W.W. Grainger Inc. acquired technology, intellectual property and talent assets from Adroit Worldwide Media (AWM), a technology solutions company, for $210 million in cash. According to the press release, the acquisition is expected to enhance the company's inventory management capabilities within its High-Touch Solutions – North America segment by adding differentiated frictionless technology for industrial B2B distribution. This new technology is expected to help customers lower their total cost of managing MRO inventory, improve product availability, and free up skilled labor for higher-value work.

Grainger will begin integration immediately and will work to launch a commercial pilot of this new capability over the next several months. The acquisition is not expected to contribute materially to near-term results.

According to information on AWM’s Linkedin profile, “AWM is the technology and manufacturing arm of AWM Fulfillment. It’s an AI/computer vision technology company with solutions for the global industrial supply, construction and retail verticals.

These solutions drive additional revenue and address problems critical to efficiency and accountability, disrupting the industry by enabling use cases not previously possible. AWM’s hardware and tech stack reinvents environments such as storerooms, toolrooms and stores by increasing throughput, reducing costs and providing transparency.

“On the job site is AWM Frictionless, the company's flagship AI offering, available as pre-fabricated shipping container environments (Quick Drop Units) with optional office space and off-grid solar, or as a retrofit in an existing building/space. Using cameras and sensors, AWM Frictionless streamlines checkout and check-in, usage tracking and invoicing/accounting, for substantial labor savings as well as up-to-date inventory tracking and replenishment reordering.”