IFS acquires Poka to fuel digital transformation and help address manufacturing challenges

Cloud-based enterprise software company IFS has acquired Poka, a platform offering ‘connected worker’ technologies – essentially tools that help organisations measure productivity across machinery and operators globally, as well as providing insights to stay compliant and create safer working conditions.

Recent global events have created a heightened degree of complexity and uncertainty in labour availability, supply chains and raw material sourcing. To address this, manufacturers are looking at ways to embrace digital transformation​​ more quickly to give way for automated, robust and secure systems.

This purchase puts IFS in a good position to deliver more ably to these trends, enabling it to combine its ERP/FSM/EAM technology with Poka’s capabilities.

“The concept of connecting every single worker was historically overlooked as part of digital transformation journeys yet, giving workers the ability to get information whenever and wherever they are in the factory not only improves their experience, it is fundamental to building manufacturing agility something we understand very well at IFS,” ​explained IFS CEO, Darren Roos.

Founded in 2014 by Alexandre Leclerc and Antoine Bisson, Poka has customers in 55 countries, including brands such as Nestlé, Tetra Pak and Mars.

“We are incredibly proud of the best-in-class platform we’ve built and our pioneering leadership in the Connected Worker space. Becoming part of IFS will enable us to further innovate and extend the value we create for manufacturers,”​ added Alexandre Leclerc, CEO of Poka.

Meanwhile, Scotland’s First Minister has opened a new manufacturing R&D hub in Renfrewshire​​ which includes a connected digital factory.