WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (February 25, 2004) - Optum Inc. today announced it has acquired Charlotte, N.C.-based V3 Systems, a supply chain execution solutions firm, in an all-stock transaction.
The move extends Optum's supply chain network coordination and execution capabilities to Microsoft environments, adding to its arsenal quick-to-deploy warehouse management and visibility solutions that automate small warehouses or "depots," enabling enterprises to optimize the performance of their entire supply networks. Optum will also leverage the acquired technology in its new Solution Sets, packaged applications tailored to meet discrete supply chain challenges, such as contract manufacturing, reverse logistics, and mass customization. (See press release dated February 25, 2004).
"In AMR's Annual Tech Trends survey, we found that 66 percent of companies surveyed plan to increase their IT investments in 2004," said Bruce Richardson, senior vice president at AMR Research. "Enterprise applications, including supply chain management, will top the list, but today's buyers are more and more solutions focused: they are looking for very focused implementations that deliver results quickly. Optum's acquisition further positions it to capitalize on this trend."
Added David J. Simbari, president and CEO of Optum, "We see tremendous opportunity today to help companies make more money - and save more - by running their supply chains as a business rather than as a cost of doing business. Acquiring V3 Systems arms us with additional solutions that take the pain and guess work out of supply chain management. Optum is the only provider today that gives companies closed-loop command and control over their entire supply networks to obliterate waste, maximize revenue and gain a competitive advantage through repeatable, optimal supply chain performance."
