It’s been a busy week for suppliers in the multichannel selling sector. Three systems providers have announced acquisitions.
GSI Commerce Solutions Buys VendorNet
GSI Commerce Solutions, which provides e-commerce, multichannel retailing and interactive marketing for large, business-to-consumer enterprises, has acquired VendorNet, a multichannel e-commerce supply chain systems provider to more than 100 retailers and brand marketers.
Boynton Beach, FL-based VendorNet includes VendorNet StoreNet Live, VendorNet Dropship Manager and VendorNet Stock PO Manager. Kelly Henry, director of corporate marketing for GSI Commerce Solutions, says the acquisition of VendorNet expands the breadth of GSI’s e-commerce offerings, including the capability to leverage local-store inventory to enable cost-effective, same- and next-day delivery direct to consumers, accelerating the company’s regional fulfillment strategy.
“GSI will leverage VendorNet’s technology to help our clients optimize cross-channel inventory management, increase e-commerce sales, and reduce fulfillment costs,” she says.
GSI Commerce has completed seven acquisitions since 2008, Henry says: e-Dialog, Silverlign, Pepperjam, Rue La La, M3 Mobile Marketing, MBS, and VendorNet. GSI also purchased a minority interest in Intershop Communications. GSI recorded more than $1 billion in sales last year, up from $966.9 million in 2008.
RedPrairie Acquires SmartTurn
RedPrairie has acquired SmartTurn, an on-demand inventory and WMS provider. The acquisition adds a multi-tenant software-as-a-service (SaaS) WMS to RedPrairie’s E²e productivity suite and creates the only software company with a WMS system for distribution operations of all sizes and levels of complexity.
RedPrairie delivers productivity software to help companies around the world in three categories: workforce, inventory and transportation. RedPrairie provides these systems to manufacturers, distributors and retailers looking to support business strategies that increase revenue, reduce costs and create competitive advantage.
Bridgeline Digital Purchases TMX Interactive
Bridgeline Digital has acquired selective assets of TMX Interactive for $1.7 million in a combination of cash, debt, earn out, and deferred revenue consideration.
Founded in 1999, TMX Interactive provides Web application development, Web design, usability, and content management system implementation services for its customers. The company recorded annual sales of about $2.4 million in 2009 and is headquartered just outside of Philadelphia.
TMX Interactive CEO Debra Brown has joined Bridgeline as senior vice president of business development for the Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York regions. Cofounder/chief strategy officer Eric Smith has joined Bridgeline as vice president of business development, while TMX cofounder/chief technical officer David McMillan will be Bridgeline’s vice president of delivery.