We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
  • INDUSTRY PRESS ROOM
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • MEDIA FILE
  • Create Account
  • Sign In
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Free Newsletters
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • TRANSPORTATION
  • MATERIAL HANDLING
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • LIFT TRUCKS
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • Webcasts
    • Blogs
      • One-Off Sound Off
      • Global Logistics and Risk
      • Empowering Your Performance Edge
      • Analytics & Big Data
      • Submit your blog post
    • Events
    • White Papers
    • Industry Press Room
      • Upload Your News
    • New Products
      • Upload Your Product News
    • Conference Guides
    • Conference Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • DCV-TV
    • DCV-TV 1: News
    • DCV-TV 2: Case Studies
    • DCV-TV 3: Webcasts
    • DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
    • DCV-TV 5: Solution Profiles
    • Parcel Forum 2022
    • MODEX 2022
    • Upload Your Video
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Digital Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • TRANSPORTATION
  • MATERIAL HANDLING
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • LIFT TRUCKS
  • PODCAST ETC
    • Podcast
    • Webcasts
    • Blogs
      • One-Off Sound Off
      • Global Logistics and Risk
      • Empowering Your Performance Edge
      • Analytics & Big Data
      • Submit your blog post
    • Events
    • White Papers
    • Industry Press Room
      • Upload Your News
    • New Products
      • Upload Your Product News
    • Conference Guides
    • Conference Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Mobile Apps
  • DCV-TV
    • DCV-TV 1: News
    • DCV-TV 2: Case Studies
    • DCV-TV 3: Webcasts
    • DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
    • DCV-TV 5: Solution Profiles
    • Parcel Forum 2022
    • MODEX 2022
    • Upload Your Video
Home » GE amps up focus on supply chain software market
newsworthy

GE amps up focus on supply chain software market

September 9, 2016
Ben Ames
No Comments

General Electric Co. is turning its full attention to the supply chain software sector, snapping up the cloud-based, rail shipment reporting company ShipXpress Inc. in an effort to incorporate digital technology into its traditional industrial operations.

Boston-based GE already has considerable assets devoted to business software, but the latest move shows that the 124-year-old manufacturing giant is doubling down on its strategy to become an information-management company. The acquisition could help GE create new revenue streams by helping its customers handle data, analytics, and digital collaboration long past their initial purchase of equipment.

GE said August 30 that it had acquired Neptune Beach, Fla.-based ShipXpress, with plans to fold the business into its Chicago-based GE Transportation unit, and combine ShipXpress' cloud-based collaboration and rail-shipment reporting software with GE's Predix data analytics platform for monitoring industrial assets.

That combination will give users in the industrial rail shipping industry an information advantage by delivering assistance with rail operations, car accounting, and interline settlement, GE Transportation spokesperson Mailee Garcia said in an email.

Over the long term, GE plans to leverage the acquisition to grow beyond its current range of logistics services in rail. "The combined business helps us provide new outcomes to modes beyond rail. We expect to have offerings in truck and intermodal, too," Garcia said.

GE already makes products to help rail shippers manage inventory by tracking railcars; managing the operations of transloading terminals and rail yards; connecting shippers to railroads; managing the billing process; and providing management information.

"Many customers would welcome a solution to improve efficiency and effectiveness in their logistics network, because a lot of in-transit inventory is carried on rail and a lot of safety stock is kept to protect against delays," said Lance Saunders, an assistant professor in the Department of Supply Chain Management and Analytics at Virginia Commonwealth University. "GE has all the data surrounding the growth and importance of supply chain in the economy, and sees an opportunity to expand this strategy into a rail market that, on the surface, seems to be behind other transportation modes in terms of the maturity of information flow."

As the behemoth continues to build its ability to support the flow of information, GE's next challenge will be facing the nuts and bolts of making the merger work. Over the course of the next 12 months, ShipXpress will become a part of GE Transportation's Digital Solutions business, led by Seth Bodnar, chief digital officer at GE Transportation and president of GE Transportation Digital Solutions. Within that division, ShipXpress will be integrated into the Optimization Solutions team, led by executive general manager Kirk Knauff. ShipXpress co-CEOs and cofounders Seth Maerowitz and Raghu Misra will also join GE, reporting to Knauff as they continue to manage the company's 200 employees in Florida and Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The company will continue to support ShipXpress' current products and customer base, and over time will accelerate development of enhanced offerings for rail shipping logistics, Garcia said.

GE declined at this time to disclose the terms of the deal. The purchase price and other details will be disclosed when GE releases its next quarterly earnings report.

Technology Business Intelligence/Decision Support Asset Management
KEYWORDS GE Transportation ShipXpress
  • Related Articles

    Retailers to focus on supply chain strategies in 2019

    FourKites Named #1 Supply Chain Visibility Provider Based on Market Presence

    Supply Chain Management SCM Software Market Growth and Technology Advancements 2019 to 2023

Benames
Ben Ames has spent 20 years as a journalist since starting out as a daily newspaper reporter in Pennsylvania in 1995. From 1999 forward, he has focused on business and technology reporting for a number of trade journals, beginning when he joined Design News and Modern Materials Handling magazines. Ames is author of the trail guide "Hiking Massachusetts" and is a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism.

Recent Articles by Ben Ames

ATA gains chassis freedom in legal win over ocean carriers

Norfolk Southern train derailment sparks blaze in Ohio

Industry calls on Congress to deliver bipartisan supply chain legislation

You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Most Popular Articles

  • Schneider welcomes first battery-electric truck

  • Fred Smith is not worried about Amazon

  • RJW LOGISTICS GROUP EXPANDS RETAIL LOGISTICS OPERATION TO DALLAS

  • Maersk deploys indoor drones for warehouse inventory counts

  • Outlook 2023: What’s in store for logistics/supply chain?

Now Playing on DCV-TV

C8c3bc6b a91d 4181 a18f 35f288257630

ACPaQ: Fast and reliable automated mixed case palletizer

DCV-TV 4: Viewer Contributed
Fully Automated Mixed Case Palletizing ACPaQ is a universally applicable solution for fully automated order picking of mixed case pallets based on customers‘ requirements. Its software allows you to customize the palletizing order to increase efficiency during in-store replenishment. The mixed case palletizer...

FEATURED WHITE PAPERS

  • The five best applications for robotic lift trucks in warehouse environments

  • Fulfillment Facility Improved Efficiencies by 4x

  • 3PLs: Complete Orders Faster with Flexible Automation

  • Reusable Packaging for the New Wave of Supply Chain Automation

View More

Subscribe to DC Velocity Magazine

GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • NEWSLETTERS
  • ADVERTISING
  • CUSTOMER CARE
  • CONTACT
  • ABOUT
  • STAFF
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Copyright ©2023. All Rights ReservedDesign, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing