IFS is doubling down on Industrial AI. The enterprise software provider announced its acquisition of 7bridges, a London-based startup specializing in AI-driven supply chain optimization. The deal adds logistics firepower to IFS’s growing AI arsenal and strengthens its push into asset-intensive industries like manufacturing and aerospace.
7bridges has built its reputation on an AI simulation and analytics platform that automates supply chain decision-making. Think of it as a GPS for logistics networks—continuously optimizing routes, costs, and resources while adapting to disruptions. Customers report shaving transport costs by 8% and automating up to 90% of the data grunt work usually bogging down logistics teams.
“7bridges’ unique capabilities in AI-powered supply chain optimization are a strong complement to our existing strengths and will strongly resonate with our asset intensive customers,” said Mark Moffat, CEO of IFS.
Building an Industrial AI Playbook
This isn’t IFS’s first AI move of 2025. The company recently scooped up TheLoops, an agentic AI innovator, and rolled out Nexus Black, its AI innovation accelerator. With 7bridges, IFS gains a team of specialists whose technology can slot directly into IFS Cloud, broadening its reach beyond operations and into logistics optimization.
The timing is strategic. Supply chains remain under pressure from global disruptions, cost inflation, and decarbonization mandates. Enterprises are demanding tools that not only manage day-to-day operations but also simulate and stress-test supply chains against “what-if” scenarios—exactly the kind of capabilities 7bridges specializes in.
Why This Deal Matters
IFS’s move is part of a larger trend: AI is eating supply chain management. Rivals like SAP, Oracle, and Blue Yonder have all been layering AI onto logistics software, but IFS is betting that its industrial focus—paired with acquisitions like 7bridges—gives it an edge.
The acquisition also signals that supply chain AI isn’t just for retailers or distributors anymore. By targeting asset- and service-centric sectors such as aerospace and manufacturing, IFS is positioning logistics optimization as a pillar of Industrial AI.
For Philip Ashton, CEO of 7bridges, the acquisition is a springboard:
“Joining IFS allows us to accelerate our mission of transforming global supply chains through AI. With IFS’s reach and resources, we’ll bring our solution to new industries and geographies, delivering measurable impact for customers worldwide.”
Bottom Line
With global supply chains still vulnerable to shocks and inefficiencies, AI-driven logistics is becoming a competitive necessity. By pulling 7bridges into its ecosystem, IFS isn’t just buying a tool—it’s fortifying its claim to the Industrial AI crown, promising customers smarter, leaner, and more resilient operations.
Power Tomorrow’s Intelligence — Build It with TechEdgeAI
