LLamasoft welcomes Local Orbit as officemate in former Google space

Still settling into its new McKinley Towne Centre digs, Ann Arbor supply chain management firm LLamasoft welcomed a new officemate when local supply-chain startup Local Orbit moved in earlier this month.

Sharing Google's former downtown office space with an up-and-comer helps the veteran firm maintain entrepreneurial roots that are part of its corporate values, according to LLamasoft CEO Don Hicks.

"We welcome the opportunity to work closely with organizations that are offering emerging and disruptive technologies, so that we can innovate and further the field together," Hicks says.

Since launching in 1998, LLamasoft has opened offices on six continents and employs about 400 people worldwide, more than 150 of them in Ann Arbor.

Over the past three years, the company has grown by more than 130 percent. It made the move to 201 S. Division in June, where open and collaborative workspaces left behind by Google were a natural fit for LLamosoft's workplace philosophy.

"The new office allows us ample space to continue to grow our team, especially as LLamasoft expands our technologies and solutions throughout the remainder of 2016 and into 2017," Hicks says.

LLamasoft's software and solutions help large, complex organizations realize savings in cost, service, sustainability, and risk within their supply chain network.

Founded in 2011, Local Orbit's nine-person team offers software and solutions that help food service buyers and suppliers support their supply chains with a focus on locally-sourced and sustainable foods.

"The food and beverage industry is a key area of focus for LLamasoft, and one that, much like retail, is facing a number of changes with the evolution of customer needs," Hicks says. "By working together we expect to discover new ways to approach common challenges and foster innovation."

Upcoming collaborations between the companies include a November workshop on local food economies hosted by Local Orbit at LLamasoft's event space. The event is expected to draw attendees from around the country and will feature a panel discussion including LLamasoft's executive vice president Toby Brzoznowski.

Photo by Doug Coombe.