Beacon
Beacon is an AI-powered supply chain workspace that aggregates shipment, contract, and invoice data across 160+ carriers and major ERPs for finance and operations teams at FMCG, manufacturing, and logistics companies. It monetizes via tiered SaaS subscriptions, was acquired by Clearwater Analytics in 2025, and operates globally from London and Hong Kong.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Beacon does
Beacon is a London-headquartered AI Supply Chain Workspace that aggregates fragmented freight and supply chain data into a unified workspace for finance and operations teams. The platform tracks containers across 160+ ocean, air, and road carriers covering approximately 98% of global ocean carriers and airlines, integrating with customer ERPs (SAP, Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, Sage, Descartes, Blue Yonder), spreadsheets, and BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, Snowflake). Core products include the Table AI workspace, Documents, Alerts, Live Boards, Maps, Comments, and Reports, supplemented by D&D Monitor, Invoice Verification, Contract Intelligence, and Network Performance modules that target the financial inefficiencies of freight operations (demurrage, detention, erroneous invoice payments, blind contract negotiations).
Beacon generates revenue primarily through tiered SaaS subscriptions (Starter at $16/month annually, Pro at $199/month annually, Enterprise on custom multi-year contracts) combined with usage-based container tracking credits valid for two years and premium report add-ons. The go-to-market is hybrid: product-led growth for SMB/mid-market with self-serve signup and a 7-day free trial, layered with an enterprise sales motion targeting complex supply chains in FMCG, food and beverage, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical sectors. Marquee customers include Tilda Rice, Fever-Tree, Clasen Quality Chocolate, Tata Consumer Products, GlucoRx, Minetek, UCC, Unilac, and Hyggi, with over 2,500 supply chain professionals using the platform globally across EMEA, Asia-Pacific, and North America.
Founded in 2018 by Fraser Robinson (former Uber EMEA operations leader) and Dmitri Izmailov, Beacon raised approximately $65M+ in venture funding including a $50M Series B in October 2021 led by Northstar.vc with Jeff Bezos and Marc Benioff. The company pivoted from digital freight forwarder to pure technology platform in 2025, acquired RealEstateAPI, and was acquired by Clearwater Analytics Holdings (NYSE: CWAN) for over $700M in a deal announced March 2025 and completed December 2025.
Beacon firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Beacon
- Legal name
- Beacon Technologies Ltd.
- Website
- https://beacon.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Beacon is an AI-powered supply chain workspace that aggregates shipment, contract, and invoice data across 160+ carriers and major ERPs for finance and operations teams at FMCG, manufacturing, and logistics companies. It monetizes via tiered SaaS subscriptions, was acquired by Clearwater Analytics in 2025, and operates globally from London and Hong Kong.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Beacon industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Supply Chain Visibility Software
- NAICS
- Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851), Support Activities for Transportation (488)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ocean Container Visibility (Vessel, Container, Demurrage/Detention) (TLAEADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Multimodal & Intermodal End-to-End Visibility (TLAEADAE), Real-Time Shipment Tracking & Map Visualization (TLAEADAA), Customer Visibility Portals & Shipment Collaboration (TLAEADAK)
Keywords
Where Beacon is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Beacon business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- SaaS Subscription (Tiered Plans): Beacon operates on a tiered SaaS subscription model with three main plans: Starter ($16/month billed annually), Pro ($199/month billed annually), and Enterprise (custom pricing). The subscription includes container tracking credits, with additional credits available for purchase. All credits are valid for two years from date of purchase.
- Usage-based Credits: Tracks containers across ocean, air, and road. Starter plan includes 2 credits per month, Pro includes 8 credits per month. Additional credits can be purchased as needed. The usage-based model allows scaling based on shipment volumes.
- Freemium Trial: 7-day free trial with unlimited tracking allows teams to experience the platform before subscribing. No credit card required. Designed to demonstrate value before conversion to paid tiers.
- Add-on Features: Premium reports including Essential Reports, Volume Tracking, Transit Time Analysis, Carbon Emissions Tracking, Supplier Performance Reports, D&D Analysis, Carbon Emissions Reports, Route Reliability Report, Port Congestion Report, and Ocean Spot Rate Index available as paid add-ons or included in higher tiers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free 7-day trial with unlimited tracking for new users |
| Subscription | Annual | Entry-level plan for small teams starting with supply chain visibility |
| Subscription | Annual | Mid-tier plan with advanced analytics and reporting for growing businesses |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Enterprise-scale plan with unlimited users and custom capabilities |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Beacon product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Beacon provides an AI-powered supply chain workspace that aggregates fragmented supply chain data (carrier portals, ERPs, spreadsheets, documents) into a unified platform, automatically tracking shipments across 160+ ocean, air, and road carriers. The platform combines visibility, collaboration, and automation tools—including D&D (demurrage and detention) monitoring, freight invoice verification, contract intelligence, and live shipment boards—into a single workspace used by supply chain, finance, and operations teams at manufacturing, FMCG, food & beverage, and logistics companies.
Product overview
Beacon is an AI Supply Chain Workspace—a unified platform combining visibility, collaboration, and automation tools. The core platform consists of seven integrated products: Table (AI workspace), Documents, Alerts, Live Boards, Maps, Comments, and Reports. These are supplemented by specialized modules including D&D Monitor, Invoice Verification, Contract Intelligence, and Network Performance for financial and operational control. The platform tracks 160+ ocean, air, and road carriers automatically, connecting to customers' ERPs (SAP, Oracle NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics), spreadsheets (Excel, Google Sheets), and BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, Snowflake). Pricing is tiered with Starter (free), Pro, and Enterprise plans.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Table AI-powered workspace that allows supply chain teams to upload purchase orders, container numbers, and documents. Functions like a familiar spreadsheet but automatically updates with real-time data from 160+ carriers, sends automated milestone alerts, stores documents, and enables team communication for supply chain, finance, and operations professionals.
- Documents Document management module that keeps vital shipping documents (bills of lading, packing lists, customs paperwork) connected to purchase orders and shipments, eliminating lost paperwork and enabling storage and sharing alongside shipment data for supply chain teams.
- Alerts Automated notification system that alerts teams when shipment milestone changes occur, including arrivals, departures, delays, and schedule changes across all carriers. Reduces manual tracking workload for supply chain and operations teams.
- Live Boards Collaborative workspace segmentation tool that allows users to segment shipments into groups for different teams, create filtered views, and share with stakeholders via bookmarkable URLs with permission controls. Used by supply chain, operations, warehouse, and customer teams to focus on relevant shipments.
- Maps Real-time shipment visualization tool displaying global shipment locations on an interactive map, providing geographic context for supply chain operations and the ability to see shipment status worldwide at any moment.
- Comments Team communication and collaboration feature that keeps conversations connected to POs or shipments, centralizing communication alongside tracking updates and eliminating email chains for supply chain teams.
- Reports
Quantifiable outcome
- Most customers recover the cost of Beacon in their first quarter through D&D charge prevention
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Beacon
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Beacon technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration19 records
AI capability7 records
Feature10 records
Beacon partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Clasen Quality Chocolate (CQC)coreWisconsin-based Clasen Quality Chocolate invested in Beacon's supply chain software to manage global cocoa operations. The investment replaced a manual process of logging into individual carrier portals and re-entering shipment data into spreadsheets, consolidating container and ETA information into a single workspace for sourcing, supply chain, production, and finance teams.
- Clearwater AnalyticsflagshipClearwater Analytics announced acquisition of Beacon and Blackstone's Bistro in March 2025, valued at over $700 million. The acquisition aimed to create an integrated cloud-based platform for private and public assets, enhancing portfolio modeling, risk management, and operational efficiency for institutional investors and asset managers. Beacon was subsequently acquired by QXO as part of QXO's acquisitions.
- QXOflagshipQXO acquired Beacon as part of its strategy to grow into a $50 billion company. QXO is a company integrating major acquisitions including Beacon, Kodiak, and TopBuild. The acquisition is viewed positively by branch managers who value technological advancements and company vision.
- RealEstateAPIminorBeacon acquired RealEstateAPI, a U.S.-based property data platform, in an eight-figure deal. RealEstateAPI was built without venture capital and reached multi-million-dollar annual recurring revenue with over 300 enterprise customers before acquisition.
- Carrier Partners (160+)coreBeacon integrates with 160+ ocean and air carriers including MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, ONE, OOCL, Qatar Airways, Hamburg Sud, American Airlines, RCL, and others. These integrations enable automatic shipment tracking, ETA updates, and milestone notifications without manual portal checking.
- ERP and TMS IntegrationscoreBeacon integrates with major ERP and TMS platforms including SAP, Oracle NetSuite, Sage, Microsoft Dynamics, Descartes, and Blue Yonder. The platform also connects with spreadsheet and BI tools including Google Sheets, Excel, Power BI, Tableau, and Snowflake, enabling data consolidation without ripping out existing systems.
- Forwarder PartnerscoreMajor freight forwarders including Kuehne+Nagel, DHL Global Forwarding, DSV, DB Schenker, Maersk, CEVA Logistics, and C.H. Robinson are connected to Beacon's platform. Forwarders can use Beacon to provide enhanced visibility services to their customers, improving customer satisfaction and reducing manual update workload.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Beacon competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Project44: Direct competitor offering multimodal supply chain visibility across ocean, road, rail, and air with similar carrier integrations and shipment tracking functionality. Closely aligned business model and target customers.
- FourKites: Direct competitor providing real-time transportation visibility and predictive ETA across ocean, road, rail, and air. Overlaps Beacon in carrier integrations, dynamic ETAs, and enterprise shipper customer base.
- Shippeo: European-headquartered direct competitor offering multimodal real-time transportation visibility. Strong overlap with Beacon in carrier integrations, ETA predictions, and shipper/forwarder customer segments.
- GoComet: Direct competitor providing multimodal shipment visibility and freight procurement tools. Competes head-to-head with Beacon on container tracking and ETA management for shippers.
- Wakeo: Direct competitor focused on real-time multimodal visibility for shippers and forwarders. Overlaps with Beacon on ocean and air tracking, ETA analytics, and forwarder enablement.
Emerging players
- Vizion API: Container visibility API provider offering ocean shipment tracking via carrier integrations. Partial overlap with Beacon's container tracking capability, more focused on developer/API layer than full workspace.
- MarineTraffic: Vessel tracking platform using AIS data for ocean visibility. Comparable to Beacon's ocean layer but lacks Beacon's workspace, D&D, and invoice verification functionality.
- Everstream Analytics: Supply chain risk and visibility analytics provider overlapping with Beacon's predictive and risk-focused use cases. Differs by emphasizing risk event prediction over operational workspace.
Broad incumbents
- Descartes Systems Group: Broad logistics technology incumbent offering TMS, visibility, and customs software. Has its own multimodal visibility product and is a Beacon integration partner, representing both overlap and partnership.
Regional players
- Kuehne+Nagel mySupplyChain: Customer-facing visibility offering from one of the world's largest forwarders (also a Beacon partner). Represents both a distribution channel and a competitor for shipper-facing visibility tools in EMEA and globally.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Beacon social profiles
Digital presenceBeacon compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Beacon financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Beacon leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Beacon subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Beacon funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors11 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Beacon 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 Beacon
What does Beacon do?
Beacon provides an AI-powered supply chain workspace that aggregates fragmented supply chain data (carrier portals, ERPs, spreadsheets, documents) into a unified platform, automatically tracking shipments across 160+ ocean, air, and road carriers. The platform combines visibility, collaboration, and automation tools—including D&D (demurrage and detention) monitoring, freight invoice verification, contract intelligence, and live shipment boards—into a single workspace used by supply chain, finance, and operations teams at manufacturing, FMCG, food & beverage, and logistics companies.
Is Beacon a public or private company?
Beacon is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Beacon founded?
Beacon was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Beacon based?
Beacon is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Beacon make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. SaaS Subscription (Tiered Plans) is the primary driver. The others are usage-based Credits, freemium Trial and add-on Features.
Who are Beacon's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Project44, FourKites, Shippeo, GoComet and Wakeo. Emerging players are Vizion API, MarineTraffic and Everstream Analytics. Descartes Systems Group is listed as a broad incumbent. Kuehne+Nagel mySupplyChain is listed as a regional player.
Does Beacon have an API?
Yes. Beacon offers API and webhook access to its supply chain platform, enabling developers to connect Beacon data to existing systems and workflows. API and webhook access is available on the Pro tier and above. Full API documentation is available as a PDF at https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/64887138ea0f1ecbd3a86038/6989bd8a754a60f996b592e1_Beacon%20API%20Documentation%202026.pdf Developer documentation is at cdn.prod.website-files.com/64887138ea0f1ecbd3a86038/6989bd8a754a60f996b592e1_Beacon%20API%20Documentation%202026.pdf.
What industry is Beacon in?
Beacon's product category is Supply Chain Visibility Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAEADAF, Ocean Container Visibility (Vessel, Container, Demurrage/Detention), with a secondary code of TLAEADAE, Multimodal & Intermodal End-to-End Visibility. Its NAICS code is 48851 and its SIC code is 4731.