What Conex does

Conex SAS is a French-headquartered SaaS provider specializing in customs procedure management software, founded in 1985 by Alban Gruson and headquartered in Orchies, France. The company serves multinational importers, exporters, freight forwarders, and customs brokers, providing direct electronic data interchange (EDI) connectivity to customs administrations across the 27 EU member states and select non-EU jurisdictions. Operations are conducted through wholly-owned subsidiaries in Belgium (CONEX SRL), the United Kingdom (CONEX SYSTEMS LTD), and Ireland (CONEX SYSTEMS LIMITED), with the footprint extended to Denmark via the September 2024 acquisition of Lector, that market's leading customs software provider. The installed base exceeds 1,600 user sites and includes major logistics firms (DB Schenker, Kuehne+Nagel, Geodis, Dachser, FedEx), automotive manufacturers (Toyota), aerospace companies (Airbus), and retail enterprises (Decathlon).

The platform is built around two flagship products: CUSTOMS via conex™, which handles import, export, special procedures, ECS (Export Control System), NCTS (New Computerised Transit System), ICS2 (Import Control System 2), PNTS, S&S GB, GVMS, and EMCS declarations, and SAFE via conex™, which manages advance security declarations under the WCO SAFE Framework. Supporting offerings include DELTA (electronic customs declaration software), EMEBI (statistical and fiscal declarations), and a Customs Tariff Database incorporating NESH and Combined Nomenclature (NC8) classifications. The technology stack is a proprietary SaaS model delivered via secure browser-based access, hosted in EU datacenters, with annual updates aligned to evolving regulatory requirements. The company maintains active engagement in EU Commission TAXUD consultations, WCO standards development, and UN/CEFACT trade-facilitation projects, providing regulatory intelligence that feeds directly into product development.

Revenue is generated primarily through annual SaaS subscriptions priced on a quote-based, enterprise-licensing model tailored to organization size and requirements, supplemented by recurring professional services for consulting, implementation, training, hosting, and maintenance. The training function is delivered through the wholly-owned sister company ED Éditions, established in 2003. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales through the regional subsidiaries, reinforced by participation in WCO and EU regulatory events to build thought leadership. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The ownership structure is founder-led and private with no disclosed external institutional investors; Conex is a privately held group operating as a bootstrapped, organically grown European vertical SaaS business.

Name

Conex

Legal name

CONEX SAS

Website

https://conex.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Conex is a French-headquartered SaaS provider of customs procedure management and EDI platforms, serving multinational logistics, automotive, aerospace, and retail enterprises across the EU, UK, Ireland, and now Denmark via its Lector acquisition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Customs Compliance Software

akta.pro primary industry

Customs Declaration & Filing (Import/Export Entry) Platforms (TLAEAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Export Customs Clearance (Export Declarations & AES/EEI) (TLACAFAB), Regulated & Controlled Goods Clearance (FDA/USDA, Pharma, Chemicals, Dual-Use) (TLACAFAF), In-Transit & Special Regimes Processing (Transit, TIR/ATA Carnet, Temporary Import/Export) (TLACAFAJ)

Keywords

• Customs procedure software
• EDI customs exchange
• Tariff classification database
• Customs compliance software
• Import export declarations

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Subscriptions (SaaS): Conex generates revenue primarily through SaaS subscriptions for its customs management software platform, providing ongoing access to its CUSTOMS via conex™ and SAFE via conex™ solutions with regular updates and regulatory compliance support.
2. Professional Services: Revenue from consulting, training, hosting, and maintenance services. The company offers customs expertise, regulatory compliance consulting, software implementation, and training programs through its ED Éditions subsidiary.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Conex develops and operates a modular SaaS platform dedicated to customs procedure management, enabling the electronic processing and transmission of all customs declaration types — import, export, special procedures, ECS, NCTS, ICS2, PNTS, S&S GB, GVMS, and EMCS — between private operators and customs administrations. The company complements its software with a comprehensive Customs Tariff Database (NESH/NC8), DELTA and EMEBI declaration sub-products, and professional services including consulting, training (via sister company ED Éditions), hosting, and regulatory compliance support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CUSTOMS via conex™: Core customs procedure management software platform for import/export and special procedures
• SAFE via conex™
• DELTA
• EMEBI

Products and services

• CUSTOMS via conex™ Complete customs procedure management SaaS solution covering import, export, special procedures, ECS, NCTS, ICS2, PNTS, S&S GB, GVMS, and EMCS declarations. Provides automated processing of all customs operations in compliance with national and EU regulations, secured data management, EDI exchanges with administrations, customers and subsidiaries, and full audit trail and traceability. Designed for importers, exporters, freight forwarders, and customs brokers.
• SAFE via conex™ Advance security declaration management solution compliant with the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards. Supports ICS (EU Import Control System), S&S GB (UK Safety & Security), GVMS (UK Goods Vehicle Movement Service), AFR (Japan), and CRI (Israel). For organizations filing advance security and safety declarations across multiple jurisdictions.
• Customs Tariff Database (NESH / NC8) Comprehensive tariff classification database including NESH (Nomenclature d'Exportations et Substitution Douanière) and Combined Nomenclatures (NC8) for customs duty determination. Supports accurate duty calculation and product classification for traders, brokers, and customs operators.
• DELTA (DELTA G, T, X) Electronic customs declarations software with DELTA G, T, X variants dedicated to import and export declarations. For businesses filing import/export declarations through Conex's electronic customs environment.
• EMEBI Statistical and fiscal declaration solution for submitting EMEBI (Belgian intra-community statistical and fiscal) declarations. For companies engaged in intra-EU trade requiring Belgian statistical and fiscal reporting.
• EMCS Solution EMCS (Excise Movement and Control System) module for managing excise duty-suspended movements and electronic administrative documents (e-AD). For businesses in excise goods sectors (alcohol, tobacco, energy products).
• ICS2 / Pre-clearance Formalities Solution Solution for pre-customs clearance formalities, covering ICS (Import Control System) and ICS2 pre-arrival declarations and related formalities required before customs clearance. For logistics operators and traders filing pre-arrival security declarations.
• Conex Professional Services (Consulting, Hosting, Maintenance, Regulatory Information) Professional services offering customs consulting, hosted SaaS solutions, maintenance and helpdesk support, and regulatory information services. For enterprises implementing Conex software and seeking ongoing regulatory compliance support.
• ED Éditions Customs Training Programs Professional customs training programs delivered via sister company ED Éditions. Covers customs expertise and regulatory compliance training to complement Conex's software offerings. For customs practitioners, brokers, and trade compliance professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Increased productivity through automated customs data processing and reduced manual intervention
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Lector (Denmark)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 September 2024Acquisition of Lector, Denmark's leading customs software provider, representing Conex's international development strategy. This acquisition expands Conex's presence in the Nordic customs software market.
• ED ÉditionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003ED Éditions is a sister company specializing in professional customs training. Founded in 2003, it has been a training partner providing customs expertise training programs that complement Conex's software solutions.
• European Commission (TAXUD)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerConex actively participates in EU Commission consultations through the TAXUD department, engaging in early-stage regulatory development discussions and positioning the company to anticipate and influence customs policy changes.
• World Customs Organization (WCO)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerConex participates in WCO events with particular focus on international standards and the WCO Data Model, representing private sector interests and following future regulatory developments.
• UN/CEFACTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConex contributes to UN/CEFACT international trade facilitation and digitalization projects including the data pipeline and Single Submission Portal (SSP) initiatives, contributing expertise to develop tomorrow's standards.
• SELIS and CORE Research ProjectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded R&D projects focused on developing innovative solutions for the collaborative supply chain of the future. Conex worked alongside IT providers, research institutions, and supply chain stakeholders across Europe to develop cross-border data pipeline expertise.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• SAP Global Trade Services (GTS): SAP GTS is a broad enterprise suite covering customs management, trade compliance, and sanctioned-party screening — competes with Conex for global enterprise customers who prefer single-vendor ERP integration over best-of-breed.
• E2open: E2open is a large supply chain management platform offering trade compliance and customs capabilities as part of a broader portfolio — competes with Conex at the enterprise end but is a much broader suite play.
• Oracle Trade Compliance: Oracle offers global trade compliance and customs management modules within its broader application suite — a broad incumbent comparable on customs functionality though embedded in much larger ERP/cloud deployments.

Direct peers

• Descartes Systems Group: Descartes is a leading global provider of customs, trade compliance, and logistics technology software serving brokers, carriers, and enterprise traders — directly comparable to Conex's customs declaration and EDI platform offering.
• CargoWise (WiseTech Global): CargoWise is a global logistics execution platform with integrated customs declaration capabilities — a direct peer in customs software for freight forwarders and 3PLs, often competing for the same enterprise accounts as Conex.
• AEB (AEB SE): AEB provides customs management, export controls, and trade compliance software primarily in DACH and broader Europe — closely comparable product portfolio and customer base to Conex, especially in mid-market and enterprise.
• MIC Customs Solutions: MIC is a long-established European customs software specialist covering import/export declarations, transit, and tariff classification — a direct niche competitor with overlapping EU customer base and similar SaaS delivery model.
• Customs4trade: Customs4trade (formerly Amber Road's European business) offers customs declaration and trade compliance software focused on EU markets — a focused niche peer serving similar broker and enterprise customers.
• Webb Fontaine: Webb Fontaine provides customs and trade facilitation technology, including declaration platforms and single window solutions, to governments and private operators — overlapping in customs technology scope though with stronger government/government-tender exposure.

Emerging players

• Magaya Supply Chain: Magaya offers customs declaration and freight forwarding software with growing presence among mid-market forwarders and brokers — an emerging peer with partial overlap to Conex, particularly in trade execution workflows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/conex-customs
• Xx.com/conexcustoms

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Conex