their operations and connecting to the wider logistics community to manage the lifecycle of shipments. And Descartes explained that logistics services providers use the BoxTop platform to manage the secure and efficient movement of goods from quoting through to routing, booking, and final delivery. What’s more, it added that BoxTop is an existing Descartes partner, leveraging the Descartes Global Logistics Network (“GLN”) to help their clients gain visibility into shipments across multiple modes of transportation and to complete electronic customs filings.

Scott Sangster, General Manager Logistics Services Providers at Descartes, told LM various factors drove the need for Descartes to make this acquisition.

“BoxTop has excellent shipment management solutions for small- to mid-sized logistics service providers (LSP) and, by integrating these with applications on the Descartes Global Logistics Network (Descartes GLN), we see an opportunity to strengthen our forwarder and broker enterprise systems footprint into more countries in Europe,” he explained.

In terms of the main benefits of bringing BoxTop into the fold for Descartes’ shipper customers, he observed that LSPs continue to play a vital role in global trade moving goods more securely and efficiently throughout the shipment journey.

“By providing LSPs with additional capabilities to digitally manage the lifecycle of shipments, Descartes’ shipper customers will see more effective and efficient operations from LSPs using the solution, gain better visibility into their shipments across multiple modes of transportation through the Descartes GLN, and see their electronic customs filings completed more accurately and quickly through Descartes’ customs compliance solutions,” he said.

Going forward, Sangster said that BoxTop will be integrated to more solutions via the Descartes GLN, which will allow BoxTop’s customers access to expanded capabilities for additional cross-border and international customs filings capabilities, comprehensive transportation management, real-time visibility, trading partner connectivity, global trade intelligence and more.

“We have been integrated with BoxTop for quite some time, so we know the model works,” he said.

Descartes’ CEO Edward J. Ryan said in a statement that “LSPs will continue to play a vital role in trade in the global economy

“As LSPs continue to digitize their operations, we want to make sure that small-to-mid-size LSPs have access to the same breadth of solutions to manage the lifecycle of shipments in a secure and efficient manner,” he said. “The acquisition of BoxTop puts us in a better position to deliver even more value to this community. We’re excited to welcome the BoxTop employees, customers and partners into the Descartes family.”

In April, Descartes acquired Dublin, Ireland-based Aerospace Software Developments, a provider of customs and regulatory compliance service. And prior to that, it acquired Rockville, Md.-based OCR Services Inc., a provider of global trade compliance solutions and content. The Company has made 32 acquisitions going back to 2015.