IFS acquires Canada-based Poka to enhance connected worker platform

IFS, a global provider of cloud enterprise software, announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Poka, a Quebec-based connected worker platform, for an undisclosed price.

The acquisition positions IFS at the forefront of industry trends, combining its Enterprise Resource Planning/Field Service Management/Enterprise Asset Management (ERP/FSM/EAM) technology with Poka’s platform, which enhances the efficiency of factory and field workers across all aspects of their jobs. The move is set to expand the value of IFS’s offerings right down to the user, empowering them at every step.

Poka’s platform allows businesses to measure productivity across machinery and operators on a global scale, providing clear insight into profitability. Moreover, it offers actionable insights to companies seeking compliance and safer working conditions, aligning with their ESG goals.

Over the past decades, with the surge in industry 4.0, businesses have invested trillions of dollars in enabling back-office workers to work smarter, safer, and more efficiently. IFS’s acquisition of Poka signifies a leap towards achieving this same efficiency and safety for factory and field workers, particularly as digital transformation becomes paramount amidst recent global events that have complicated labor availability, supply chains, and raw material sourcing.

Darren Roos — IFS CEO said: “The concept of connecting every single worker was historically overlooked as part of digital transformation journeys yet, giving workers the ability to get information whenever and wherever they are in the factory not only improves their experience, it is fundamental to building manufacturing agility something we understand very well at IFS.”

Founded in 2014, Poka currently serves customers in 55 countries, including renowned brands like Nestlé, Tetra Pak, Mars, Bosch, and RioTinto, among others. The platform’s connected worker technologies do more than deliver software applications to improve work efficiency.

By digitally connecting frontline workers, companies can gather and share critical operational data in real time, enabling optimized work systems where insights are context-driven and responsive.

Alexandre Leclerc — Poka CEO said: “We are incredibly proud of the best-in-class platform we’ve built and our pioneering leadership in the Connected Worker space.  Becoming part of IFS will enable us to further innovate and extend the value we create for manufacturers.

“As the global workforce crisis deepens, more companies are looking to scale their digital factory projects across the enterprise.”