The MetaPack Group Acquires U.S. Shipping Vendor ABOL Software to Help Retail Customers Drive International Sales
- Written by Tom Snee
MetaPack's expansion into North America follows the acquisition of the European shipping solutions provider XLogics last year and the appointment of Carmen Carey earlier this month to act as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and to focus on existing customers. This strategic expansion is underpinned by continuous investment in enhancing MetaPack's eCommerce proposition for customers.
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, ABOL Software has a great tradition in building cross-border shipping solutions, as well as strong relationships with multiple carriers in North America, including DHL, FedEx, UPS and USPS through their leading product the Control Tower. The deal will enable MetaPack to leverage ABOL's strengths in the U.S. to help European retailers drive overseas sales by providing more convenience, transparency and choice to their customers.
Patrick Wall, CEO and founder of MetaPack, commented: "The latest acquisition is key for our international growth and demonstrates our commitment to providing a first-class service to our customers. The move will enable us to offer more competitive cross-border delivery services to retailers, while allowing them to venture into new markets and drive business growth."
"As delivery experience becomes more critical for keeping and attracting customers, retailers need advanced solutions that can help them cope with the increased demand for more flexible cross-border shipping services. We are really excited about leveraging ABOL's strong technology portfolio to provide unique solutions to our customers that are perfectly suited to meet the emerging needs of today's consumers," he added.
Sir Terry Leahy, former chief executive of Tesco and a member of the board of directors of MetaPack, said: "This is a landmark event in MetaPack's journey. The acquisition will enable MetaPack to help their ambitious European retail clients achieve their international revenue goals. It underlines the UK's leadership position in global ecommerce and demonstrates the strength of UK tech talent. I'm excited about MetaPack and its capability to provide multi-carrier delivery solutions which are fundamental to driving the growth of online global retailing."
MetaPack's new cross-border delivery solution will combine capabilities from ABOL and XLogics' shipping and logistics software, as well as MetaPack's delivery management platform. Retail customers will benefit from a more affordable, competitive and flexible cross-border delivery service. Specific customer benefits resulting from the ABOL acquisition include:
- Improved visibility into global shipments across carriers and countries delivered through ABOL's Control Tower technology
- ABOL's Control Tower solution provides enhanced delivery intelligence and reporting that allows retailers to better understand delivery challenges, such as potential delays, and work with the supply chain to alleviate these issues. This is particularly critical for ensuring the smooth management of complex international transactions
- ABOL Control Tower offers greater insight into the array of services offered by international carriers allowing retailers the flexibility to select the appropriate service for every parcel
- The integration with ABOL's shipping technology will also allow MetaPack to deliver more sophisticated cross-border delivery tracking, reporting and management to help retailers drive growth in overseas shipments and provide a seamless customer experience
Backed by Index Ventures and former Tesco CEO Sir Terry Leahy, the MetaPack Group works with 80% of the UK's leading retailers, including Marks & Spencer, John Lewis, House of Fraser, ASOS and B&Q. The company was recently featured in the Sunday Times Hiscox Tech Track 100 list of fastest growing British companies which have achieved remarkable success in their chosen industry.