FlowFox
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersHamburg, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
FlowFox firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FlowFox
- Legal name
- FlowFox GmbH
- Website
- https://flowfox.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FlowFox industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Logistics Automation Software
- NAICS
- Marine Cargo Handling (48832), Water Transportation (483)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF) (TLACABAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Trade Compliance & Ocean Regulatory Services (Sanctions/Export Controls) (TLACABAL)
Keywords
Where FlowFox is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
FlowFox business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ocean Carrier Subscription Contracts: Custom negotiated pricing model for ocean carriers with tailored contracts based on individual needs, delivering automation, efficiency gains, and cost savings per container processed.
- Importer Platform Access (Freemium): Core product is free for importers with a small annual KYB (Know Your Business) verification fee of $95 per year to ensure secure account verification linking business identity to banking details.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Free Access for Importers with KYB Verification |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Custom Negotiated Model for Ocean Carriers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
FlowFox product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FlowFox builds and operates ImportFlow, a cloud-based import automation platform that connects ocean carriers and importers to automate container release processing, drop-off depot assignment and changes, and container reuse requests in real time. The platform applies standardized business logic across local security protocols (CPU, SCR, Secure Chain) and integrates with carrier systems via API, EDI middleware, or pre-built RPA modules to eliminate manual email-based coordination.
Product overview
FlowFox is a unified global container import automation platform connecting ocean carriers and importers. The core product is ImportFlow, which provides end-to-end automation of import container workflows including Container Release Automation, Drop-Off Depot Change Automation, and Container Reuse Automation. The platform eliminates manual email coordination by applying standardized business logic for real-time processing of release requests, drop-off assignments, and container reuse approvals. Ocean carriers can integrate via API (preferred option) or middleware for non-API systems. The platform integrates with local security protocols including CPU, SCR, and Secure Chain for standardized global operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ImportFlow Cloud-based automation platform that connects ocean carriers and importers to automate container release, drop-off depot assignment and changes, and container reuse requests in real time. Built for global freight forwarders, importers, and ocean carriers requiring standardized import workflows across regions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Saves $20+ per container for ocean carriers through elimination of manual processes and disputes
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use FlowFox
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
FlowFox technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
FlowFox partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Hapag-LloydflagshipFlagship pilot partnership launched June 2024 to automate import container releases. The pilot is being launched simultaneously in France and Germany with cross-border shipments via Dutch and Belgian ports. Over first three months, closed testing environment ensures robust, error-free application before broader customer and country roll-out.
- Kuehne+NagelflagshipStrategic pilot partner for Flowfox automation in France, aligned with Kuehne+Nagel's Roadmap 2026 and customer focus strategy. Pilot aims to significantly automate import processes and elevate overall customer experience.
- Fr. Meyer's Sohn (FMS)coreGlobal importer and proof-of-concept partner in Germany conducting two PoCs (December 2021 - February 2022 and May 2022 - July 2022) validating automated import container workflows including releases, drop-off changes, and container reuses with two major ocean carriers.
- SMDG (Ship Message Development Group)coreKey industry partnership for standardizing EDI messages for global container shipping. Flowfox collaborates with SMDG to ensure compliance with industry messaging standards.
- DCSA (Digital Container Shipping Association)coreCollaboration on standardizing APIs for container shipping. While not an official partner yet, Flowfox contributes to and supports DCSA API standardization efforts.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
FlowFox competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CargoSmart: CargoSmart provides a container shipping community platform serving ocean carriers and shippers with visibility, documentation, and EDI/API integrations — the closest direct competitor to FlowFox in automating ocean container workflows.
- e2open: e2open (which acquired INTTRA, the container shipping network co-founded by FlowFox advisor Michael Nielsen) operates a global supply chain platform with deep ocean carrier integrations — a direct competitor with substantially more scale and breadth.
Broad incumbents
- Descartes Systems Group: Descartes is a large logistics technology vendor offering ocean carrier EDI/API gateways, customs, and visibility — overlapping with FlowFox's integration engine across a much broader product portfolio.
- IBS Software: IBS Software sells logistics and container management platforms to ocean carriers and large shippers, including automation of documentation and release workflows — a broader incumbent with overlapping capabilities.
Emerging players
- Project44: Project44 is a supply chain visibility platform with ocean carrier tracking and API integrations; it competes with FlowFox on container-level visibility and is expanding into workflow automation.
- FourKites: FourKites provides predictive supply chain visibility across ocean, road, rail, and air, including container-level tracking — overlapping with FlowFox's importer-side value proposition.
- Vizion API: Vizion API offers container tracking APIs sourced from ocean carriers, competing with FlowFox on the integration and visibility layer for importers and forwarders.
- Portcast: Portcast provides predictive container tracking and visibility for ocean shippers, partially overlapping with FlowFox's importer-facing workflows in Asia–Europe lanes.
- Magaya: Magaya offers a logistics platform with freight forwarding, customs, and container tracking capabilities for SMB forwarders — overlapping with FlowFox's importer-side automation.
- Kontainers: Kontainers (now part of Descartes) sells digital freight forwarding and instant quoting tools to forwarders — adjacent to FlowFox's automation of the importer-side container release workflow.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
FlowFox social profiles
Digital presenceFlowFox financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FlowFox leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
FlowFox funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FlowFox M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FlowFox
What does FlowFox do?
FlowFox builds and operates ImportFlow, a cloud-based import automation platform that connects ocean carriers and importers to automate container release processing, drop-off depot assignment and changes, and container reuse requests in real time. The platform applies standardized business logic across local security protocols (CPU, SCR, Secure Chain) and integrates with carrier systems via API, EDI middleware, or pre-built RPA modules to eliminate manual email-based coordination.
Is FlowFox a public or private company?
FlowFox is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was FlowFox founded?
FlowFox was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is FlowFox based?
FlowFox is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does FlowFox make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Ocean Carrier Subscription Contracts are the primary driver. The others are importer Platform Access (Freemium).
Who are FlowFox's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CargoSmart and e2open. Broad incumbents are Descartes Systems Group and IBS Software. Emerging players are Project44, FourKites, Vizion API, Portcast, Magaya and Kontainers.
Does FlowFox have an API?
Yes. FlowFox offers a direct API integration for ocean carriers enabling real-time bidirectional data exchange for processing container releases, drop-off changes, and reuse requests while keeping carrier systems updated. For carriers without API support, FlowFox provides middleware that accepts CSV files or standard EDI messages (COREOR, IFTMAN, etc.) and converts them into API-ready data. The API is the preferred and fastest integration option for ocean carriers.
What industry is FlowFox in?
FlowFox's product category is Logistics Automation Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLACABAE, Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF), with a secondary code of TLACABAL, Trade Compliance & Ocean Regulatory Services (Sanctions/Export Controls). Its NAICS code is 48832 and its SIC code is 4731.