Descartes has acquired the U.S.-based AI company Idelic, which provides AI-based solutions for driver safety and work performance monitoring. The acquisition strengthens Descartes’ position in last-mile delivery by adding an advanced solution for safety and driving behavior.
The acquisition adds data to the Descartes Global Logistics Network (GLN) and strengthens the company’s AI-based offering for vehicle fleets. Idelic’s platform consolidates vast amounts of driver data—including safety, monitoring, reporting, training, and coaching—into a single tool. The AI-based platform collects vast amounts of driving and accident data used to predict risks and help companies prevent accidents. The data consists of telemetry data such as speed, braking, and position from over 64 billion kilometers of driving, as well as information from over 400,000 accidents, making the analysis highly accurate.
– Productivity and safety are equally important for transportation companies with vehicle fleets. The acquisition adds data to our Global Logistics Network (GLN) and strengthens Descartes’ position in last-mile deliveries by providing more advanced safety systems and deep domain expertise. “With Idelic’s AI-based risk analysis combined with Descartes’ route planning system, we can offer a complete fleet management solution where driving behavior and safety data are integrated with operational data, leading to risk minimization and better driver training,” explains James Wee, General Manager of Fleet Management at Descartes.
The AI platform collects real-time data at a highly detailed event level through an integrated network with over 80 integrations to telematics, risk management, and compliance systems. The platform is built on years of experience using machine learning in models that predict accidents, based on data from more than 150 vehicle fleets. The platform’s AI capabilities have been tested in real-world operations and are used to predict risks for drivers and improve their safety training.
– Demand for reliable real-time data on vehicle fleets and operations is growing as customers develop and implement their AI strategies. “By combining Idelic’s AI-based safety analytics and unique, critical data with Descartes’ Global Logistics Network (GLN), we are strengthening the data foundation that enables better decisions about fleet performance and safer, more efficient transportation,” says Descartes CEO Edward J. Ryan.
Idelic is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Descartes has acquired Idelic for an initial purchase price of approximately $28 million, financed with existing cash and cash equivalents, as well as a potential performance-based additional purchase price.
