Rockwell Automation joins forces with Kezzler to enhance supply chain visibility. Following the recently announced Plex Systems acquisition, Rockwell will incorporate Plex's cloud-native factory floor track-and-trace capabilities into Kezzler's product digitization system. 

Ara Surenian, senior product manager at Plex Systems, discusses the impact COVID-19 has had on supply chains and what manufacturers can do about it.

The writer analyzes Rockwell’s acquisition of Plex Systems and the trend in software investing for other industrial companies.

Analysis of recent the acquisition of Plex by Rockwell Automation and other related M&As.

Rockwell Automation’s recent acquisition of Plex Systems is cited as an example of industrial companies’ interest in B2B SaaS platforms. Note: The translated reference may inaccurately appear as Flex Systems.

An exciting new chapter for Plex Systems begins: Plex is joining forces with Rockwell Automation. When Accel first partnered with the Plex team in 2012, they believed that their cloud-based smart manufacturing solutions would be the key to dramatically increasing factory operations and supply chain efficiency for global manufacturers everywhere.

“Plex has always been at the forefront of the smart manufacturing revolution having launched its first cloud-native products more than two decades ago,” said Petri Oksanen, Partner at Francisco Partners. “We are grateful to have had the opportunity to support the Plex team in accelerating their execution against this transformative vision and greatly scaling the business.”

Plex literally wrote the book on cloud-based ERP, having been doing this since the late 1990s. Many of their competitors only recently embraced cloud and/or multi-tenant cloud technology. Plex has developed deep manufacturing expertise in the automotive sector along the way. The deal will be very complementary and should be accretive in a relatively short time.

The industrials rallied after the June 24th infrastructure breakthrough. Blake Moret, Rockwell Automation CEO, joined “Squawk Box” on Friday to discuss the deal between a bipartisan group of senators and the White House as well as the company’s deal to buy Plex Systems and more.

Rockwell Automation Inc. is acquiring closely held Plex Systems for $2.22 billion in cash to boost its offering of cloud services to customers ranging from automakers to warehousing and logistics firms. The acquisition is expected to close in the quarter ending in September, Rockwell said Friday in a statement. The Milwaukee-based company will bring on 500+ employees from closely held Plex.