Directed Technologies acquires Sofihub, boosts safety solutions

Australian company Directed Technologies has announced the acquisition of Sofihub, a specialist in assisted monitoring and living technologies.

This strategic move will incorporate Sofihub's technology and team into the Directed Group's fleet and retail customer base, enhancing the capabilities offered to their clients.

The acquisition will enable Directed Technologies to deploy Sofihub's wearable and monitoring products designed to enhance driver safety both in and out of the vehicle. These products will be integrated into Directed’s e.things platform, offering a unified interface for fleet managers to track, monitor, and gain actionable insights on vehicles, assets, and now personnel. Sofihub’s health-tech solutions will expand Directed Technologies' telematics and fleet monitoring ecosystem, enhancing the safety of mobile workers irrespective of their location, and providing real-time emergency support for vulnerable users in times of need.

Among the products to be deployed are Sofihub's wearable monitoring devices, such as security pendants equipped with alarms and fall alert systems, which also have two-way communication capabilities. This will significantly improve safety measures for workers in last-mile delivery and emergency services during their shifts.

This development will also allow Directed Technologies to expand its smart home portfolio within the smart living and assistive technology space. Directed Electronics, a subsidiary of the Directed Group, distributes electronics products to over 25,000 retail outlets in Australia. With this acquisition, the company aims to build on Sofihub's established presence in the healthcare and aged care sectors, along with its thousands of existing users.

Directed Group CEO, Steve Siolis, commented on the acquisition, saying, "With Australia's aging population and the growing strain on healthcare resources, there is a significant opportunity for innovation through smart technology and connected services to transform independent living. While Sofihub has thousands of connected active devices both here and abroad, we see a significant opportunity to drive strong growth in the business based on our proven brand leadership record and diverse channels to market."

Siolis further added, "Sofihub’s proven track record in providing non-intrusive, reliable monitoring systems aligns with our strategic goals of enhancing the quality of living through advanced technological solutions. Be it for mobile workers, carers, or families who require additional live-at-home solutions for our cherished elders, Sofihub's capabilities enhance the safety and independence of elderly and disabled individuals as well as lone workers."

Sofihub offers a range of intelligent solutions, including the TEQ-FallsAlert for real-time fall detection and the TEQ-Secure safety pendants with 4G GPS tracking and Personal Duress Alarm for Lone Workers and At-Risk Employees. Following the acquisition, Sofihub’s staff will join the Directed Technologies team, with Sofihub COO, Alex Boyd, assuming the role of General Manager.

Brent Stafford, Executive Director of Directed Technologies, highlighted the benefits for existing customers, stating, "We support fleets across APAC and as far afield as South Africa and Mexico, and a common theme we see is the workload of fleet managers can be overwhelming. The load is immense; however, duty of care to workers and their safety commendably remains their number one priority. A fleet manager's duty of care to their workers doesn't stop when they leave their vehicles, so it's critical their monitoring solutions don’t either."

Stafford further noted, "By acquiring Sofihub, we can provide further real-time monitoring options that can enhance emergency support for vulnerable users in times of need. In addition to boosting safety, we can also provide fleet managers a unified view of their drivers, along with the vehicle telematics and asset monitoring within our existing e.things platform."

The acquisition was communicated to Careteq investors, and the transition period is currently underway.