CRN Impact winner Cohesio acquired by German conglomerate Körber

Melbourne-based voice-controlled and robotics software solutions provider Cohesio has been acquired by German technology conglomerate Körber.

Cohesio began life just five years ago as a system integrator named "VoiceID" and developed its own intellectual property that brings workflow optimisation and task automation to retail stores.

That effort saw Cohesio pick up the Evolving Innovator award at the 2018 CRN Impact Awards in recognition of developing Ignito, a piece of software that enables workflow optimisation and task automation, which was deployed to My Chemist stores across the country. Cohesio also names Cotton On, Kmart and The Reject Shop among its customer base.

A Cohesio spokesperson told CRN that the company will continue operation as usual, and that its customers will benefit from Körber’s portfolio of supply chain solutions. There’s also no plans to change the Cohesio name, or any changes to staffing.

"We feel fortunate to have found a partner in Körber that can help accelerate the next stage of growth for Cohesio,” said Cohesio chief executive Nishan Wijemanne.

“Körber offers us an innovative culture, a broader portfolio of complementary supply chain technologies and access to customer relationships on a global scale. The Cohesio founders and the entire Cohesio team are very excited to be part of this international technology group.”

Körber has interests in numerous businesses and industries, but most relevant to Cohesio is its logistics businesses. Körber said in a press release that Cohesio will complement its existing Voiteq voice solutions, along with strengthening Körber’s Honeywell Vocollect integration team (Honeywell’s voice solution for distribution centres).

“With Cohesio, we are underpinning our claim to 'market leadership through technology leadership' in the future-oriented fields of voice and robot technology," said Körber chairman Stephan Seifert.

"We are also expanding our presence in the particularly fast-growing markets of the APAC region, where we are able to inspire and support our customers with the best products and solutions for the supply chain".