Blue Yonder Takes a Cue from its History, Acquires One Network

By Duane Reynolds

In the annals of supply chain history, Blue Yonder’s acquisition of One Network stood as the latest chapter in a saga of strategic expansion and innovation. Blue Yonder’s journey began back when it was known as JDA Software, an established leader in retail and manufacturing planning. In 2006, JDA acquired Manugistics to expand its growth into supply chain management, and followed that up by acquiring i2 Technologies in 2009 and then really dug in with the acquisition of RedPrairie in 2012, enhancing its capabilities in warehouse management and workforce optimization. This acquisition marked a pivotal moment in Blue Yonder’s evolution, enabling the company to deliver end-to-end supply chain solutions that spanned from planning to execution.

The final piece of the puzzle was, of course, the acquisition of Blue Yonder in 2018 and the official name change in 2020.  Each acquisition has brought unique strengths and expertise to the table, enabling Blue Yonder to offer comprehensive solutions that address the evolving needs of the market.

“Blue Yonder’s track record of acquisitions underscores its commitment to innovation and market leadership,” said Johnathan Lee, a research director at Gartner. “These strategic moves have enabled Blue Yonder to expand its portfolio and address a broader range of customer needs, positioning the company as a key player in the supply chain software market.”

Against this backdrop of strategic acquisitions, the union of Blue Yonder and One Network represented a culmination of years of industry expertise and technological innovation. One Network, provider of the Digital Supply Chain Network™, is known for its autonomous and resilience services and is a leading global provider of intelligent control towers. Upon completion, Blue Yonder will be well positioned to serve customers’ needs across planning, execution, commerce, and networks. 

“Supply chains have become more complex, and as more and more companies reduce risk by diversifying sourcing of products globally, there is an increased demand for the sharing of information and resources across the whole value chain. This, along with increased disruptions and geopolitical risks, have put the pressure on organizations to build more resilient and robust supply chains,” said Duncan Angove, CEO, Blue Yonder. “Combined with One Network’s capabilities, Blue Yonder will establish itself as a leading supply chain solutions company that can offer a unified, end-to-end supply chain ecosystem that is resilient enough to withstand today’s challenges, and synthesized with innovative, future-focused technologies.”

As Blue Yonder and One Network embarks on their integration journey, the industry watches with anticipation, eager to witness the synergies that would emerge from this union. Through a combination of predictive analytics, multi-party network platforms, and collaborative technologies, the partnership promises to redefine the future of supply chain management, empowering businesses to navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing world.

“Supply chains continue to be fragmented and overwhelmed with disruptions. What’s needed is a unified platform that enables multi-tier orchestration, planning and collaboration that accelerates processes with autonomous and semi-autonomous decision-making and execution across trading partners. This is the next step to creating a resilient and collaborative supply chain,” said Greg Brady, chairman and founder, One Network. “Blue Yonder offers the most complete portfolio in the industry, spanning from planning to execution. Coupled with our network and multi-enterprise, multi-tier platform, we’re poised to form a backbone of this new supply chain of the future.”