Activant
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology, Business management software |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Founder | Henry M. Gay, William W. Stevens, Donald J. Ruder |
| Defunct | 2011 |
| Fate | Acquired by Apax Partners and merged with Epicor |
| Headquarters | Livermore, California , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom |
Key people | Larry Jones (former CEO), Pervez Qureshi (former CEO) |
| Products | Business management software, consulting services, content management, supply chain integration, data analytics |
Number of employees | 1700+ |
| Parent | Epicor (after 2011) |
Activant Solutions Inc. was a privately owned American technology firm that specialized in business management software tailored for retail and wholesale distribution sectors, with its headquarters located in Livermore, California.
The company provided exclusive software solutions, professional consulting services, content management, supply chain integration, and data analytics primarily targeting the automotive, hardlines and lumber, as well as wholesale distribution industries.
With a workforce exceeding 1,700 employees, Activant operated across the United States, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
In May 2011, Activant was purchased by Apax Partners and subsequently merged with Epicor. The unified organization now functions under the Epicor brand and is presently owned by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice LLC.
History
Founded in 1971 as Triad Systems by Henry M. Gay, William W. Stevens, and Donald J. Ruder, the company was officially incorporated in 1972. Its inaugural system was deployed at Northgate Auto Parts in Mill Valley, California on July 7, 1973. The Triad name remained in use until 2003.
Automotive aftermarket
Prior to technological automation, the automotive aftermarket, which focuses on distributing replacement parts, managed inventory using 3x5 index cards. The founders of Activant developed the Series 10 computer system that utilized affordable disk drive technology to handle inventory for automotive parts distributors (jobbers). These units were priced between $50,000 and $100,000 and offered substantial improvements in inventory management.
During the 1980s, the introduction of the faster Series 12 system brought enhanced storage capabilities that supported the first-ever computer-based parts catalog, replacing physical catalogs in auto parts retail outlets. Additionally, the company launched the Triad 80 system aimed at larger warehouse distributors to improve communication among jobbers, warehouse distributors, and suppliers.
Expansion to new markets
In 1980, Francisco Ramiro Diaz identified comparable inventory and accounts receivable challenges within the hardlines sector. To serve hardware retailers effectively, the company developed a point-of-sale (POS) cash terminal system which was adapted for use in lumberyards by 1984.
By 1984, Triad introduced its inaugural electronic parts catalog (Electronic Catalog), and by 1990 customers could electronically access more than 8.8 million automobile parts. In 1987, a standalone Electronic Catalog on CD-Rom (Triad LaserCat) was launched for smaller jobbers lacking Triad systems. The development of the Triad Prism system began in 1989 as a successor to Series 12. Systems designed for hardlines and lumber industries were upgraded to a new UNIX operating system, rebranded as Triad Eagle by 1992.
Activant Vista
In 1993, Triad introduced Triad Vista—a product movement service delivering monthly point-of-sale reports that tracked product performance relative to competitors—generating revenues exceeding $12 million annually.
Throughout the mid-1990s, Triad expanded its footprint by acquiring assets from Gemini, CSD, Eclipse, and Ultimate to bolster its market position within lumber and automotive sectors. The company also rolled out the Radio Frequency (RF) Suite featuring RF-enabled barcode scanning technology and launched Triad Eagle for Windows in 1997.
By 1997, CCI acquired Triad and appointed Glen Staats as CEO of CCITRIAD. In 1998, private equity firm Hicks, Muse, Tate and Furst replaced Staats with Mike Aviles who led until 2004. During this era, the customer base grew considerably with strategic alliances formed with TrueValue, ACE, and Do It Best hardware stores.
21st century
In 2003, CCITRIAD underwent a rebranding to become Activant Solutions Inc. The next year, Larry Jones was named CEO with the goal of accelerating growth initiatives. By May 2006, Pervez Qureshi took over as president and CEO to further advance the company’s expansion strategy.
To extend its market presence, Activant engaged in targeted acquisitions. In 2005, it purchased Speedware Corporation along with its subsidiaries—Enterprise Computer Systems (ECS), Prelude Systems, OpenERP Solutions, and Speedware Ltd.—enhancing its technological capabilities across specialized industries. That same year, Activant also acquired The Systems House Inc., which served distributors in the automotive aftermarket and office products fields, as well as Prophet 21 to strengthen its wholesale distribution software portfolio.
Activant was acquired by private equity investors Hellman & Friedman, Thoma Cressey, and JMI Equity in May 2006.
The company further expanded into Canada in 2007 by acquiring Silk Systems Inc. and its affiliate Silk Dimensions Systems Inc., concentrating on the home improvement and building materials markets. Later in 2007, Activant bolstered its position in wholesale distribution software by acquiring Intuit Eclipse Distribution Management Solutions Business.