Rakuten acquires pair of Salt Lake City firms to boost e-com abilities
Buying FirstMile and IFS360 enhances warehousing, fulfillment, and shipping, company says.
Third party logistics provider (3PL) Rakuten Super Logistics (RSL) has acquired the e-commerce solutions firms FirstMile and IFS360, adding them to a fast-growing portfolio that spans 11 fulfillment centers providing two-day delivery throughout most of the U.S.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Both based in Salt Lake City, the two sister firms provide e-commerce solutions including warehousing, fulfillment, and shipping. More specifically, FirstMile is an e-commerce logistics company that offers retailers delivery solutions ranging from economic ground routing through expedited and same day and next day deliveries.
Exciting news announced today. FirstMile has become a part of e-commerce giant Rakuten. This move will allow us to service our customers more effectively on a grander scale. https://t.co/eX0WiwUDmf
— FirstMile (@GoFirstmile) March 26, 2019
Meanwhile, IFS360 is an integrated fulfillment operation, handling fulfillment functions including receiving, returns management, shipping, kitting, and subscriptions box campaign management.
According to RSL, buying IFS360 gives it immediate access into the Salt Lake City market, while FirstMile offers an opportunity for RSL clients to use its transportation network, infrastructure, and experience. "The acquisitions will position RSL well in a strategic regional market while offering our clients greater access and choices for growing their business, competing and delivering an improved customer experience," RSL CEO Michael Manzione said in a release.
RSL, which is the U.S.-based order fulfillment arm of the giant Japanese e-commerce marketplace Rakuten Inc. says its nationwide network of fulfillment centers allows e-commerce retailers to reduce their shipping costs, improve order accuracy, decrease shipping times, and increase customer satisfaction. RSL has integrated its technology and cloud-based fulfillment platforms with e-commerce platforms including: Rakuten.com, Shopify, Amazon, Magento, Walmart Marketplace and eBay.
In addition to its recent acquisitions, Rakuten has also been investing in warehouse automation, including the deployment of 100 picking robots from warehouse automation startup inVia Robotics Inc. at Rakuten's Las Vegas fulfillment center.
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