DecisionPoint Technologies has acquired American Barcode and RFID (AB&R), expanding its RFID, Internet of Things (IoT) and supply-chain automation capabilities as enterprises increase investment in real-time asset and inventory visibility.
The acquisition brings Phoenix-based AB&R into DecisionPoint’s enterprise mobility and edge technology portfolio. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Founded in 1980, AB&R has spent more than four decades providing barcode, RFID, labelling, software and professional services to organisations seeking to identify, track and manage inventory and assets across supply-chain operations.
The deal gives DecisionPoint greater depth in RFID and data-capture technologies, while adding AB&R’s established customer relationships and technical capabilities across the United States. DecisionPoint said the combined business will offer customers a broader portfolio spanning RFID, IoT, software, services and supply-chain automation.
RFID is increasingly being deployed across logistics, manufacturing, retail and other asset-intensive operations to automate identification and tracking without requiring direct line-of-sight scanning. Combined with IoT technologies and enterprise software, the technology can provide organisations with more continuous visibility into inventory movements, asset locations and operational workflows.
DecisionPoint said the acquisition will allow it to strengthen its ability to automate data capture and help customers improve operational accuracy and access real-time information across complex enterprise environments.
“The way organizations capture, track, and act on data across their operations is changing rapidly, and RFID is becoming a foundational technology for improving visibility, automation, and operational accuracy,” said Brian Bukowski, CEO and president of DecisionPoint Technologies.
AB&R brings an established presence in the RFID and automatic identification and data capture market. Its offering includes RFID systems, barcode technologies, labelling solutions and related software and services, providing DecisionPoint with additional capabilities across the operational technology stack.
Gary Randall, vice-president of sales and marketing at AB&R, said the combination would give customers access to greater scale, resources and a wider portfolio while retaining the technical expertise and relationships developed by AB&R over its operating history.
The transaction also expands DecisionPoint’s physical footprint through AB&R’s Phoenix operations. The companies said the combination will strengthen their ability to serve customers across key US markets and support enterprise deployments involving inventory, assets and supply-chain workflows.
For DecisionPoint, the acquisition adds another layer to its strategy around enterprise mobility and edge technology. RFID and IoT systems increasingly sit at the point where physical assets generate operational data, while software and analytics turn that data into information that can be used for planning, automation and decision-making.
The combined portfolio is expected to target organisations looking to modernise data capture and supply-chain processes while reducing manual intervention. DecisionPoint said the expanded capabilities will help customers improve visibility and accuracy and translate operational data into business outcomes.
