Software company for logistics and transportation VOICT joins forces with BlueRock TMS. BlueRock acquires a majority stake in VOICT. Hogenhouck m&a advised the owner of VOICT in this transaction.
Smart Transport Management Systems
TMS software vendor VOICT is a Dutch company that offers a SaaS solution for last-mile distribution in e-commerce and the pharmaceutical market. Customers of VOICT include companies such as Brocacef, Coolblue, PostNL Extra@Home and Alliance Healthcare. .
BlueRock TMS is also based in the Netherlands and offers transportation management systems (TMS), for transport and logistics service providers in more than 30 countries. TMS is one of the fifteen leading TMS vendors in the world, with clients such as Heineken, Unilever, Bleckmann, Fiege, Schenker and DPD.
VOICT will continue to operate as an independent entity under the leadership of CEO and founder Gert van Oel.
Integrated solutions for transportation
VOICT is the developer of DireXtion, the distribution management system for transportation & logistics. This product supports companies such as Brocacef, PostNL Extra@Home and Coolblue with their daily operations in the planning and execution phase, including track & trace of the entire flow of transported goods.
The merger of the two companies gives BlueRock TMS access to VOICT’s expertise in last-mile distribution in e-commerce and pharmaceuticals while VOICT will get the opportunity to realize its international growth ambitions.
According to the two CEOs Wouter Lammerse of BlueRock TMS and Gert van Oel of VOICT, both companies fully complement each other: “Together we can build one large integrated product portfolio that will allow us to provide our customers even smarter transportation software.”
Buy-and-build strategy
The acquisition of VOICT is the first step in the implementation of the international buy-and-build strategy of BlueRock TMS. Wouter Lammers, CEO of BlueRock TMS elaborates: “Over the past years, we have grown organically by 35 to 40 percent per year. A sound percentage, but we have bigger ambitions to become the global market leader. That’s why we want to combine our organic growth with specific acquisitions that fit in our strategy. The majority stake in VOICT is the first achievement”.
With the acquisition by BlueRock TMS, VOICT will get access to the knowledge and know-how that is needed to capitalize on growth opportunities outside of the Netherlands. Gert van Oel of VOICT: “The Netherlands is a market leader in in home delivery and last-mile distribution of medication and medical supplies. In other European countries we also see an increase in home delivery of medication and medical supplies. With our TMS solution DireXtion we can make sure that distribution of medication is temperature controlled in accordance with the GDP (Good Distribution Practice) guidelines of the RIVM and the European Community.”
Combination is the basis for further growth
Wouter Lammerse, founder and CEO of BlueRock TMS, sees many opportunities inworking with VOICT. “We offer a TMS platform that supports transportation and logistics on an operational, tactical and strategic level. With VOICT, we have the technical and functional knowledge to develop state-of-the-art last mile solutions. What we share with VOICT is that we truly identify ourselves with our customers’ needs.
Gert van Oel, founder of VOICT, is looking forward to working with BlueRock TMS. “We have a great product with a good fit in BlueRock TMS’s portfolio. BlueRock’s international network will offer new growth opportunities. Therefore, we are very excited about this new chapter in our journey.”
Step-by-step integration
VOICT will continue to operate with its own brand and Van Oel’s leadership and office location in Ede. In the next year, the companies will start with a step-by-step integration of their product portfolioand their organizations. In the future, both companies will operate jointly under the BlueRock TMS brand name.
