QAD Inc.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software, Enterprise resource planning |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Pamela Lopker |
| Headquarters | Santa Barbara, California , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (over 100 countries) |
Key people | Anton Chilton (CEO), Pamela Lopker (President) |
| Products | QAD Adaptive Applications, QAD Adaptive ERP, Supplier Portal, QAD Cloud ERP |
| Parent | Thoma Bravo |
QAD Inc. is a software provider focused on enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and related enterprise software tailored for manufacturing firms, supporting clients in more than 100 countries worldwide.
On June 28, 2021, Thoma Bravo completed the acquisition of QAD Inc. through an all-cash deal valued near $2 billion.
History
Established in 1979 by entrepreneur Pamela Lopker, who continues to serve as president, QAD originally created proprietary software solutions for manufacturers based in Southern California.
In 1984, the company introduced MFG/PRO, developed using Progress Software's Fourth Generation Language alongside relational database technology. MFG/PRO was one of the earliest ERP products designed around APICS standards, supporting closed-loop MRP II processes and operating on open systems. QAD went public with an initial public offering (IPO) on August 6, 1997.
The year 2003 saw the launch of Supply Visualization (later renamed Supplier Portal), a multi-tenant SaaS platform that allowed manufacturers and suppliers to collaborate by sharing data such as inventory levels, schedules, purchase orders, shipments, and Kanban signals. A .NET user interface was introduced in 2006, and in 2007 the core product suite was rebranded as QAD Enterprise Applications. The company rolled out its cloud ERP offering, initially called QAD On Demand and later QAD Cloud ERP, in 2011.
In 2015, QAD initiated the Channel Islands User Experience (UX) program to improve the cloud ERP interface. This effort culminated in the release of the QAD Enterprise Platform in 2017, delivering enhanced functionality through the new UX. By 2019, the product lineup was rebranded as QAD Adaptive Applications, with its leading ERP solution named QAD Adaptive ERP—featuring the Adaptive UX and constructed on the Enterprise Platform foundation.
QAD concentrates on six principal manufacturing sectors: automotive, consumer products, high technology, food and beverage, industrial equipment, and life sciences. Its premier product suite—QAD Adaptive Applications led by QAD Adaptive ERP—is designed to optimize manufacturing operations management, supply chain processes, financial management, customer relationship management, technology integration, and overall business performance. The ERP system is predominantly available as a cloud-based SaaS offering.
Acquisitions
QAD has pursued growth through targeted acquisitions to broaden its market presence. In 2006, it acquired Bisgen Ltd., a UK-based company specializing in sales force and marketing automation for manufacturers. That same year it purchased Precision Software for $14.5 million to enhance its transportation management solutions and also acquired FBO Systems Inc., a Georgia-based enterprise asset management (EAM) leader.
In April 2008, QAD acquired assets from FullTilt Solutions to bolster its portfolio. Subsequent acquisitions included DynaSys in 2012—a European supply chain planning software firm purchased for €6 million—and CEBOS, a quality management software provider, further expanding product diversity.
The company's global footprint grew with the acquisition of PT Iris Sistem Inforindo in 2018, a major distributor and system integrator in South Asia. In 2021, QAD added Allocation Network GmbH from Munich (a strategic sourcing provider), Foreign Trade Zone Corporation from Alabama (a cloud FTZ software company), and WebJaguar from California (a customer management platform).
In February 2023, QAD enhanced its workforce management capabilities by acquiring Redzone, a Miami-based connected workforce solutions provider. Most recently in October 2024, QAD purchased Phenix Software Inc., strengthening its advanced scheduling offerings for adaptive enterprises.
These acquisitions underscore QAD’s strategic approach to expanding its product and service range, reinforcing competitive strengths, and accelerating growth across varied industry sectors.
Acquisition by Thoma Bravo
On June 28, 2021, QAD revealed a definitive agreement to be purchased by Thoma Bravo, a private equity firm with expertise in software and technology-enabled services, through an all-cash deal valued near $2 billion. Shareholders of QAD received $87.50 per share for both Class A and Class B Common Stock.
After the transaction, QAD transitioned into a privately held company dedicated to enhancing its enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and associated solutions tailored for global manufacturing customers. CEO Anton Chilton continued to lead the organization, which maintained its headquarters in Santa Barbara, California.
The acquisition was completed in early November 2021. Founder Pamela Lopker preserved a substantial ownership interest and remained an active member of QAD’s Board of Directors.