HighJump software acquires Nexternal for e-commerce tools

Warehouse management systems (WMS) provider HighJump Software Inc. has acquired cloud-based technology provider Nexternal Solutions in a move the companies said would create the first unified e-commerce platform and WMS.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. HighJump is based in Minneapolis, while Nexternal is in Carlsbad, Calif.

The combination would create a unique hybrid software solution for customers struggling to adapt to omnichannel distribution, the companies claim. Though HighJump had previously rolled out some smaller "microcosms" of e-commerce software, the Nexternal acquisition greatly expands its capabilities by instantly upgrading to a full-featured, cloud-based package, said HighJump chief marketing officer Bill Ashburn.

"Even if we have something, we like to expand on it," Ashburn said in an interview. "We look for gaps we have in our solution set, and we like to fill those gaps."

Nexternal's software-as-a-service (SaaS) approach will allow HighJump to expand its offerings for customers who need omnichannel distribution services by connecting manufacturers, distributors, and retailers with an order management system that captures business-to-business and business-to-consumer orders, according to the companies.

The Nexternal software platform allows small businesses to scale up to full e-commerce operations by acting as a single hub for all pricing, promotions, order status, and customer care throughout the order management lifecycle, Nexternal said. Companies can use its platform to run call centers; generate and manage subscription orders; retrieve Amazon.com marketplace orders; create club orders; and receive orders from other systems.

About 30 percent of Nexternal's customers are small wineries located near the firm's Carlsbad offices, Ashburn said.