Following an extensive due diligence process, the Cardinal Partnership, Davies Turner, and Woodland Group have established a holdings company and acquired UK-based freight software company Forward Computers Ltd from the Freight Software Group.
This new joint venture, named Forward Computers Alliance Limited, allows these three prominent independent freight forwarding and supply chain management companies to jointly own Forward Computers Limited, which operates under the Forward Solutions brand.
The Cardinal Partnership and Woodland Group have been long-standing clients of Forward Computers, continuously investing in and developing their own digital logistics software. Davies Turner has been evaluating Forward Computers’ products to enhance its in-house freight management systems. This acquisition marks a significant step in consolidating their efforts to create advanced, industry-leading freight software.
The Freight Software Group, which acquired Forward Computers Ltd in 2019 and rebranded its products under the Forward Solutions name in 2021, will continue to own BoxTop Technologies.
Commenting on the sale, Christopher Hewlett, CEO of Freight Software Group, expressed enthusiasm for the joint venture, stating, “I was excited when two existing clients and a potential client made it clear that they were keen to combine forces to invest in the business and utilize their vast practical experience in freight forwarding and supply chain management to influence the design of next-generation systems. The development will likely result in an increase in the number of staff employed by Forward Computers, which will remain headquartered in Nottingham, while having no negative impact on the existing IT structures of the three joint venture partners.”
Brian Hay, CEO of the Cardinal Partnership, spoke on behalf of the new owners, saying, “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 it. 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. Clients 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.”
This strategic move highlights the commitment of Cardinal Partnership, Davies Turner, and Woodland Group to spearheading innovation in the freight software sector, ensuring that Forward Computers continues to deliver cutting-edge solutions in an evolving market.
