Logistics software giant Descartes buys Aljex for $32.4m

Logistics software specialist Descartes Systems Group has acquired New Jersey-based Aljex Software, a cloud-based provider of back-office transportation management solutions for freight brokers and transport providers.
Descartes acquired Aljex for $32.4m in cash, satisfied from Descartes’ existing acquisition line of credit.
Aljex’s platform is used by nearly 400 customers in North America to plan and execute nearly 3m freight moves per year.
The system helps customers automate business processes and create electronic documents critical for executing transport moves.
Customers can manage the lifecycle of a shipment from order creation through execution, including real-time tracking with connectivity to the Descartes MacroPoint network.
Tom Heine, chief executive of Aljex, said: “Managing the capacity on trucks profitably while meeting increasingly high customer delivery expectations is a complex task.
“Aljex helps solve the unique problems faced by freight brokers and transportation providers in this demanding environment.  These solutions can also be utilized by large fleet operators looking to broker their own excess capacity and improve truck utilization.”
Edward Ryan, Descartes’ chief executive, said: “Descartes has worked with Aljex for a number of years to provide end-to-end solutions for the freight broker community in North America.
“We now have an opportunity to fully integrate Aljex into the Global Logistics Network. In doing so, we can provide customers with improved access to track shipments and the ability to better utilize increasingly scarce carrier capacity.”
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