The investment arm of Ingka Group — the largest IKEA retailer accounting for 90% of sales — has acquired US-based logistics technology company, Locus.
The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
Locus offers an AI-powered dispatch management platform, with advanced route optimisation, real-time tracking, as well as the smart use of vehicles and resources.
Ingka said its strategic investment in Locus strengthens IKEA digital capabilities, giving the retailer greater control over a critical moment in the customer journey.
“By bringing Locus’s technology in-house, we’re taking control of a crucial element in our fulfilment chain, allowing us to deliver with greater speed and flexibility to the many,” stated Tolga Öncü, head of IKEA Retail, part of Ingka Group.
Historically, IKEA has relied on several third-party providers for its logistics technology.
Locus will remain operationally independent following the acquisition and will continue to offer its products to businesses globally.
Nishith Rastogi, founder and CEO of Locus commented: “This partnership preserves our independence and ensures our perpetuity, while unlocking the scale and resources to serve our global enterprise customers with unmatched research and development.”
He added that Locus intends to expand significantly across product, engineering and revenue teams to support the new phase, building “a legacy of innovation and impact spanning decades”.
Online sales represented 28% of IKEA retail sales in financial year 2024, up from 11% five years earlier. The integration of Locus’s technology is expected to strengthen the retailer’s ability to meet continued growth.
In May 2023, Ingka acquired Made4net, a warehouse management system provider. The company also purchased TaskRabbit in 2017, which offers furniture assembly services.
