Author: Callum Turcan, Corum Group
M&A activity in the Smart Logistics sector is booming, with 52 deals seen during the first quarter of 2025, on pace to exceed the 10-year high of 145 transactions achieved in 2023 and 2024. Demand was strong from financial and strategic buyers, with Private Equity firms accounting for the buyer in 21% of these deals.
Acquirers are sitting on trillions of dollars that they must deploy and are eager to grow their exposure to the Smart Logistics space as managing global supply chains is becoming increasingly complex. The six trends driving M&A activity in the sector include AI, fleet management, supply chain optimization, last-mile delivery, automation and procurement management.
Starting with our first trend, AI. This technology is being leveraged to empower enterprises to make informed, data-driven decisions. Showcasing this trend, Flytta, an AI-powered workflow automation platform for global trade and supply chains, was acquired by Sedna in February to ensure maritime organizations can handle the demands of a complex global trade environment.
Pivoting to our second trend, fleet management. Logistics companies need tools to keep track of geographically dispersed vehicles. Highlighting this trend, RAM Tracking, a provider of cloud-based mobile work management solutions with fleet management capabilities, was sold to Kerridge Commercial Systems in February to complement its growing portfolio of offerings.
Shifting to our third trend, supply chain optimization. Companies are seeking to contain their operating costs while still being able to deliver goods on time. Illustrating this trend, PlaniSense, a specialist in supply chain planning, was bought by FuturMaster in March to provide companies with the tools to optimize their resources and production.
Moving on to our fourth trend, last-mile delivery. Consumers increasingly expect to receive goods in two days or less and logistics firms must ensure that they can keep up with demand. Showcasing this trend, Antsway, the publisher of AntsRoute optimization software with last-mile features, was sold to Sinari in January to accelerate its expansion into new markets.
Our fifth trend is automation. Enterprises are eager to automate their operations to improve productivity and profitability while reducing the chance of human error. Highlighting this trend, MSI Automate, a developer of AI-powered warehouse automation and fulfillment software, was picked up by Thompkins Solutions in March to empower its customers to streamline their operations.
Lastly, our sixth trend is procurement management. As the global trade landscape is incredibly volatile, innovative tools are needed to source supplies at favorable prices. Illustrating this trend, ProcureTech, a provider of digital procurement software, was pocketed by ORO Labs in March to unlock new opportunities for procurement value creation.
Companies that map to any of these six trends are seeing robust demand from buyers keen to increase their exposure to the Smart Logistics sector. A desire to increase efficiency, minimize risks and manage the upended trade landscape is driving interest in innovative supply chain tech solutions.
