News

Embross acquires IBM's transportation kiosk business

Passenger service solutions provider Embross North America Ltd. has acquired IBM's Global Business Services, Travel and Transportation, kiosk business, the company announced.

May 11, 2015

Passenger service solutions provider Embross North America Ltd. has acquired IBM's Global Business Services, Travel and Transportation, kiosk business, the company announced.

A provider of self-service travel kiosks and middleware for almost 20 years, IBM has provided passenger service kiosk solutions, with more than 16,000 units delivered globally, according to the announcement. The Toronto-based IBM business unit boasts a portfolio of kiosk and related solutions including common-use self-service middleware and kiosk management applications, automated passport control and its newly deployed automated bag drop units.

Embross has been growing its market share through its differentiated approach of dynamic, flexible and design-oriented kiosk solutions, the company said, and the acquisition will see the two teams combine to deliver self-service solutions.

"Making the travel experience simpler and more efficient through self-service automation has been a goal of our two companies for some time," Embross CEO Achilles Tzelepis said in the announcement. "The synergy between our product portfolios and our approaches to innovation was a natural fit. Add an amazing team of people from IBM with two decades of best-practice kiosk solution design, and we're very excited about what we can achieve together and the value we can deliver to our customers and partners."

Embross continues the growth of its global footprint in 2015 with kiosk deployments in Australia, Asia and North America, the company said. The acquisition will expand its existing manufacturing base and software capability to include the IBM kiosk team and facility. A transition to a larger facility in the Toronto area is planned for 2015 to support future growth.

"Delivering great self-service solutions with the flexibility, engagement and cost effectiveness that our customers need is a vision that this team is well aligned to," said Kelly Locker, former self-service kiosk practice leader at IBM Canada and now general manager of Embross North America. "This latest investment in knowledge, infrastructure and capability puts us in great position to continue delivering that vision on a global basis and build on an already rich history."

Subsequent to the acquisition, Embross and IBM's Global Business Services' Travel and Transportation division will continue to work together as part of a new collaboration framework supporting existing and future customers. This collaboration will deliver a growing range of multichannel solutions including mobile, cloud and self-service hardware and applications.

Embross will be launching its expanded product portfolio and services shortly after close, along with a new European office supporting Europe, Middle East and Africa.