Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Rand McNally makes acquisition to boost “connected vehicle” products

Private equity ownership buys Australia’s Fleetsu startup for its data collection and analytics tools.

fleetsu Screen Shot 2022-04-12 at 12.42.00 PM.png

Fleet management and asset tracking solution provider Rand McNally is leveraging its private equity backing to acquire an Australian vehicle data monitoring firm, saying the deal will allow it to offer a “connected vehicle” solution across the full fleet supply chain.

Chicago-based Rand McNally acquired Perth, Australia-based Fleetsu for an undisclosed amount. Teleo Capital, the investment firm which purchased Rand McNally in 2020, said that combining the two fleet organizations was part of its pledge to “significantly increase its investment in best-in-class solutions for the transportation market.”


"The acquisition of Fleetsu is an exciting step in Rand McNally's transformation of its fleet and navigation product offerings," Joseph Roark, Teleo Capital’s operating partner and Rand McNally’s chairman, said in a release. "Fleetsu's cutting edge platform, analytics and data capabilities will allow Rand McNally to offer a connected vehicle solution across the full fleet supply chain. The acquisition further expands Rand McNally's footprint as a global provider to long-haul and local fleets, field service companies, government, auto and truck OEMs (both fuel and EV platforms) and vehicle rental fleets."

Specifically, the transaction brings together Rand McNally's fleet business with Fleetsu's platform, data, and analytics capabilities. According to the firms, that combination will help fleet operators to maximize business productivity through access to real-time, on-the-road data, providing insights into issues like driver location and safety, engine performance, and vehicle efficiency (both fossil and electric).

Jakub Felinski, the founder of seven-year-old Fleetsu, will now take on the title of chief innovation officer at Rand McNally. "With Rand McNally's strong navigation and transportation expertise and our already deep bench of leading engineers focused on creating technology data solutions, we are confident that we will be moving the industry forward," Felinski said in a statement. "We look forward to expanding our combined global business that writes a new chapter for connected transportation, led by technology." 

The Latest

More Stories

AI sensors on manufacturing machine

AI firm Augury banks $75 million in fresh VC

The New York-based industrial artificial intelligence (AI) provider Augury has raised $75 million for its process optimization tools for manufacturers, in a deal that values the company at more than $1 billion, the firm said today.

According to Augury, its goal is deliver a new generation of AI solutions that provide the accuracy and reliability manufacturers need to make AI a trusted partner in every phase of the manufacturing process.

Keep ReadingShow less

Featured

AMR robots in a warehouse

Indian AMR firm Anscer expands to U.S. with new VC funding

The Indian warehouse robotics provider Anscer has landed new funding and is expanding into the U.S. with a new regional headquarters in Austin, Texas.

Bangalore-based Anscer had recently announced new financial backing from early-stage focused venture capital firm InfoEdge Ventures.

Keep ReadingShow less
Report: 65% of consumers made holiday returns this year

Report: 65% of consumers made holiday returns this year

Supply chains continue to deal with a growing volume of returns following the holiday peak season, and 2024 was no exception. Recent survey data from product information management technology company Akeneo showed that 65% of shoppers made holiday returns this year, with most reporting that their experience played a large role in their reason for doing so.

The survey—which included information from more than 1,000 U.S. consumers gathered in January—provides insight into the main reasons consumers return products, generational differences in return and online shopping behaviors, and the steadily growing influence that sustainability has on consumers.

Keep ReadingShow less

Automation delivers results for high-end designer

When you get the chance to automate your distribution center, take it.

That's exactly what leaders at interior design house Thibaut Design did when they relocated operations from two New Jersey distribution centers (DCs) into a single facility in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2019. Moving to an "empty shell of a building," as Thibaut's Michael Fechter describes it, was the perfect time to switch from a manual picking system to an automated one—in this case, one that would be driven by voice-directed technology.

Keep ReadingShow less

In search of the right WMS

IT projects can be daunting, especially when the project involves upgrading a warehouse management system (WMS) to support an expansive network of warehousing and logistics facilities. Global third-party logistics service provider (3PL) CJ Logistics experienced this first-hand recently, embarking on a WMS selection process that would both upgrade performance and enhance security for its U.S. business network.

The company was operating on three different platforms across more than 35 warehouse facilities and wanted to pare that down to help standardize operations, optimize costs, and make it easier to scale the business, according to CIO Sean Moore.

Keep ReadingShow less