Sendcloud to acquire Italian shipping platform isendu by Q3 2024

Sendcloud has announced its intent to acquire isendu, an Italian shipping automation platform that supports over 1,000 online businesses. The two companies have agreed on the terms of the acquisition, which is expected to be completed by the end of Q3 2024, pending standard regulatory reviews and approvals.

Rob van den Heuvel, CEO and Co-Founder of Sendcloud, expressed enthusiasm for the acquisition: "Shipping is the biggest expense in e-commerce, yet it remains the primary bottleneck to growth. While most online stores lack the power of e-commerce giants like Amazon and Zalando, consumers still expect the same level of service and experience. isendu shares this belief, aligning perfectly with our mission to solve shipping globally. We look forward to officially welcoming isendu as part of Sendcloud and will offer them our full support every step of the way."

isendu was founded in 2019 with a focus on small- and medium-sized businesses in the e-commerce sector. The platform aims to improve e-commerce operations by generating labels quickly, tracking shipments from a single dashboard, and optimising post-purchase experiences.

Lando Barbagli, CEO and Co-Founder of isendu, shared his perspective on the acquisition: "Recognising the disparities in e-commerce, we launched isendu in 2019, intending to help small and medium-sized merchants improve their e-commerce experience. Building on Sendcloud's decade of experience serving over 25,000 customers, we are confident we have found a strong partner to continue our work. Before joining Sendcloud officially, we will collaborate closely with Rob and his team to ensure we continue delivering top-notch shipping experiences for our customers and partners."

The European B2C e-commerce industry is expanding rapidly, with an annual turnover of EUR €741 billion and a 13% year-on-year growth rate. Despite this growth, many merchants continue to face significant challenges related to the complexity and high costs of shipping. This has driven the need for comprehensive solutions like those provided by Sendcloud and isendu.

Sendcloud's platform aims to centralise and automate the entire shipping process, from label printing to branded tracking updates and returns management. The company is backed by Softbank and serves over 25,000 companies across Europe. The acquisition of isendu represents a strategic move to further strengthen Sendcloud's portfolio and expand its reach in the European market.

Isendu's capabilities in transforming shipping into new sales opportunities will complement Sendcloud's current offerings. By providing an intuitive dashboard for order management and real-time shipment tracking, isendu enhances customer satisfaction and boosts e-commerce sales through advanced conversational marketing solutions via WhatsApp.

Both companies have mutually agreed on the key terms of the acquisition and are preparing to collaborate closely until the transaction is finalised. The acquisition is subject to reviews and approvals from relevant regulatory bodies and is expected to be completed by Q3 2024.