What 3rdwave does

3rdwave is a Toronto-based global trade management software provider serving importers, exporters, and logistics service providers engaged in international shipping. Its core offering is the 3rdwave Shipment Execution Platform, a unified platform-plus-modules architecture spanning a Trade Compliance suite (Automated Customs Management, Master Data Management, ISF Management) and a Transportation suite (Shipment Planning, Shipment Execution, Inbound Management, Port Management, Freight Contract Management, and a forthcoming CO2 Management module). The platform's differentiating design principle is a "Product-at-Core" operational model that connects products, shipments, documents, rules, constraints, and events into one causal model, enabling product- and SKU-level container visibility, reliable ETAs, exception management, demurrage/detention tracking, and automated translation of operational data into customs data.

Technologically, 3rdwave layers generative and agentic AI atop this operational model, connecting corporate language models to live shipment and product data to deliver grounded answers, causal chain (cause-and-effect) analysis, and executable actions rather than static reporting. The AI relies on third-party/corporate language models grounded in 3rdwave's proprietary structured data model rather than in-house foundation models. The company originated in 1988 as an internally developed enterprise solution for one of Canada's largest independent food importer/exporters and has spent roughly 30 years building domain-specific trade and transportation capabilities.

The business operates a subscription/SaaS revenue model sold to mid-market and enterprise international shippers via a direct enterprise field-sales motion ("Request a Demo" / "Connect with an expert"), supplemented by inside sales; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is supported by an extensive content-and-education engine (blog, webinars, knowledge base, the Trade Talks podcast, and case studies). The company is privately held, appears family-led (CEO David Blinick, CTO Josh Blinick, Co-Founder Ned Blinick), has 11–50 employees, and serves customers ranging from Fortune 500 companies to SMEs across automotive, aerospace and defense, pharma and biotech, wine and spirits, food, and manufacturing verticals, primarily across the U.S. and Canada.

Name

3rdwave

Legal name

3rdwave

Website

https://3rdwave.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

3rdwave provides an AI-powered global trade management and shipment execution SaaS platform delivering product-level container visibility, customs automation, and trade compliance to mid-market and enterprise international shippers, importers, and exporters across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Global Trade Management Software

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Trade Compliance & Ocean Regulatory Services (Sanctions/Export Controls) (TLACABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Customs Brokerage for Ocean Shipments (Import/Export Clearance) (TLACABAG), Ocean Import Forwarding (Destination Handling/DO/ISF) (TLACABAE), Ocean Export Forwarding (Booking/VGM/SI/BL) (TLACABAF)

Keywords

• Global trade management
• Trade compliance software
• Shipment execution platform
• Customs management software
• Supply chain visibility

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Platform SaaS/Subscription: 3rdwave operates as a SaaS platform providing international shipping execution and trade compliance software. The platform is sold on a subscription basis to international shippers, with pricing based on platform access and functionality. The case study mentions significant broker fee elimination for customers (six-figure annual savings), suggesting the platform delivers measurable ROI that justifies subscription costs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

3rdwave provides an AI-powered Shipment Execution Platform for international shippers, importers, and exporters that combines product-level container visibility, trade compliance automation (customs, ISF, master data), and transportation execution (shipment planning, port management, freight contract oversight). The platform connects products, shipments, rules, and events into a single operational model, using generative and agentic AI to deliver causal analysis, exception management, and reliable ETAs for full-container-load importers.

Product overview

3rdwave is a Shipment Execution Platform built as a unified platform-plus-modules architecture designed for international shippers. The core platform (now in version 2.0) provides product-level visibility, causal AI intelligence, and integrated execution management, while individual modules handle specific functions: Trade Compliance suite (Automated Customs Management, Master Data Management, ISF Management) and Transportation suite (Shipment Planning, Shipment Execution, Inbound Management, Port Management, Freight Contract Management, CO2 Management). The platform connects products, shipments, rules, constraints, and events into one operational model, enabling users to plan early, observe what is happening at every stage, and respond in real time to ensure favorable outcomes. The 3rdwave AI layer sits atop the platform, connecting corporate language models to live operational data to deliver generative and agentic AI capabilities for supply chain execution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 3rdwave 2.0 Shipment Execution Platform Major version upgrade of 3rdwave's core platform delivering real-time, product-level container visibility for high-stakes international shippers. It provides SKU-level tracking inside each container, reliable ETAs, exception management, and continues to deliver trade compliance, customs, ISF automation, landed cost management, freight contract oversight, customs brokerage coordination, and full transportation execution. Built for midsized and large importers moving full-container loads in automotive, furniture, apparel, CPG, and pharmaceutical industries.
• 3rdwave AI AI layer that connects corporate language models to real products and shipments, transforming AI from a reporting tool into an operational partner. Provides causal chain analysis (cause and effect), contextual awareness, and intelligent exception management for the global supply chain. Enables users to ask any question with grounded answers and executable actions.
• Automated Customs Management Automates the translation of operations data into customs data, dramatically reducing work effort. Compliance is generated from validated operational data, eliminating errors, inconsistencies, delays, and penalties in the customs filing process for international shippers and importers.
• Master Data Management (MDM) Provides control over all Product- and Account-related data to support trade compliance needs, including HTS codes, Countries of Origin, MIDs, and other critical trade data attributes for international importers and exporters.
• Shipment Planning Coordinates with vendors, carriers, and forwarders to establish meaningful execution plans against which teams can monitor progress and receive alerts to delays for international logistics operations.
• Shipment Execution Monitors shipments from origin to destination with integrated air and ocean visibility, providing real-time updates against schedules and complete lifecycle tracking for international shippers.
• Port Management Provides visibility into container free days and penalty phases at ports, enabling smarter port pickups and container returns. Includes a Port of Unloading Dashboard showing upcoming arrivals, containers at port status, and demurrage/detention tracking for international importers.
• Freight Contract Management Upgrades team ability to understand cost, performance, and invoicing for every leg and journey of every shipment. Centralizes all freight contracts across various modes including ocean, air, rail, and drayage for importers and exporters.
• Inbound Management Provides process control and product-level visibility throughout each step with real-time alerts and integrated ocean container and terminal messages for inbound international shipments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduce customs brokerage costs by more than 20 percent
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability8 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Deep CognitioncoreTechnology or Integration · 29 October 20253rdwave and Deep Cognition partnered to automate trade document digitization, delivering full customs and shipment control. This partnership integrates Deep Cognition's document processing technology with 3rdwave's shipment execution platform to enable automated trade document handling.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Kinaxis: Ottawa-based supply chain planning platform with emerging logistics execution capabilities — comparable peer given Canadian roots, enterprise SaaS model, and adjacency in supply chain software for North American shippers.

Direct peers

• Integration Point: Trade compliance and global trade management software provider offering customs automation, denied party screening, and classification — directly comparable to 3rdwave's trade compliance module suite.
• Magaya Software: Logistics and freight forwarding software platform including customs brokerage automation and shipment visibility — overlaps significantly with 3rdwave's importer/exporter offering for SMB and mid-market international shippers.
• Descartes Systems Group: Canadian-headquartered global trade compliance, customs, and logistics technology company — the most direct comparable for 3rdwave given overlapping product scope (customs filing, trade compliance, shipment visibility) and shared North American customer base.
• MercuryGate International: Transportation management system vendor offering multimodal shipment execution, visibility, and freight procurement — direct competitor in the TMS category for shippers.

Broad incumbents

• CargoWise (WiseTech Global): Global logistics execution platform serving freight forwarders and large shippers with customs, compliance, and shipment visibility — competes for the same enterprise logistics buyer with broader scope across forwarding workflows.
• Blue Yonder (formerly JDA Software): End-to-end supply chain platform with transportation management capabilities serving large global manufacturers and retailers — broad incumbent competing for the same enterprise logistics software budget.
• Oracle Transportation Management: Enterprise TMS within Oracle's SCM suite offering shipment execution, transportation planning, and trade compliance — overlaps with 3rdwave but is part of a much broader platform sold to global enterprises.
• E2open (formerly Amber Road): Supply chain orchestration platform that absorbed Amber Road's trade compliance offerings — competes with 3rdwave in trade compliance and shipment visibility as part of a broader end-to-end supply chain platform.
• SAP Transportation Management: SAP's TMS offering within the broader ERP/SCM suite serving multinational shippers; competes with 3rdwave in large enterprise accounts needing integrated planning and trade compliance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3rdwave-blinco
• Xx.com/3rdwaveGTM

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 3rdwave