Descartes pays $2.7 million for Australian health-care software vendor

Logistics software firm Descartes Systems Group Inc. said today it had paid $2.7 million to purchase 4Solutions, an Australian provider of cloud-based supply chain integration solutions for the health-care sector.

4Solutions operates the Health Supply Network, an electronic document exchange network that allows pharmaceutical manufacturers and wholesalers to collaborate in automating an array of supply chain processes, from sourcing to delivery.

The acquisition is the latest in a flurry of purchases for Waterloo, Ont.-based Descartes, most recently including supply chain data exchange platform provider Appterra and order fulfillment software vendor Pixi Software GmbH. In 2015, Descartes also acquired MK Data Services LLC, a denied-party screening application provider; BearWare Inc., a product-tracking and inventory-replenishment platform; and Oz Development Inc., a supply chain automation tool provider.

"We continue to look for opportunities around the world to expand the geographic reach, functional capabilities, and the community of supply chain participants on our Global Logistics Network," Descartes CEO Edward J Ryan said in a release. "By combining with 4Solutions, we've added a team of strong B2B domain experts and we've increased our footprint in Australia to better serve growing markets in Southeast Asia and beyond."