Logistics M&A accelerates as WWEX and Auctane form ShipStation Global

Dallas-based WWEX Group and shipping bundle supplier Auctane person completed their merger, creating a caller institution called ShipStation Global that executives accidental volition go 1 of the industry’s astir broad AI-enabled logistics platforms for tiny and midsize businesses.

The recently formed institution combines WWEX Group’s freight brokerage and proscription services web with Auctane’s portfolio of shipping exertion products, including ShipStation, Stamps.com, Metapack and Packlink.

The merged institution is backed by backstage equity steadfast Thoma Bravo, portion CVC Funds and different WWEX investors clasp number stakes.

“Small and mid-sized businesses person been forced to stitch unneurotic aggregate tools and relationships conscionable to support up,” ShipStation Global CEO Tom Madine said successful a quality release. “We’re combining the champion AI-powered shipping bundle successful the marketplace with 1 of the country’s astir almighty freight networks.”

The merger creates a logistics level serving much than 3 cardinal customers and handling implicit 3 cardinal shipments annually. ShipStation Global’s web includes much than 75 less-than-truckload carriers, 350 regional, nationalist and planetary carriers, 600 exertion partners and astir 45,000 truckload carriers.

The level connects parcel, LTL, truckload and planetary shipping services done a azygous interface.

ShipStation Global’s portfolio includes ShipStation, Stamps.com, Worldwide Express, GlobalTranz, Metapack, Packlink, Unishippers, JEAR Logistics and BLX Logistics. The institution volition beryllium headquartered successful Texas with offices successful Dallas and Austin.

Thoma Bravo, 1 of the world’s largest technology-focused concern firms, acquired WWEX Group successful March.

AI driving a caller question of logistics consolidation

The ShipStation Global motorboat comes amid a surge of mergers and acquisitions crossed the logistics, proviso concatenation and proscription exertion sectors arsenic companies question to fortify artificial quality capabilities and grow end-to-end work offerings.

One of the astir progressive acquirers this twelvemonth has been Coupa. In May, the cloud-based walk absorption level announced the acquisition of workflow automation startup Tonkean, conscionable days aft acquiring intelligent papers processing supplier Rossum.

Coupa executives said the deals volition assistance powerfulness the company’s increasing “agentic commercialized network,” designed to automate procurement, invoicing and supplier transactions crossed planetary proviso chains. Financial presumption of some acquisitions were not disclosed.

Transportation visibility supplier project44 besides expanded its AI capabilities successful April done the acquisition of LunaPath.ai.