JDA Software - History

History

In 1978, James Donald Armstrong formed JDA Software Services in Calgary, Alberta which, by 1985, had grown to be one of Canada's largest IBM mid range software providers. In 1985 Armstrong sold the Canadian business and, along with a partner, Frederick M. Pakis, formed U.S.-based JDA Software, Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio. After signing a substantial contract with a Phoenix-based automotive retailer in 1987, all eight JDA employees relocated to the new corporate headquarters in Arizona. After ten years of operation as a privately held firm, JDA became a public corporation on March 15, 1996, re-purchased the original Canadian "JDA" company and reestablished presence in Canada. In 1998, JDA completed their first major acquisition, the Arthur Retail division, which provided JDA with the market leader in advanced planning and allocation software.

In an effort to provide solutions for consumer goods manufacturers and wholesale-distributors, JDA launched a period of aggressive acquisition. The April 2000 acquisition of Intactix division provided more solutions for space management for retailers, suppliers and manufacturers as well as more than 3,000 customers worldwide. In September 2001, JDA acquired E3 Corporation, adding 500 customers in retail and wholesale-distribution in 20 countries. To further respond to a growing customer base, JDA acquired Manugistics in July 2006. This acquisition allowed JDA to expand their product line with supply management, demand management and pricing, and transportation and logistics applications. JDA has coined the convergence of supply and demand chain processes involved in providing goods to the end consumer as the "Customer-Driven Value Chain."

On November 5, 2009, JDA announced its intent to acquire i2 Technologies, a Dallas based provider of Supply Chain Solutions. The acquisition was completed in January 2010. In June of the same year, Dillard's Department Stores won a $246 million dollar judgment against i2, claiming damages from use of two supply chain management systems. JDA announced efforts to reduce or reverse this judgment, noting Dillard's still uses the software in question and has done so since 2000. On 5th Dec, 2012 acquisition of JDA Software by RedPrairie signals the birth of a new supply chain behemoth that could rival against all ERP giants