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Freight software firm sold to three-forwarder consortium

[ May 20, 2024   //   ]

Three UK forwarders have formed a joint venture and bought freight software specialist Forward Computers. Cardinal Partnership, Davies Turner and Woodland Group have created a holdings company and purchased UK-based freight software company Forward Computers from the Freight Software Group.

Forward Computers, which trades as Forward Solutions is now owned and managed by Forward Computers Alliance, jointly owned by the three forwarders.

Cardinal Partnership and Woodland Group are long-standing clients of Forward Computers, and have been investing and building their own digital logistics software in-house for many years. Davies Turner has been assessing the freight software company’s products; to date it has developed its own freight management systems in-house.

Freight Software Group acquired Forward Computers Ltd in 2019, and rebranded its products under the Forward Solutions name in 2021. It will continue to own BoxTop Technologies.

Freight Software group chief executive, Christopher Hewlett (top picture) said that the three new owners would be able to use their practical experience in the operation of freight forwarding and supply chain management services to influence the design of next-generation systems. He added: “The development will likely result in an increase in the number of staff employed by Forward Computers, which will remain headquartered in Nottingham, whilst having no negative impact on the existing IT structures of the three joint venture partners.”

On behalf of the new owner, Cardinal Partnership chief executive, Brian Hay (lower picture), said: “We welcome this opportunity to acquire one of the UK’s foremost suppliers of software to the freight transport sector.

“With hundreds of years’ collective experience in providing multimodal solutions across air, sea, road, and rail freight, the three partners understand how the industry is evolving, and how freight management software needs to evolve alongside to offer a range of processes and systems that deliver success.

“As co-owners, we look forward to supporting Forward Computers in further developing its range of software solutions that help its clients adapt to an ever-changing landscape.

“Those clients, many of which have business relations with the joint venture’s three owners already, can rest assured that Forward Computers trading under the Forward Solutions brand, will continue to be run as a completely independent business, with client confidentiality assured.”

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