RedPrairie acquires Vortex Connect, a leader in mobile workforce management

RedPrairie Corporation, a global supply chain and retail technology provider, announced today the acquisition of Toronto-based Vortex Connect, a pioneer in best-of-breed mobile workforce management solutions that strengthen business-to-employee (B2E) communications and operations. The combination of assets – RedPrairie Enterprise Workforce Management (EWFM) and the Vortex mobility platform – creates the industry’s first single provider of mobile-enabled solutions that manage the workforce across operational disciplines including stores, warehouses and distribution centers.

The Vortex acquisition enhances RedPrairie’s market leadership in workforce management by embedding RedPrairie EWFM with new capabilities such as mobile shift management and bidding, mobile communications and operations management, and employee self-service. The combination of features enables companies to streamline operational processes, maximize employee productivity, reduce costs and enhance efficiencies by communicating data in real-time through multi-channel touch points.

Additionally, RedPrairie will leverage the Vortex acquisition to establish a Mobility Center of Excellence in Toronto. The Center of Excellence will focus on utilizing mobility effectively throughout the extended supply chain as well as the application of mobility across RedPrairie’s entire solution footprint.

“As the consumerization of technology pushes further into the business world, RedPrairie believes that the adoption of a mobile platform is increasingly vital to our customers’ success,” says RedPrairie Chief Technology Officer John Kopcke. “Vortex’s track record of providing tools to mobilize people, automate paper processes and connect organizations using mobile technologies made it the clear choice for RedPrairie. We will embed mobility across our solution footprint ahead of others in the market and to the advantage of our customers.”

Building upon Vortex’s heritage, the Center of Excellence will put Vortex mobility experts at the center of RedPrairie’s research and development, product strategy and mobile solutions groups to promote continuous innovation, thought leadership and mobility integration for existing and emerging RedPrairie solutions.

“Vortex and its employees are delighted to be joining the RedPrairie family,” says Vortex Chief Executive Officer Adrian Schauer. “We are passionate about the potential for mobile software to solve business problems and redefine the way that work is performed and tracked. The acquisition by RedPrairie allows us to apply that passion at the next level. We see game changing opportunity for mobile technology across the EWFM product line as well as the rest of RedPrairie’s solution suite and look forward to the challenge of realizing that potential together.”