US internet technology giant Cisco has acquired Cork technology company ThinkSmart Technologies for an undisclosed deal. In a blog post, Cisco said the move will enable it to improve customer experience in public venues such as retail locations, hotels and airports.
ThinkSmart, initially formed at the Incubation Centre of University College Cork, joins Cisco’s Wireless Networking Group. The acquisition closed in the first quarter of Cisco’s fiscal year 2013, Cisco said.
“ThinkSmart Technologies, based in Cork, Ireland, is a software company that delivers location data analysis using Wi-Fi technology,” Cisco’s Hilton Romanski said.
“Together, Cisco and ThinkSmart will enhance the wireless network by providing location intelligence and analytics to service provider and enterprise customers to know what is happening in their environments and to better engage end users.
“ThinkSmart’s location analytics collects information on movement within a venue, including time of day, traffic patterns and dwell times. This information helps enterprises and venue operators improve the customer experience by identifying appropriate staffing levels, reducing wait times, optimising business processes, and improving customer flows.
“Cisco’s vision for mobility solutions will be accelerated by the acquisition of ThinkSmart, enabling customers to analyse location data from wireless networks and provide insight that can be used to drive new commercial opportunities and enhance end-user experiences,” Romanski said.
The Irish office of international law firm Maples and Calder said this morning it advised ThinkSmart on the acquisition.
“ThinkSmart’s market-leading technologies and products clearly illustrates Ireland’s vibrant technology sector today,” Maples and Calder’s Colm Rafferty said.
Wireless image via Shutterstock
