Logistics trio acquire freight software business

The Cardinal Partnership, Davies Turner and Woodland Group have created a holdings company and purchased UK-based freight software company Forward Computers Limited from the Freight Software Group. 

‘Forward Computers Alliance Limited’ is the joint venture through which the three freight forwarding and supply chain management companies now jointly own Forward Computers Ltd, which trades as Forward Solutions.

Both the Cardinal Partnership and Woodland Group are long-term clients of Forward Computers, and have been investing and building their own digital logistics software in-house for years.

Davies Turner had been assessing the freight software company’s products as part of an exercise aimed at enhancing its existing freight management systems that have been developed in-house to date.

The partners are also aware of the dominance of a few software giants and the influence of technology-first carriers, as well as how the move towards transparency and frictionless trade is changing the way businesses operate.

Freight Software Group acquired Forward Computers Ltd in 2019, with its products rebranded to trade under the Forward Solutions name in 2021, and will continue to own BoxTop Technologies. 

Speaking about the reason for the sale, Freight Software Group chief executive Christopher Hewlett said: “I was excited when two existing clients and a potential client made it clear that they were keen to combine forces to invest in the business and utilise their huge practical experience in the operation of freight forwarding and supply chain management services to influence the design of next-generation systems.

“The development will likely result in an increase in the number of staff employed by Forward Computers, which will remain headquartered in Nottingham, whilst having no negative impact on the existing IT structures of the three joint venture partners.”

Speaking on behalf of the new owner, Brian Hay, chief executive of the Cardinal Partnership said: “We welcome this opportunity to acquire one of the UK’s foremost suppliers of software to the freight transport sector.

“With hundreds of years’ collective experience in providing multimodal solutions across air, sea, road, and rail freight, the three partners understand how the industry is evolving, and how freight management software needs to evolve alongside to offer a range of processes and systems that deliver success.

“As co-owners, we look forward to supporting Forward Computers in further developing its range of software solutions that help its clients adapt to an ever-changing landscape. 

“Those clients, many of which have business relations with the joint venture’s three owners already, can rest assured that Forward Computers trading under the Forward Solutions brand, will continue to be run as a completely independent business, with client confidentiality assured.”