Supply chain solution provider acquires transportation software company
Supply chain solution company Kaleris has acquired CAMS Software, a transportation company tailored to large-scale grocery distribution.
The move combines the CAMS Prospero Transportation Management System with the Kaleris Yard Management System, ranked the top yard management system in the 2023 ABI Research’s Competitive Rankings Report. The acquisition forms a comprehensive transportation services platform for warehouses, distribution centers and manufacturing facilities, according to a news release.
CAMS Prospero manages trucking operations for grocery retailers and wholesalers, providing dispatch, backhaul, driver payroll calculation and vehicle tracking for inbound, outbound and return trips. Eighteen of the top 50 grocery retailers and wholesalers, and more than 100 grocery distribution centers in the U.S., use the system to manage short lead times, optimal route planning, product availability and regulatory compliance, according to the release.
The Kaleris Yard Management System optimizes and automates the management of trucks, trailers, containers and dock slots in yard facilities for Fortune 500 shippers across North America and Europe.
“The acquisition of CAMS Software underscores Kaleris’s dedication to driving innovation and delivering exceptional value to our customers,” Kirk Knauff, Kaleris CEO, said in the release. “By integrating the expertise, resources and capabilities of both organizations, Kaleris is poised to embark on a new phase of growth serving grocery, food and beverage, retail and consumer packaged goods companies in multiple geographies with an enterprise solution for yard and transportation management.”
The combined solution will streamline inbound and outbound logistics, optimize route and dispatch efficiency and improve compliance and reporting, according to the release. The new technology can:
Captures store orders and return shipments and create a plan to pack and load them onto trailers, considering factors including order splits, commodity separation, gate access, asset dwell, dock scheduling and pre-cooling for fresh and frozen trailers.
Factor in constraining variables including the number of trucks, available drivers, distance and pick-up time to assign work orders and delivery schedules to drivers.
Utilize Integrated Electronic Logging Devices to track driver time and provide dispatchers real-time visibility on driver location, status, and delivery ETA.
Kaleris is backed by Accel-KKR, a private equity firm which invests in supply chain management software and solutions. CAMS Software was represented by Aqua Mergers & Acquisitions in the transaction.
“Joining Kaleris opens the door to a host of exciting new opportunities for us,” Brian Taylor, CAMS Software president, said. “Our current customers will have ready access to proven enterprise solutions that optimize adjacent areas of their supply chain operations. As a part of Kaleris, we can bring the benefits of Prospero to more grocery retailers, distribution centers and wholesalers seeking a comprehensive transportation solution for their logistics-intensive industry.”
