A major Bristol tech company has acquired another software business in the city, and its parent company, for an undisclosed sum.
E-commerce fulfilment firm Huboo, whose technology enables online retailers to access and complete end-to-end fulfilment operations, has reached a deal for Roseta.io and its integration platform.
Huboo said adding Roseta.io’s software to its service would allow its client base of smaller online retailers to work across multiple online sales channels and marketplaces “on a global scale".
The company, which is planning to scale its operations in Europe after opening sites in The Netherlands and Spain last year, has also acquired Roseta.io’s holding software engineering firm New Vision.
James Blackburn founded New Vision in 2013, growing the business out of bedroom offices to provide technology solutions to B2B clients in the e-commerce sector. He later co-founded Roseta.io with Karl Moss in 2019.
As part of the agreement, Mr Blackburn and Mr Moss, and their engineering team, will continue to work with Huboo for ongoing product development.
Mr Blackburn said: “From the outset of our discussions with Huboo it was clear that the businesses were a great fit for each other. I’m delighted to join them and excited for what is in store over the coming years, as I and my team continue to deliver innovative and high-performing integration solutions for the e-commerce sector.”
Paul Dodd, chief technology officer and co-founder of Huboo, added: “We’re excited to announce the acquisition of Roseta.io and New Vision as we continue to expand Huboo’s presence and offering on a global scale.
“This new partnership will not only see us develop and enhance our customer proposition, but it supports our place as a leading technology business, working alongside some of the best people in the field.”
Recently named among the best companies to work for in Europe, Huboo has also recently added to the technology used in its fulfilment centres in the UK, of which four are in and around Bristol.
Fully-autonomous robots, supplied by London-based artificial intelligence company BotsAndUs, will scan warehouses to build a digital model for real-time analysis and insights on the storage of goods.
Huboo said the robots would provide a “better working environment" for its warehouse employees, as well as improving efficiency and reducing costs.
Nick Robson, Huboo’s head of robotics, said: “As a technology company, data collection is critical to our efficiency and growth. We are excited to work with BotsAndUs on this application; the opportunity to capture live data can help drive real change to the industry.”
BotsAndUs co-founder Oana Jinga added: “There is great synergy between us and Huboo. We share a vision for the use of technology - we develop robotics and AI logistics solutions to drive better business decisions. Importantly, it’s about making life easier for humans rather than replacing them from operations.”
Launched from two secure storage rooms at a Safestore in Bath, since 2018 Huboo’s annual turnover has risen from £61k to £17m.
The firm was identified in a recent Government report as one of three companies within Bristol’s burgeoning tech sector expected to attain a ‘unicorn’ valuation of more than $1bn over the coming years.
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