{{Short description|American software company}} {{Infobox company | logo = Cleo logo (2018).svg | name = Cleo Communications LLC | type = Privately held company | foundation = 1976 | location_city = Rockford, Illinois | location_country = United States | key_people = Mahesh Rajasekharan <small>(President and CEO)</small> | num_employees = 400 | industry = Software | homepage = [https://www.cleo.com www.cleo.com] }}

'''Cleo Communications LLC''', simply referred to as '''Cleo''', is a privately held software company founded in 1976. The company is best known for its ecosystem integration platform, Cleo Integration Cloud with RADAR.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RADAR Tool Allows Cleo Customers to Improve Customer Relationships with Real-Time SLA Resolution {{!}} CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly |url=https://www.supplychainquarterly.com/articles/6746-radar-tool-allows-cleo-customers-to-improve-customer-relationships-with-real-time-sla-resolution |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=www.supplychainquarterly.com |language=en}}</ref>

== History == Cleo originally began as a division of Phone 1 Inc., a voice data gathering systems manufacturer, and built data concentrators and terminal emulators — multi-bus computers, modems, and terminals to interface with IBM mainframes via bisynchronous communications. The company then began developing mainframe middleware in the 1980s, and with the rise of the PC, moved into B2B data communications and secure file transfer software.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JNJWAAAAMAAJ&q=cleo+%22phone+1%22 |title=Kelly/Grimes IBM PC compatible computer directory - Brian W. Kelly, Dennis J. Grimes - Google Books |date=2008-01-28 |isbn=9780471878193 |access-date=2015-04-02|last1=Kelly |first1=Brian W. |last2=Grimes |first2=Dennis J. |publisher=Wiley }}</ref>

Cleo Communications was acquired in 2012 by Global Equity Partners along with other investment companies.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 April 2012 |title=Globe Equity Partners buy Cleo |url=https://www.scmr.com/article/globe_equity_partners_buy_cleo |website=Supply Chain Management Review}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wursthorn |first=By Michael |date=2012-05-16 |title=Peterson Partners Provides $3.5M For CLEO Communications Buyout - WSJ |url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/DJFLBO0020120516e85gbkle1 |access-date=2025-10-07 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> Since being acquired in 2012, the company’s offerings have evolved into Cleo Integration Cloud,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180116006537/en/Introducing-Cleo-Integration-Cloud-Delivering-Enhanced-Cloud |title=Introducing Cleo Integration Cloud, Delivering Enhanced Cloud Experiences for the Modern Enterprise |publisher=Business Wire |date=2018-01-16 |access-date=2018-02-21}}</ref> a platform for enterprise business integration.

== Business == Based in Rockford, Illinois (USA), with offices in Chicago, Pennsylvania, London, and Bangalore, Cleo has about 400 employees and more than 4,100 direct customers.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}} The company's flagship offering, Cleo Integration Cloud, provides both on-premise and cloud-based integration technologies and comprises solutions{{buzzword inline|date=October 2020}} for B2B/EDI, application integration, data movement and data transformation. Previous products now incorporated into the Cleo Integration Cloud platform include Cleo Harmony, Cleo Clarify, and Cleo Jetsonic.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rrstar.com/article/20150708/NEWS/150709580/-1/json |title=Cleo announces new data solution - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL |publisher=Rrstar.com |access-date=2018-02-21}}</ref>

Cleo solutions{{buzzword inline|date=October 2020}} span a variety of industries, including manufacturing, logistics and supply chain, retail, third-party logistics, warehouse management and transportation management, healthcare, financial services and government.<ref name="indiatimes1">{{cite web|url=https://cio.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/cloud-computing/cleo-aims-to-help-enterprises-and-cios-to-overcome-cloud-implications/61726937 |title=Cleo: Cleo aims to help enterprises and CIOs overcome cloud implications, IT News, ET CIO |publisher=Cio.economictimes.indiatimes.com |date=2017-11-21 |access-date=2018-01-27}}</ref>

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs adopted Cleo's fax technology, Cleo Streem, in 2013 when in need of FIPS 140-2-compliant technology to protect information,<ref>[http://www.va.gov/TRM/ToolPage.asp?tid=6568 One-VA Technical Reference Model<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and the City of Atlanta has used Cleo Streem for network and desktop faxing since 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=&MeetingID=1232&MediaPosition=&ID=2816&CssClass= |title=13-R-3556 - City of Atlanta, Georgia |publisher=Atlantacityga.iqm2.com |date=2013-09-16 |access-date=2018-02-21}}</ref>

Cleo also serves U.S. transportation logistics company MercuryGate International<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rrstar.com/article/20140820/ENTERTAINMENTLIFE/140829886/10487/BUSINESS |title=Loves Park business selected to provide online services - Rockford Register Star |publisher=rrstar.com |date=2014-08-20 |access-date=2015-02-19}}</ref> and SaaS-based food logistics organization ArrowStream.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sdcexec.com/software-technology/news/12190801/cleo-acquires-extol |title=Cleo Acquires EXTOL |publisher=Sdcexec.com |date=2016-04-05 |access-date=2018-02-21}}</ref> It powers the architecture for several major supply chain companies, such as Blue Yonder and SAP.<ref>{{cite web|last=Grackin |first=Ann |url=http://searchmanufacturingerp.techtarget.com/tip/Smart-sensors-bring-the-supply-chain-to-life |title=Smart sensors bring the supply chain to life |work=SearchManufacturingERP |publisher=Searchmanufacturingerp.techtarget.com |access-date=2015-07-08}}</ref> Cleo integrates the pharmaceutical supply chain for such companies as Octapharma.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.healthdatamanagement.com/opinion/how-to-use-it-to-improve-healthcare-supply-chain-operations |title=How to use IT to improve healthcare supply chain operations |publisher=Health Data Management |date=2017-08-04 |access-date=2018-02-21}}</ref> Key partners include FourKites<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cleo and FourKites Partner to Increase Supply Chain Agility and Visibility for Global Logistics & Transportation Industry|url=https://www.cleo.com/news-cleo-and-fourkites-partner|access-date=2021-12-08|website=Cleo|date=26 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref> and ClientsFirst,<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Latest Clients First and Cleo Partnership|url=https://www.cleo.com/news/clientss-first-cleo-partnership-microsoft-dynamics-365|access-date=2021-12-08|website=Cleo|date=19 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref> among many others.

In May 2023, Cleo announced it entered a global partnership with consulting and multinational information technology services company, Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH). Together, the companies announced CCIB, powered by Cleo, which is a B2B iPaaS solution that provides B2B managed services with built-in, scalable infrastructure on the cloud. The solution comprises elements from Cleo’s flagship offering, Cleo Integration Cloud.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cleo, Cognizant Form Global Cloud Integration Partnership – Company Announcement - FT.com |url=https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=600-202305161000BIZWIRE_USPRX____20230516_BW5364-1 |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=markets.ft.com}}</ref>

== Expansion == In June 2014, Cleo opened an office in Chicago for members of its support and Ashok and teams.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://rockrivertimes.com/2014/07/16/cleo-continues-to-grow-expands-operations-into-chicago-office/ |title=Cleo continues to grow, expands operations into Chicago office {{!}} The Rock River Times<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2014-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717053732/http://rockrivertimes.com/2014/07/16/cleo-continues-to-grow-expands-operations-into-chicago-office/ |archive-date=2014-07-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2014, the company hired Jorge Rodriguez as Senior Vice President of Product Development<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/jorge-rodriguez-joins-cleo-as-senior-vice-president-of-product-development-2014-02-04 |title=Jorge Rodriguez Joins Cleo as Senior Vice President of Product Development |publisher=MarketWatch |date=2014-02-04 |access-date=2015-02-19}}</ref> and John Thielens as Vice President of Technology.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/john-thielens-joins-cleo-as-vice-president-of-technology-2014-01-31 |title=John Thielens Joins Cleo as Vice President of Technology |publisher=MarketWatch |date=2014-01-31 |access-date=2015-02-19}}</ref> Cleo hired Dave Brunswick as Vice President of Solutions{{buzzword inline|date=October 2020}} for North America in 2015,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rrstar.com/article/20150705/NEWS/150709917 |title=Cleo announces new hire - Rockford Register Star |publisher=rrstar.com |access-date=2015-07-08}}</ref> and Cleo hired Ken Lyons to lead global sales in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cleo.com/article/ken-lyons-joins-cleo-as-vice-president-of-enterprise-sales/|title = News: Ken Lyons Joins Cleo as Vice President of Enterprise Sales| work=Cleo | date=28 January 2016 }}</ref> Lyons now serves as the company's Chief Revenue Officer. More recent additions to the company's leadership team include Vipin Mittal,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cleo Accelerates Channel Strategy - Names Vipin Mittal as Vice President to Lead the Charge|url=https://www.cleo.com/news-cleo-names-vipin-mittal-vp-channel-sales|access-date=2021-12-08|website=Cleo|date=19 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Vice President, Customer Experience, and Tushar Patel,<ref>{{Cite web|title=News: Cleo Names Tushar Patel Chief Marketing Officer|url=https://www.cleo.com/news/cleo-names-tushar-patel-chief-marketing-officer|access-date=2021-12-08|website=Cleo|date=12 June 2018 |language=en}}</ref> CMO.

Cleo opened its product development facility in Bengaluru, India, in 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/500091/cleo-bengaluru-centre-plans-co.html |title=Cleo Bengaluru centre plans co-innovation |publisher=Deccanherald.com |date=2015-09-10 |access-date=2018-01-27}}</ref> and expanded its hybrid cloud integration teams into a new office there in 2017.<ref name="indiatimes1"/> The company also opened a London office in 2016 and expanded its network of channel partners in EMEA.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161213006100/en/Cleo-Welcomes-Mark-Seaman-Vice-President-Channels|title = Cleo Welcomes Mark Seaman as Vice President of Channels|date = 13 December 2016}}</ref>

In 2016, Cleo acquired EXTOL International, a Pottsville, Pa.-based business and EDI integration and data transformation company for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lvb.com/article/20160406/LVB01/160409929/pottsville-tech-firm-acquired-by-illinois-company |title=Pottsville tech firm acquired by Illinois company |publisher=LVB |date=2016-04-06 |access-date=2018-01-27}}</ref> In 2017, the company moved its headquarters from Loves Park, Illinois, to Rockford.<ref>{{cite news|author=Kayli Plotner |url=http://www.rrstar.com/news/20170408/cleo-moves-to-new-headquarters-in-southeast-rockford |title=Cleo moves to new headquarters in southeast Rockford - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL |publisher=Rrstar.com |date=2017-04-06 |access-date=2018-02-21}}</ref> In 2021 the company received a significant growth investment<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cleo Receives Strategic Growth Investment to Accelerate $5.5 Billion Ecosystem Integration Software Category|url=https://www.cleo.com/news-hig-capital-investment|access-date=2021-12-08|website=Cleo|date=8 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref> from H.I.G. Capital.

In July 2022, Cleo opened a new, 5,000-square-foot office<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cleo Opens New Chicago Office as Its Business Booms {{!}} Built In Chicago |url=https://www.builtinchicago.org/2022/07/19/cleo-opens-chicago-office-hiring |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=www.builtinchicago.org |language=en}}</ref> located in Chicago's Loop.

In November 2022, Cleo launched an accelerator for Microsoft Dynamics 365 SCM-to-X12 and a connector for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cleo Supercharges Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP Integrations with Out-of-the-Box EDI Automation {{!}} CSCMP's Supply Chain Quarterly |url=https://www.supplychainquarterly.com/articles/7378-cleo-supercharges-microsoft-dynamics-365-erp-integrations-with-out-of-the-box-edi-automation |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=www.supplychainquarterly.com |language=en}}</ref> These pre-built solutions allow businesses and users to quickly build integration flows that integrate their digital ecosystems. In March 2023, Cleo released CIC PAVE (Procurement Automation and Vendor Enablement).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=Steve |date=2023-03-14 |title=Cleo Improves Visibility and Control Over Supplier Ecosystem |url=https://www.enterprisetimes.co.uk/2023/03/14/cleo-improves-visibility-and-control-over-supplier-ecosystem/ |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=Enterprise Times}}</ref> PAVE provides customers with enhanced supply chain visibility via a supplier portal that allows the customer to keep vendor interaction in a single location, even if they cannot use EDI or have API-ready applications.

In December 2023, Cleo acquired ECS International, an integration technology company based in the Netherlands.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-15 |title=Cleo Acquires ECS International |url=https://www.channele2e.com/news/cleo-acquires-ecs-international |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=ChannelE2E |language=en}}</ref> == Certification == Cleo regularly submits its products to Drummond Group's interoperability software testing for AS2,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://drummondgroup.com/drummond-group-wraps-up-2017-with-16-as2-certified-products/ |title=Drummond Group Wraps Up 2017 with 16 AS2 Certified Products – Drummond Group |publisher=Drummondgroup.com |date=2018-01-10 |access-date=2018-02-21}}</ref> AS3<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.drummondgroup.com/index.php/newsevents/press-releases/341-as3-secure-messaging-products-are-drummond-certified-in-1q14-interoperability-test-event |title=AS3 Secure Messaging Products are Drummond Certified™ in 1Q14 Interoperability Test Event |publisher=Drummond Group |date=2014-02-19 |access-date=2014-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607011913/http://www.drummondgroup.com/index.php/newsevents/press-releases/341-as3-secure-messaging-products-are-drummond-certified-in-1q14-interoperability-test-event |archive-date=2014-06-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and ebMS 2.0.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.drummondgroup.com/index.php/newsevents/press-releases/339-newest-ebms-20-secure-messaging-products-are-drummond-certified |title=Newest ebMS 2.0 Secure Messaging Products are Drummond Certified™ |publisher=Drummond Group |date=2013-09-09 |access-date=2014-06-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607014013/http://www.drummondgroup.com/index.php/newsevents/press-releases/339-newest-ebms-20-secure-messaging-products-are-drummond-certified |archive-date=2014-06-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In January 2020, Cleo announced that its new application connector for Acumatica ERP has been recognized as an Acumatica-Certified Application (ACA).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kmworld.com/Articles/News/News/Cleo-becomes-Acumatica-certified-136234.aspx|title=Cleo becomes Acumatica certified|website=www.kmworld.com|date=27 January 2020 |access-date=2020-03-12}}</ref> The company also holds SOC 2, Type 2 certification.

== Awards == Cleo was a Xerox partner of the year award for five years, from 2009 to 2014. The Cleo Streem solution{{buzzword inline|date=October 2020}} integrates with Xerox multi-function products, providing customers with solutions{{buzzword inline|date=October 2020}} for network fax and interactive messaging needs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rrstar.com/article/20150330/NEWS/150339927/10447/NEWS |title=Cleo Wins Xerox Partner of the Year Award - News - Rockford Register Star |publisher=rrstar.com |access-date=2015-04-02}}</ref> Cleo was named to Food Logistics’ FL100+ Top Software and Technology Providers Lists in 2016, 2017, 2019 and [https://www.cleo.com/news-cleo-named-to-food-logistics-top-100 2020].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startup365.fr/cleo-honored-for-2nd-straight-year-for-outstanding-food-logistics-integration-solutions/ |title=Cleo Honored for 2nd Straight Year for Outstanding Food Logistics Integration Solutions - Startup 365 |work=Startup 365 |publisher=Startup365.fr |date=2017-12-18 |access-date=2018-02-21}}</ref>

Cleo CEO, Mahesh Rajasekharan was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2022 Midwest Award winner.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EY Announces Award Winners for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2022 Midwest Award |url=https://www.ey.com/en_us/news/2022/06/ey-announces-award-winners-for-the-eoy-2022-midwest-award |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=www.ey.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Rajasekharan is serving as a judge for the 2023 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of the Year Awards.

As of April 2022, Cleo has been named a Leader in EDI on the G2 Grid, a peer-to-peer review site, for 20 straight quarters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bluemner |first=Paul |date=2022-03-09 |title=Cleo Earns Top 10 Spot on G2's 2022 Best Software List for IT Infrastructure Software Category |url=https://www.citybiz.co/article/228537/cleo-earns-top-10-spot-on-g2s-2022-best-software-list-for-it-infrastructure-software-category/ |access-date=2023-04-19 |website=citybiz |language=en-US}}</ref> In Spring 2023, Cleo won 23 G2 awards—including EDI Leader Enterprise, MFT Leader Enterprise, On-Premise Data Integration Best Support Enterprise, and iPaaS High Performer Asia.

== References == {{Reflist|3}}

Category:EDI software companies Category:Software companies based in Illinois Category:Network management Category:Managed file transfer Category:File transfer protocols Category:Data management Category:Software companies of the United States