WhereNet
Integrated wireless solutions for tracking and managing enterprise assets.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| investor investor investor investor investor | €0.0 | round | |
$126m Valuation: $126m | Acquisition | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
WhereNet operated as a provider of wireless systems for tracking and managing enterprise assets before being acquired. The company was founded in 1997 and established itself by offering an integrated wireless infrastructure for real-time location, messaging, and telemetry applications.
The core of its business was a Real-Time Locating System (RTLS) that utilized active RFID technology. This system included battery-powered wireless tags called "WhereTags," fixed-position "WhereLAN" sensors, and web-enabled software. The technology was designed for industrial environments, enabling clients to locate and monitor high-value assets with a high degree of accuracy over long ranges, sometimes exceeding a mile. WhereNet's solutions were adopted primarily by companies in the industrial manufacturing, transportation and logistics, and aerospace and defense sectors. Prominent clients included Ford Motor Company and APL, a global container shipping line. The business model encompassed hardware, middleware, application software, and associated services for project management and support.
A significant milestone in WhereNet's history was its acquisition by Zebra Technologies in January 2007 for approximately $126 million in cash. At the time of the acquisition, WhereNet was headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and had generated $36 million in sales in 2006. Following the acquisition, the plan was for WhereNet to operate as a separate business unit led by its then-CEO, Dan Doles, complementing Zebra's existing strengths in passive RFID and barcoding. The acquisition was seen as a strategic move by Zebra to enter the active RFID market and expand its asset-tracking solution portfolio.
Keywords: WhereNet, Zebra Technologies, real-time locating system, RTLS, active RFID, asset tracking, WhereTag, WhereLAN, wireless asset management, supply chain visibility, industrial manufacturing, transportation logistics, aerospace defense, Dan Doles, Ford Motor Company, APL, ISO 24730, material handling, yard management, enterprise assets