by Timothy Schafer
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Nelson Daily
Less than five years after the city welcomed the arrival of Traction on Demand the business started by a former Nelsonite has been sold.
A definitive agreement has been signed between the Burnaby-based software firm Traction on Demand and its partner, Salesforce.com Inc., to acquire the international company — with a presence in Australia, New Zealand, India and the U.S. — that has over 500 employees across B.C.
With the announcement on Friday through a press release on the company’s website, there has been no mention of any company layoffs or office closures, including the Nelson office — that employs eight people across the Kootenay region — which just opened last summer in the former Legion building at 402 Victoria St.
There will be more news to share when the acquisition closes, noted the release, and the terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed.
“For now, nothing is changing and it’s business as usual,” the release explained. “After the transaction closes, we will share more about the product roadmap and what it means for Traction on Demand and Salesforce.”
What the sale does mean is Traction on Demand will become part of Salesforce professional services, which along with Salesforce partners, will help people with the Salesforce Customer 360 platform.
Traction on Demand was a software firm that helped companies stage marketing strategies using Salesforce’s customer relationship management services.
In 2018 Traction on Demand launched the Small Town Initiative to create employment opportunities outside of traditional tech hubs and urban centres like Vancouver, and company CEO Greg Malpass, the born-and-raised Nelsonite, chose his hometown to start it off.
The initiative was intended to create an industry where it previously did not exist.
“We see this as an opportunity to build up the tech talent in this area, while supporting and contributing to the community,” said Malpass at the time in an interview with The Nelson Daily.
“These offices not only create alternative career opportunities, but also generate a more diverse work force and support the revitalization of small towns.”
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