One of Germany’s leading developers of transportation planning and operations software systems has acquired the UK developer of award-winning logistics planning and management software.
The Karlsruhe-based PTV Group has announced its acquisition of the British company Distribution Planning Software International Limited (DPS). Both companies supply software to the transport logistics market and plan to expand the international market coverage of their products. The range of systems will grow for both companies, and both are expected to profit as a result, with the transport logistics market benefitting from a new cloud-based product for trip planning via DFL’s Route Optimiser platform. The DPS Route Optimiser product enhances the existing PTV product range by adding trip optimization to its cloud solutions. Logistics companies now have easier access to powerful technology in current connected environments.
Both companies own international sales units that are mutually complementary. DPS is based in Birmingham, with additional offices in Sweden and South Africa. PTV has also had its own office in Birmingham since 2013, and has set itself the objective of further growth, not only in the traffic sector, but also in transport logistics. To achieve this goal, the local sales and marketing presence in the UK and Scandinavia will undergo further expansion. In future, these offices will market the range of solutions offered by both companies under the PTV Group flag. In North America, PTV is already well established in the traffic sector, with offices on the East and West Coasts. With its cloud-based route scheduling, PTV Group has yet another product in its portfolio, which will put it in a strong position to specifically target the freight and logistics market.
Vincent Kobesen, CEO of the PTV Group, explained, “The integration of DPS, with all its employees, products and offices, into our group of companies, has come at exactly the right time. It enables us to further extend the geographical coverage for our logistics software business in the UK, Sweden and South Africa, gaining new planning and optimization products at the same time. This takeover allows us to continue to strengthen our market position, especially in the UK, and double our existing revenue in this region. DPS is now 100% owned by the PTV Group. All staff have been retained. We even plan to take on additional personnel. We guarantee to all customers that existing contracts and product service agreements will be continued. Later changes are possible, but are not foreseen in the near future.”
Paul Palmer, the founder and previous owner of DPS, added, “DPS benefits from an extended reach and immediate access to a global market presence for its products. I am excited to be part of the PTV/DPS journey in my new role in the expanded business. As a new PTV subsidiary we can operate in the market with a broader solution portfolio.”
