Unifaun Acquisition: Key Details, Impact, and What Comes Next

The acquisition of Unifaun by nShift marks a significant milestone in the cloud delivery management industry. This strategic move consolidates expertise and technology, positioning nShift as a global leader. The merger enhances nShift's capabilities, enabling it to handle nearly one billion annual shipments and offering extensive integration with over 700 carriers, benefiting e-commerce and logistics sectors worldwide.

What Is Unifaun?

Founded in 1997, Unifaun specializes in delivery management solutions, offering products like nShift Ship, nShift Delivery, and nShift Transsmart. Their unique selling points include the world’s largest carrier network with over 1,000 connections and extensive integration capabilities supporting more than 450 platforms. Unifaun also provides emissions tracking and data-driven insights, enhancing the post-purchase experience and fostering customer loyalty through seamless end-to-end delivery management.

Who Acquired Unifaun?

nShift is a prominent provider of delivery and experience management software, focusing on optimizing post-purchase experiences and multi-carrier shipping processes for various industries. Key products include nShift Ship, nShift Delivery, and nShift Transsmart for delivery management, as well as nShift Checkout, nShift Track, and nShift Returns for post-purchase solutions. The company boasts the world's largest carrier network and extensive integration capabilities, positioning it as a leader in the delivery management sector.

When Was Unifaun Acquired?

nShift acquired Unifaun on August 27, 2021. This acquisition came at a time when the e-commerce sector was experiencing rapid growth, driven by increased online shopping and the need for efficient delivery management solutions. The merger also included Consignor and Returnado, forming a unified brand under nShift. This strategic move aligned with industry trends focusing on automation, optimization, and scalability in delivery processes, enhancing the overall customer experience and operational efficiency.

Why Was Unifaun Acquired?

• Market Expansion: The acquisition of Unifaun allows nShift to significantly broaden its market reach. With the combined capabilities, nShift can handle nearly one billion annual shipments across 190 countries, eliminating geographical barriers and driving supply chain efficiency and visibility. The merger also leverages nShift's Scandinavian heritage to further its global expansion, enhancing its service offerings to e-commerce shops, retailers, manufacturers, and third-party logistics companies.
• Technology Integration: nShift benefits immensely from Unifaun's advanced technology. The platform now includes over 100 pre-built third-party integrations and a carrier library with connectivity to over 700 carriers, offering comprehensive shipping visibility and automation. Additionally, the integration of Returnado's technology streamlines the return process, enhancing the overall delivery management capabilities and providing a market-leading user experience.
• Competitive Advantage: The acquisition strengthens nShift's position against competitors by offering a comprehensive end-to-end cloud platform that automates and optimizes the entire delivery management process. The platform's extensive carrier library, critical technology integrations, and ability to improve delivery management, visibility, and efficiency provide significant value to its 90,000 customers. This results in up to 10-20% higher e-commerce shop conversions, 60% fewer delivery-related support calls, and a 30% increase in repurchase rates on returned products, setting nShift apart in the industry.

Acquisition Terms

• Acquisition Price: The financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.
• Payment Method: The specific payment method is not mentioned in the available information.
• Key Conditions or Agreements:
  • Marlin Equity Partners and Francisco Partners will remain the majority stakeholders in nShift.
  • The merger unites Unifaun, Consignor, and Returnado under the new brand nShift.
  • The new CEO of nShift is Lars Pedersen.
  • The transaction received definitive approval by the competition authorities on February 12, 2021.
  • Unifaun and Marlin Equity Partners were advised by Arma Partners and EY as their financial advisors, and Plesner as legal counsel.
  • Consignor and Francisco Partners were advised by Raymond James as their financial advisor, and Paul Hastings LLP and Aabø-Evensen & Co as legal counsel.

Impact on Unifaun

The acquisition of Unifaun by nShift has led to significant changes in operations and management. The merger of Unifaun, Consignor, and Returnado into a unified brand, nShift, has brought about a new leadership structure with Lars Pedersen appointed as the CEO. This consolidation aims to leverage the combined technological capabilities and operational resources of the three entities, enhancing the overall efficiency and scalability of their delivery management solutions. The rebranding and integration efforts have streamlined operations, allowing nShift to offer a more comprehensive suite of services to its global customer base.

In terms of product offerings, the acquisition has enriched nShift's platform with advanced features and new innovations such as nShift Checkout and nShift Return. These enhancements are designed to optimize the entire delivery management process, from label creation to delivery tracking and returns management. While specific employee reactions are not detailed, the merger has likely fostered a collaborative environment, combining the expertise of passionate teams. Customer reactions, though not explicitly mentioned, are expected to be positive given the improved service offerings and the platform's ability to handle nearly one billion annual shipments, thereby enhancing the overall customer experience.

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