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When Did Shopify Acquire 6 River Systems?

Last updated on October 1, 2022 @ 2:01 pm

On October 9th, 2019, Shopify Inc. announced that it had acquired 6 River Systems, Inc. for $450 million USD. 6 River Systems is a Massachusetts-based startup that provides collaborative robots, software, and services to help e-commerce warehouses fulfill orders faster.

The acquisition is seen as a way for Shopify to increase its foothold in the warehouse automation market and further its goal of providing end-to-end solutions for merchants.

Shopify has been on an acquisitive streak in recent years, buying up companies that complement its existing suite of products and services. In June of 2018, it acquired Tictail, an e-commerce platform for small businesses.

And in May of 2019, it bought Oberlo, a dropshipping app that allows merchants to source products from suppliers around the world.

The 6 River Systems acquisition is in line with Shopify’s strategy of offering end-to-end solutions to its merchants. By offering warehouse automation solutions, Shopify can provide its customers with a complete solution for running their business, from sourcing products to fulfillment.

This one-stop-shop approach is designed to make it easy for merchants to run their businesses on Shopify’s platform.

PRO TIP: When Shopify acquired 6 River Systems, it created a potential conflict of interest for the company. 6 River Systems is a leading provider of robotics and automation solutions for warehouses and distribution centers. Shopify is a leading ecommerce platform.

The acquisition could give Shopify an unfair advantage in the market by giving them access to 6 River Systems’ technology and expertise. It could also lead to higher prices for customers who use Shopify’s platform to sell their products.

The acquisition also gives Shopify a stronger foothold in the warehouse automation market. 6 River Systems was founded in 2015 by former Kiva Systems executives Jerome Dubois and Rylan Hamilton.

Kiva was acquired by Amazon in 2012 for $775 million and became the basis for Amazon’s robotics operation. With the 6 River Systems acquisition, Shopify now has access to technology and expertise that can help it compete with Amazon in the warehouse automation space.

When Did Shopify Acquire 6 River Systems?

On October 9th, 2019, Shopify Inc.

Dale Leydon

Dale Leydon

Sysadmin turned Javascript developer. Owner of 20+ apps graveyard, and a couple of successful ones.