RedPrairie
Encyclopedia
RedPrairie is a privately-held supply chain, workforce and all-channel commerce software provider headquartered in Alpharetta, GA. The company's solutions help ensure visibility and collaboration between manufacturers, distributors, retailers and consumers at over 60,000 customer sites in more than 50 countries.
s, used by companies to direct operations in and between stockrooms and distribution centers, the software focused on advising the movement of people and products from "field to fork". The firm’s flagship WMS product went on the market in the mid 1980s.
McHugh Freeman was later acquired by Alvey Holdings (later Pinnacle Automation) in 1989, and has been involved in producing a wide range of products for supply chain managers since the early 1990s – both software and resold hardware. These additions included advanced task management, integrated use of radio frequency equipment, bar code applicators and readers, specialty computer hardware, and others that allowed the company to take on several clients including Procter & Gamble
, Compaq Computer, Pepsi-Cola, and Nabisco
. During this time, McHugh Freeman continued to develop and refine their WMS solution, incorporating new developments such as RFID technology, point-and-click applications, and “off-the-shelf” software.
By 1998, the newly named McHugh Software International had acquired additional companies that contributed to an extended supply chain execution platform. These groups included Wesely Software (transportation management system
s), Gagnon & Associates (labor management and engineering), and Software Architects Inc. (advanced service-oriented platforms). In addition, McHugh expanded internationally with offices in the UK and Europe.
In 2002, the company was renamed RedPrairie, and adopted a new business model that focused on the entire extended supply chain. Later that year, the company's first Asia Pacific office opened in Shanghai
. The company bought European WMS provider LIS in 2004 to create the global infrastructure required to support an increasingly worldwide customer base, along with MARC WMS in 2005, and BlueCube Software and StorePerform in 2006.
RedPrairie was acquired in 2005 by Francisco Partners
, a California-based private equity firm, and on November 25, 2009, the company announced it had filed a registration statement for a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. However, on March 24, 2010, New Mountain Capital
, a New York-based private equity firm, completed its acquisition of RedPrairie, without disclosing terms of the deal.
On May 11, 2010, RedPrairie announced it has completed the acquisition of SmartTurn, an on-demand inventory and Warehouse Management System
(WMS) provider.
On January 10, 2011, RedPrairie announced it had acquired SofTechnics, a leading retail software solutions provider, and nine days later, the company announced it had also acquired Shipper's Commonwealth, a leading on-demand transportation management provider. The company followed both acquisition announcements with a third, on February 2, 2011, announcing the acquisition of Escalate Retail.
, The Wall Street Journal
, and USA Today
. RedPrairie’s product line has also expanded into store operations, workforce management, inventory management, execution management, learning management, and performance management. The company serves clients in all of the following industries:
DC Velocity - July 2008
USA Today - May 30, 2008
History
RedPrairie was originally founded by partners Jim McHugh and Doug Freeman as McHugh Freeman & Associates in 1975. Known for pioneering one of the first comprehensive warehouse management systemWarehouse management system
A warehouse management system, or WMS, is a key part of the supply chain and primarily aims to control the movement and storage of materials within a warehouse and process the associated transactions, including shipping, receiving, putaway and picking...
s, used by companies to direct operations in and between stockrooms and distribution centers, the software focused on advising the movement of people and products from "field to fork". The firm’s flagship WMS product went on the market in the mid 1980s.
McHugh Freeman was later acquired by Alvey Holdings (later Pinnacle Automation) in 1989, and has been involved in producing a wide range of products for supply chain managers since the early 1990s – both software and resold hardware. These additions included advanced task management, integrated use of radio frequency equipment, bar code applicators and readers, specialty computer hardware, and others that allowed the company to take on several clients including Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
, Compaq Computer, Pepsi-Cola, and Nabisco
Nabisco
Nabisco is an American brand of cookies and snacks. Headquartered in East Hanover, New Jersey, the company is a subsidiary of Illinois-based Kraft Foods. Nabisco's plant in Chicago, a production facility at 7300 S...
. During this time, McHugh Freeman continued to develop and refine their WMS solution, incorporating new developments such as RFID technology, point-and-click applications, and “off-the-shelf” software.
By 1998, the newly named McHugh Software International had acquired additional companies that contributed to an extended supply chain execution platform. These groups included Wesely Software (transportation management system
Transportation management system
A transportation management system is a subset of supply chain management concerning transportation operations and may be part of an enterprise resource planning system....
s), Gagnon & Associates (labor management and engineering), and Software Architects Inc. (advanced service-oriented platforms). In addition, McHugh expanded internationally with offices in the UK and Europe.
In 2002, the company was renamed RedPrairie, and adopted a new business model that focused on the entire extended supply chain. Later that year, the company's first Asia Pacific office opened in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. The company bought European WMS provider LIS in 2004 to create the global infrastructure required to support an increasingly worldwide customer base, along with MARC WMS in 2005, and BlueCube Software and StorePerform in 2006.
RedPrairie was acquired in 2005 by Francisco Partners
Francisco Partners
Francisco Partners is a private equity firm focusing on structured investments in the information technology sector.Francisco Partners Management LLC was founded in August 1999 and is headquartered in San Francisco and maintains an additional office in London, United Kingdom...
, a California-based private equity firm, and on November 25, 2009, the company announced it had filed a registration statement for a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. However, on March 24, 2010, New Mountain Capital
New Mountain Capital
New Mountain Capital is a firm dealing in private equity and growth capital investments across acyclical growth industries. The firm emphasizes growth and business building, rather than high risk or debt leverage, in its investments...
, a New York-based private equity firm, completed its acquisition of RedPrairie, without disclosing terms of the deal.
On May 11, 2010, RedPrairie announced it has completed the acquisition of SmartTurn, an on-demand inventory and Warehouse Management System
Warehouse management system
A warehouse management system, or WMS, is a key part of the supply chain and primarily aims to control the movement and storage of materials within a warehouse and process the associated transactions, including shipping, receiving, putaway and picking...
(WMS) provider.
On January 10, 2011, RedPrairie announced it had acquired SofTechnics, a leading retail software solutions provider, and nine days later, the company announced it had also acquired Shipper's Commonwealth, a leading on-demand transportation management provider. The company followed both acquisition announcements with a third, on February 2, 2011, announcing the acquisition of Escalate Retail.
Services & Accomplishments
The company’s executives and practices have been recognized as some of the most important in the logistics trade by publications including DC Velocity, InformationWeekInformationWeek
InformationWeek is a weekly print magazine, an online site with corresponding face-to-face and virtual events, and research. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California and was first published in 1979 by CMP Media, later called CMP Technology. On February 29, 2008, CMP Technology was...
, The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
, and USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
. RedPrairie’s product line has also expanded into store operations, workforce management, inventory management, execution management, learning management, and performance management. The company serves clients in all of the following industries:
- Automotive/Service Parts
- Building Products/Paper
- Consumer Goods
- Food & Beverage
- Food Service
- Furniture
- High Tech/Electronics
- Industrial/Wholesale
- Pharmaceuticals/Life Sciences
- Retail
- Third Party Logistics
Notable Press
InformationWeek - June 30, 2008DC Velocity - July 2008
USA Today - May 30, 2008