A Waukesha business software company that specializes in smartphone and tablet applications for business has been sold to global business enterprise applications firm IFS.
Metrix LLC has been sold to IFS, which is a publicly held Swedish firm that has one of its main North American offices in Brookfield. IFS reported global sales last year of more than $396 million.
Financial terms of the sale weren’t disclosed. Metrix generated $8.7 million in revenue last year.
Founded in 1980, Metrix specializes in providing mobility and service management technology tools that allow field service workers to use smartphones and tablets.
The Metrix mobile apps allow a company’s field technicians to check parts, labor and expenses, manage work requests and view service history, turn-by-turn driving directions as well as other functions, on a smartphone. Customers include Ericsson Group, Motorola, Xerox and DHL.
Metrix adds capabilities including a broader offering of apps for android smartphones than IHS has been able to provide, said Cindy Jaudon, IFS North America president and chief executive.
IFS said the acquisition would help boost its market position in a high-growth market
Industry research consultant Aberdeen said a survey last year found 41% of organizations were evaluating a variety of devices, from smartphones to tablets to other devices, for purchase this year.
IFS expects that the acquisition will add to earnings in 2012. The deal helps position the combined company to take on industry leader ClickSoftware Technologies, an Israel-based company with offices in Massachusetts.
An industry report recently pegged ClickSoftware’s market share at nearly 15%, with IFS at nearly 11% and Metrix at nearly 3%.
There are no plans at this time to combine the local operations, as they both have long-term office leases, she said.
Many acquisitions involve job cuts, but that’s not the forecast based on IFS’ expansion plans, Jaudon said.
“We’re doing this because we want the people, because we want the product,” she said. “This is not one of those cost-cutting, slash-and-burn kinds of things.”
The Milwaukee area isn’t known as a technology hub, but Jaudon said she’s impressed “at how much tech talent there is in Milwaukee.”
“My team and I very much look forward to joining IFS and continuing to accelerate the growth of the mobile workforce management business,” said Larry Laux, Metrix founder, in a statement.
Metrix employs more than 50 people, mainly in Waukesha. It has small sales offices in the Netherlands and Singapore. IFS employs 42 people in Brookfield.
Source:http://www.jsonline.com/business/waukesha-business-software-firm-metrix-sold-v05haqb-153118625.html
