IFS acquires 7bridges for AI-powered supply chain logistics planning and automation

Industrial enterprise applications vendor IFS this week expanded its reach into AI-powered supply demand chain planning with the acquisition of 7bridges, a UK-based startup. The 7bridges solution focuses on automation and optimization of logistics networks using AI-assisted data ingestion, simulation and analytics. We caught up with Bob de Caux, Chief AI Officer at IFS, and Vaibs Kumar, its SVP Technology, to find out more about the motivation for the deal.

CEO Philip Ashton co-founded 7bridges in 2016 with CTO Matei Beremski after witnessing the issues shipping was causing for drugs companies running clinical trials while working at a logistics company. Following a seed round in 2020, the company raised a $17 million series A round in 2022 on the back of strong ROI achieved by early customers, including large multinationals. Its backers include global shipping giant Maersk through its corporate venture fund. The terms of the acquisition by IFS have ...