Barloworld Logistics aligns with global supply chain planning partner

Barloworld Logistics, an international provider of smart supply chain solutions, announced it had formed a strategic relationship with LLamasoft, the global leader in supply chain design software solutions.

In a deal aligned to both companies' strategic objectives, Barloworld Logistics sold its UK and USA-based Supply Chain Software (SCS) division to LLamasoft. The deal is subject to some closing conditions and regulatory approval, but should be finalised by 30 November 2015. It signifies the official launch of a major strategic partnering initiative, enabling Barloworld Logistics to offer its clients a wider array of cutting-edge software and services to drive innovation and efficiencies through their supply chains.

Commenting on the deal, Steve Ford, CEO of Barloworld Logistics, says: "The SCS team has developed world-class supply chain planning software products in CAST and Optimiza, which have added significant value to our clients' supply chains as well as our own business. Our smart partnership with LLamasoft will enable the teams to leverage their skills and capabilities to provide leading software products to the global market. It also enables the Barloworld Logistics consultants to continue providing our clients with ongoing support and expertise with the existing tools as well as access to LLamasoft's products."

Ford continues: "Technology is a fundamental enabler of integrating and optimising supply chains and remains a core focus for our business going forward. We have a large team of IT specialists who design, configure, develop and implement integrated supply chain solutions for our clients, providing visibility and analytics to enhance their decision-making. Our partnership with LLamasoft provides access to a wider variety of advanced supply chain planning tools, creating greater value for our clients. "

This latest move is part of LLamasoft's continued investment and growth in the supply chain design and planning software market. For each of the last three years, LLamasoft has moved up the ranks on Deloitte's Fast 500 list of fastest growing North American technology companies and has also been a two-time honouree on the Inc 5000 list of the fastest growing privately-held companies. This rapid growth highlights a general market trend and focus on supply chain analytics and optimisation across a wide range of industries.

"This acquisition and strategic partnership further solidifies LLamasoft's standing as the global leader in supply chain design software and solutions," said Don Hicks, CEO and President of LLamasoft. "We are thrilled to welcome the Barloworld SCS customers to the LLamasoft community of supply chain design professionals. We are also extremely excited about the advancements that Barloworld SCS has made in their supply chain planning applications, and we believe that our combined engineering talent can bring even more innovative solutions to the market in the coming months and years to come. Working together, Barloworld Logistics and LLamasoft will offer unprecedented logistics and technology solutions to customers throughout Africa and the Middle East."

Richard Forrest, CEO of the Barloworld SCS division, concludes: "Joining LLamasoft provides exciting opportunities for both our customers and staff. We will form part of a larger supply chain design community driving innovation, deeper domain expertise and knowledge-sharing across a variety of supply chain planning platforms. This in turn creates diverse career growth prospects for our staff and more value to our clients and global business partners."