Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
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technology BRING ON THE COMPETITION 2013 shaping up for more technology consolidation – and possibly more choices I n 2006, the year after TMW Systems was acquired by two private equity firms, the software developer went on an acquisition spree. Under the direction of its new chief executive, David Wangler, over the next five years TMW made as many acquisitions. It nearly reached six. In 2007, Wangler began discussing the possibility of acquiring ALK Technologies, but the timing wasn't right for both companies. Last month, however, the deal finally went through. Trimble Navigation, not TMW, was the entity that bankrolled the acquisition, but in the grand scheme of things, it worked out as Wangler initially envisioned. ALK joins TMW in Trimble's transportation and logistics portfolio; TMW was acquired by Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Trimble in August 2012 for $335 million. In August 2011, Trimble acquired PeopleNet Communications and created the T&L portfolio, which began as a mobile solutions group anchored by PeopleNet. Following the TMW acquisition, Trimble added two more groups: enterprise software and analytics. ALK is a provider of routing, mapping, mileage and navigation technologies. ALK's software products include CoPilot As part of Trimble Navigation, ALK Technologies will report to the enterprise systems group, which is led by David Wangler, president of TMW Systems, another Trimble-owned company. 28 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL CCJ_0213_TechDept.indd 28 Live, which offers onboard GPS navigation for professional drivers; and PC Miler, a truck-specific mileage system recognized in the industry as a standard for logistics, manufacturing, government and transportation operations. As part of Trimble, Princeton, N.J.-based ALK will report to the enterprise systems group, which is led by Wangler, who now is president of TMW. TMW has a long history of working TIMING WASN'T RIGHT: TMW Systems first discussed the possibility of acquiring ALK Technologies in 2007. PARTNERS BECOME TEAMMATES: Going forward, the companies will be able to have more coordination and collaboration. MORE ON THE WAY: Qualcomm also hints at future collaborations. | FEBRUARY 2013 1/23/13 8:42 AM