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Wincanton bags exclusive rights to Zeus's freight tech in UK, Ireland
Wed, 28th Feb 2024

UK supply chain partner, Wincanton, has announced an exclusive agreement with one of Europe's fastest-growing logistic-tech innovators, Zeus. The deal involves Wincanton acquiring the exclusive evergreen rights to Zeus' market-leading digital freight management solutions in the UK and Ireland.

At a time when Wincanton is set on implementing a strategic shift in its transport business, with a renewed focus on transport management services powered by digital technology, this agreement signifies a substantial enhancement to the company's portfolio. Recent contract wins with well known companies, such as Sainsbury's, Primark, New Look, and Marshalls, illustrate the success of this strategy, the company states. Wincanton states it has demonstrated its commitment to becoming the first choice for managed customer fleets and subcontracted outsourced 4PL needs, or contracts that utilise both approaches simultaneously.

To accelerate this strategic shift, Wincanton has developed EyeQ, a digital transport planning and optimisation product. By acquiring the software rights to Zeus' Freight Connect and Freight Command, Wincanton can further enhance EyeQ, amalgamating it with this proven and industry-leading technology.

Zeus' freight management technologies are renowned for their capacity to optimise freight management. This includes streamlining processes through an overland network management tool, enabling hauliers to automate their subcontracting processes, and providing drivers with easy-to-use access to their routes through a dedicated driver app.

Following the agreement, Zeus will continue to operate from its UK headquarters while retreating from actively servicing the UK market. This strategic move allows Zeus to concentrate on their next growth phase, particularly investing in developing innovative sustainable solutions for a wider range of international markets, such as throughout Europe and in fast growth markets like India.

Daniel Porte, Strategy Director at Wincanton, shed light on the agreement, stating, "Our agreement with Zeus for the exclusive use of its proven technology will greatly enhance our customer and sub-contraction solutions."

Porte continues, "By investing in innovation, we are transforming subcontractor management and supercharging Wincanton's capabilities as the supply chain partner of choice."

Clemente Theotokis, Co-Founder of Zeus, shared the enthusiasm about this strategic partnership. "For an angel-funded business to achieve a partnership of this magnitude, against these economic challenges, just shows what can be achieved with a clear business mission to move a market forward. With Wincanton, we have found a partner who shares this vision, with the scale and scope to make a dramatic difference to the sustainability of freight in this country, now and into the future," Theotokis commented.