WiseTech Global buys ABM and CustomsMatters

December 21, 2017: Global logistics software group WiseTech Global has recently acquired two European customs solutions providers%u2014 ABM Data Systems and CustomsMatters, both based in Dublin.

According to reports, ABM Data Systems is a leading developer and provider of customs clearance solutions accredited for the UK, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden and Germany. Similarly, CustomsMatters is a leading customs solution provider based in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

ABM Data offers advanced solutions across customs clearance, bonded warehouse and point of delivery management. Its customers include Expeditors, UPS, DSV, Yusen, JAS, Tigers, Heavey RF, and several exporters, customs brokers, freight forwarders, distributors and logistics service providers.

CustomsMatters offers e-customs solutions through its cloud-hosted customs compliance platform, myCustoms, and customs brokerage and consulting services to customers including DHL, UPS, OAG Cargo, SwissPort, WFS, Aramex, Sisk Healthcare, G&J Distillers, Dairygold, Geodis and many other organisations and logistics providers.

Richard White, CEO of WiseTech Global said, "With the potential for increased complexity as changes in the Brexit and EU evolve, WiseTech's ability to provide deeply integrated customs clearance solutions eventually reduces risk and costs while improving productivity, security and compliance at the borders."

"In all, these transactions provide WiseTech with market leadership and execution ability across Ireland, and add further insights into European customs, which is a key foundation for various challenges ahead," he said.

"Regardless of %u2018hard borders', or how %u2018frictionless trade' plays out, our speed to market for automated and integrated customs solutions and highly scalable capacity will ensure we can help logistics providers across Europe meet the regulatory challenges and exponential volume growth to come," said White.

Customs clearance management needs rich software, effective integration and a deep understanding of regulatory requirements to enable on-time, on-budget, accurate compliance.

As volumes, complexity and compliance requirements increase across the global supply chain, effective customs clearance solutions that can ease the burden on logistics providers, mitigate risk and boost productivity become critical.

"Our continued expansion of our European footprint, by adding customs market leadership in Ireland and broader pan-European capability, will, over time, substantially increase productivity for all our customers," he said.

"We have worked with the ABM Data team for years, and now it's the right time to bring them into the WiseTech Global family. Their technology capability, deep pan-European customs knowledge and agile product development team will be applied to our Universal Customs Engine to accelerate and facilitate rapid customs localisations and next-generation development," said White.

Stewart Bourke, MD of ABM Data said, "We have a shared vision with WiseTech for a deeply integrated global customs solution, and by joining the WiseTech group, we can leverage the global strength and powerful innovation capability of WiseTech, to accelerate development opportunities across Europe. ABM Data and WiseTech Global will together focus on delivering significant and far-reaching improvements in customs declarations management and cross-border compliance."

White said, "Customs clearance is a complex process with growing transaction volumes, rapidly changing legal requirements, and significant potential penalties. With CustomsMatters' deep historical experience in Ireland and the UK, and their award-winning customs management solutions, we are looking forward to working together with both EU and the UK authorities to enable our customers in the region to effectively manage cross-border operations during and after Brexit."

CustomsMatters Managing Director of Stephen Tracey said, "Becoming part of the WiseTech Global group with its vision and extensive reach across the global supply chain is an exciting step forward for CustomsMatters. We will be able to develop more powerful, integrated and automated functionality for our customers. With CargoWise One's significant customs capabilities our brokerage and compliance team will be able enhance our service offering in Ireland and elsewhere."