Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software vendor SSA Global Technologies, Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire EXE Technologies, the Dallas-based provider of warehouse management and supply chain execution systems.

The sale is expected to close by the end of the year.

"There is a paradigm shift going on," said Mike Greenough, president and CEO of SSA. "SSA GT is the first company serving the mid-market industry that is positioned to offer best-of-breed solutions, such as EXE, that can extend the value of ERP systems, provide a lower cost of ownership and create significant business value for our customers."

The merger represents a change of fortunes for EXE, once the number two WMS provider. Meanwhile, SSA GT has been on an acquisition and growth binge, purchasing interBiz, Elevon, Ironside Technologies, Infinium Software, BPCS and Baan.

While EXE has expertise in several verticals, including third-party logistics, grocery, and catalog distributors, industry analysts expect SSA to focus sales and marketing efforts on its installed base of mid-market manufacturers.

"SSA has 16,000 manufacturers as customers," says Jeff Woods, principal analyst, Gartner. "That's a huge base, and selling to that market alone is a viable business strategy."