The enterprise software industry remains the cornerstone of modern business operations, driving productivity, innovation and scalability across all industries. This sector encompasses a diverse range of software solutions tailored to meet the complex needs of organizations, from financial automation and digital employee experience optimization to aerospace systems and digital twins. In 2024 several major mergers and acquisitions highlighted strategic shifts within this dynamic industry. Below, we explore the key segments of the enterprise software market and the significant mergers and acquisitions that shaped it.
Key elements in the Enterprise software sector
The enterprise software market can be broadly classified into several segments, each addressing specific business functions:
- Digital employee experience and collaboration: platforms that improve employee productivity and engagement, such as intranets, collaboration tools and remote desktop solutions.
- Financial Process Automation: Software solutions designed to streamline financial operations, including procurement, invoicing and payment processing, are essential for companies seeking to improve efficiency and reduce errors.
- Customer experience and analytics: tools that capture, visualize and analyze customer interactions through digital channels play a key role in improving customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Industry-specific software: specialized solutions tailored to the needs of specific industries, such as aerospace, automotive or telecommunications, help organizations address unique challenges and opportunities.
- Emerging technologies: platforms that leverage cutting-edge innovations, such as digital twins, emulation and cloud-based simulations, are revolutionizing industries by providing accurate, real-time information about complex systems.
Top Enterprise Software acquisitions in 2024
The enterprise software sector witnessed several noteworthy acquisitions in 2024, underscoring the strategic importance of this market. These are the key transactions:
TeamViewer acquires 1E for 720 million dollars
On December 10, 2024 TeamViewer, a leading provider of remote access and collaboration solutions, acquired 1E, a pioneer in autonomous platforms for optimizing employees' digital experiences.
About 1E
Founded to improve digital productivity in the workplace, 1E's platform enables organizations to monitor and improve employee experiences through automation and analytics.
Strategic Justification of the Acquisition
This acquisition allows TeamViewer to expand its offering beyond remote desktop solutions into the broader digital workplace optimization space. The integration of 1E's platform positions TeamViewer as a comprehensive provider of tools for hybrid and remote work environments.
BridgePoint acquires LumApps for $650 million
BridgePoint, a leading alternative asset fund management firm, acquired LumApps, a leading social, mobile and intelligent intranet platform, on May 27, 2024.
About LumApps
Known for its ability to connect and engage employees through a centralized hub, LumApps has become a key player in the enterprise collaboration space.
Strategic Reasons for the Acquisition
The acquisition highlights the growing importance of employee engagement platforms as organizations prioritize internal communication and collaboration. BridgePoint's investment underscores the value of solutions that improve organizational culture and productivity.
BridgePoint acquires Eckoh for $219.5 million
On October 30, 2024 BridgePoint made another significant acquisition by purchasing Eckoh, a provider of data security solutions for contact center payment processing.
Description of Eckoh
Specializing in secure payment solutions, Eckoh helps organizations protect sensitive customer information during transactions.
Strategic justification
Esta operación permite a BridgePoint reforzar su cartera en los ámbitos de la ciberseguridad y el procesamiento de pagos, respondiendo así a la creciente demanda de soluciones financieras seguras y conformes a la normativa.
Pango acquires Gett for US$175 million
Pango, a provider of mobile-pay parking solutions, acquired Gett, a technology platform focused on corporate ground transportation management (GTM), on May 9, 2024.
About Gett
Focused on corporate transportation, Gett has revolutionized the way organizations manage and optimize their travel spend.
Strategic Justification of the Acquisition
The acquisition expands Pango's capabilities in the transportation sector, enabling it to address a broader market while enhancing its service offering with Gett's advanced GTM platform.
Alicorn Venture Partners acquires Glassbox for US$150 million
Alicorn Venture Partners, a growth-stage venture capital firm, acquired Glassbox, a digital experience analytics platform on May 20, 2024.
About Glassbox
Glassbox enables companies to visualize and analyze customer interactions on websites and mobile apps, helping them improve user experience and drive growth.
Strategic Reasons for the Acquisition
This acquisition reflects the growing emphasis on customer experience analytics as companies strive to understand and address changing consumer behaviors. Alicorn's investment enables it to benefit from the growing demand for data-driven insights.
Keensight Capital acquires SoftCo for US$108.6 million
On March 5, 2024 Keensight Capital, a private equity and venture capital firm, acquired SoftCo, a leader in financial process automation.
Description of SoftCo
SoftCo's software automates procurement, invoicing and payment operations, allowing companies to streamline their financial workflows.
Strategic justification
As companies increasingly focus on operational efficiency, this acquisition allows Keensight Capital to capitalize on the growing demand for financial process automation.
Descartes Systems Group acquires Aerospace Software Developments for US$61 million
Descartes Systems Group, a SaaS solutions provider, acquired Aerospace Software Developments, a company specializing in software for the aerospace and aviation sectors, on April 22, 2024.
About Aerospace Software Developments
The company's solutions help streamline operations and improve productivity in the highly regulated aerospace industry.
Strategic Justification of the Acquisition
This operation allows Descartes to expand its industry-specific offering, addressing the unique needs of the aerospace market.
TXT e-Solutions acquires Refine Direct for US$23.7 million
TXT e-Solutions, a specialist in engineering software solutions, acquired Refine Direct, a digital direct marketing company on July 1, 2024.
About Refine Direct
Refine Direct offers lead generation, CRM and data analysis services to companies.
Strategic Reasons for the Acquisition
The acquisition is in line with TXT e-Solutions' strategy to diversify its product portfolio and enhance its capabilities in digital marketing and customer relationship management. We discuss more about this transaction in our article on the top 5 transactions in the Advertising sector in 2024.
Altium acquires Valispace for US$19.98 million
On January 26, 2024 Altium, a leader in PCB design software, acquired Valispace, a browser-based engineering collaboration platform.
Description of Valispace
Valispace enables engineers to collaboratively develop complex hardware such as cars and rockets.
Strategic justification
This acquisition strengthens Altium's position in the engineering software market by incorporating Valispace's capabilities, addressing the growing demand for collaborative hardware design tools.
Virtualware acquires Simumatik for 1.49 million dollars
Virtualware, a provider of interactive technology, acquired Simumatik, a cloud-based platform specializing in digital twins and emulation, on October 21, 2024.
About Simumatik
Simumatik's platform allows to accurately recreate systems and processes, helping organizations to optimize their operations.
Strategic Justification of the Acquisition
This acquisition positions Virtualware to capitalize on the growing adoption of digital twin technology by offering advanced solutions to its customers.
Conclusion and future prospects
The enterprise software industry continues to be a dynamic and innovative space, with merger and acquisition activity reflecting the strategic priorities of key players. From enhancing digital employee experiences to leveraging emerging technologies such as digital twins, these acquisitions demonstrate the industry's commitment to addressing evolving business needs. As organizations continue to prioritize efficiency, collaboration and customer experience, the enterprise software market is poised for sustained growth in the coming years.
From Baker Tilly's Tech M&A division, we advise our clients in the mergers and acquisitions processes of tech companies. We ensure that your organization meets all legal terms before starting a business sale process. Contact our M&A experts with no obligation.