IMI expands UK supply-chain software portfolio
Swedish software provider IMI is extending its presence in the UK with the launch of its complete supply-chain portfolio. The move follows the January acquisition of OMS Limited, the British developer behind the Vitesse warehouse labour management system.
The expanded offer arrives as UK operators prepare for peak trading while managing higher labour and freight costs. For companies running several distribution sites, the technology is intended to create a more consistent view of performance and support faster decisions on productivity, inventory and delivery.
From labour management to network visibility
IMI initially entered the UK through Vitesse, continuing to support customers including Mountain Warehouse, Poundland and Morrisons. The company says its UK customer base has grown by 20% since the acquisition and that it plans to increase its local team as it develops operations in Britain and elsewhere in Europe.
The wider portfolio adds inventory planning, order management, warehouse management, freight cost management and delivery management to the existing warehouse productivity capabilities. Bringing these functions together could help operators connect labour performance with stock availability, order execution and transport spending rather than managing each measure in isolation.
Martin O’Grady, IMI’s manager of product and development, said UK companies were seeking clearer information on warehouse productivity and labour expenditure, particularly where sites had developed different operating practices. He identified labour and freight as two of the main cost pressures entering the peak period.
Building a UK platform
IMI works with more than 400 customers across Europe in sectors including e-commerce, retail, wholesale, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and third-party logistics. Its UK operation combines a local team with support from the company’s existing European organisation.
Chief executive Niklas Rönnbäck described the acquisition as the foundation for a longer-term UK strategy. The full-suite launch is positioned as a step towards IMI’s ambition to build a European supply-chain software platform, while further investment in UK personnel is planned.
