What SmartBorder does

SmartBorder, operated through its legal entity South Ranch, Inc., provides SaaS-based customs compliance software for U.S. and Canadian cross-border trade. Founded in 2001 as one of the first internet-native customs applications, the platform serves customs brokers, carriers, freight forwarders, self-filing importers, and e-commerce importers filing entries with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The product suite is anchored by an ABI/ACE customs clearance engine and supplemented by integrated modules covering Importer Security Filing (ISF), FTZ e214, Truck eManifest (ACE/ACI), AES Exports, Reconciliation, Air AMS, Ocean AMS, Shipper/Client Portal, and Mobile Tools, plus dedicated e-commerce solutions for Section 321 low-value shipments (U.S. Direct Air and U.S. Indirect Truck via Canada). Technology is hosted on AWS with Dell enterprise servers, Microsoft SQL clusters, and dedicated MQ Series fiber optic connections to CBP and CBSA, achieving reported 99.999% uptime and processing 25,000+ entries per month for the largest broker customers.

The business runs on a pay-per-use model with no user licensing fees, a small one-time licensing fee for onboarding, and additional professional services billed hourly for customization and training. Distribution is exclusively direct via inside sales with remote GoToMeeting demonstrations; new accounts with no customization can be fully trained and operational within two weeks. SmartBorder reports a 99% client retention rate across hundreds of customers, with named users spanning enterprise (GHY International, Ocean Spray), mid-market, SMB, and startup brokers. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Livingston International (parent South Ranch, Inc., headquartered in Toronto, Canada), and as of February 1, 2025, SmartBorder discontinued sales of its customs brokerage software to new brokerage firms, redirecting non-brokerage customers to designated groups within Livingston International.

Name

SmartBorder

Legal name

South Ranch, Inc.

Website

https://smartborder.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SmartBorder is a SaaS-based customs compliance software platform serving customs brokers, carriers, freight forwarders, and importers filing entries with U.S. and Canadian border agencies via its ABI/ACE engine and integrated compliance modules. Founded in 2001, it is a subsidiary of Livingston International and discontinued new broker sales in February 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Customs Compliance Software

akta.pro primary industry

Import Customs Clearance (Entry Filing & Release) (TLACAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Export Customs Clearance (Export Declarations & AES/EEI) (TLACAFAB), Cross-Border E-commerce & De Minimis Clearance (DDP/DDU, Marketplace Compliance) (TLACAFAG), Regulated & Controlled Goods Clearance (FDA/USDA, Pharma, Chemicals, Dual-Use) (TLACAFAF)

Keywords

• Customs compliance software
• ABI ACE filing
• Import security filing
• Trade compliance solutions
• Freight eManifest

Headquarters

HQ city

Cheektowaga

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Transaction/Usage-Based Fees: Primary revenue stream from pay-per-use model where fees are based on the number of transactions processed. No user licensing fees regardless of how many users or locations.
2. One-Time Licensing Fee: Small one-time licensing fee covers technical setup, CBP registration, and initial support and training. This establishes the pay-per-use account.
3. Professional Services: Additional personalized training available at hourly rate (online or on-site with travel expenses). Customization programming done at hourly rate with full project estimates provided upfront.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SmartBorder provides a SaaS-based customs compliance and trade automation software suite used by customs brokers, carriers, freight forwarders, self-filing importers, and e-commerce importers to file entries, manifests, and security filings with U.S. CBP/ACE and Canada CBSA/ACI. The flagship ABI/ACE customs clearance engine is extended by modules for Importer Security Filing (ISF), Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) e214, Truck eManifest, AES Exports, Reconciliation, Air/Ocean AMS, Shipper/Client Portal, and Section 321 e-commerce solutions (U.S. Direct Air and U.S. Indirect Truck), all priced on a pay-per-use basis with no user licensing fees and hosted on AWS with direct MQ Series fiber optic connections to government systems.

Product overview

SmartBorder is a SaaS-based customs compliance software suite designed by customs brokers for brokers, carriers, and importers managing cross-border trade with the United States. The platform is organized around a core ABI/ACE customs clearance engine supplemented by specialized modules covering Importer Security Filing (ISF), Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) e214, Truck eManifest (ACE/ACI), AES Exports, Reconciliation, Air AMS, Ocean AMS, Mobile Tools, and a Shipper/Client Portal. E-commerce specific solutions (U.S. Direct Air and U.S. Indirect Truck) address high-volume Section 321 low-value shipments for air and truck modes. Additional tools include WebTracker for entry monitoring, Trade Tools for free public trade reference data, and SmartBorder.NET / LaunchPad as downloadable desktop clients. All modules share customer databases, transaction records, and party/product data, are hosted on Amazon Web Services via SaaS delivery, and are priced on a pay-per-use basis with no per-user licensing fees. The platform integrates via EDI, XML, FTP, and Web Services with named logistics partners (Aurionpro SCMProFit, Trade Tech, CSA Software, Amber Road, Magaya) and with customer ERP, accounting, and freight management systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SmartBorder ABI/ACE Customs Clearance Flagship customs clearance application for filing air, ocean, truck, and rail entries with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) via ACE. Includes PGA filing, in-bond (7512), Remote Location Filing (RLF), and real-time release notifications. Offered in Northern Border Edition, Air & Sea Broker Edition, and Importer Edition for customs brokers, carriers, and self-filing importers.
• SmartBorder ISF (Importer Security Filing) Web-based Importer Security Filing (ISF) application for filing CBP 10+2 additional data elements under SmartBorder's ISF web based application. Supports self-filing importers, service centers, and authorized parties, with EDI integration to SmartBorder's ABI application for automated ISF filing, customizable cataloging for vendors and parts, and line-level validations.
• SmartBorder FTZ e214 Electronic FTZ (Foreign Trade Zone) 214 admission filing module linking directly to CBP. Enables zone operators to file admissions, Permit to Transfer, Concurrence, Arrival notifications, and FTZ Audit reporting for inventory tracking in foreign trade zones.
• SmartBorder Truck eManifest Combined ACE (U.S.) and ACI (Canada) eManifest module for cross-border truck shipments between the U.S. and Canada. Offered in Large Carrier Edition, Small Carrier Edition, and Service Center Edition. Supports EDI integration, real-time status tracking, email/SMS notifications, and automated transmission to CBP and CBSA.
• SmartBorder AES Exports AES (Automated Export System) module for filing Electronic Export Information (EEI) through the U.S. Census Bureau. Enables compliance with export control requirements via dedicated MQ Series fiber optic connection to AES.
• SmartBorder Reconciliation Module for filing CBP reconciliation entries to correct entry data elements such as value, classification, or free trade agreements after initial entry. Supports both aggregate and entry-by-entry filing, with Excel import and batch editing.
• SmartBorder Air AMS Air Automated Manifest System (AMS/ACE Air) for transmitting advance air cargo manifest information to CBP. Supports upload of thousands of house bills instantly, HAWB/MAWB consolidated reporting, Section 321 and Entry Type 86 clearances, and automated EDI workflows with Excel import.
• SmartBorder Ocean AMS Ocean Automated Manifest System (AMS/ACE Ocean) for transmitting advance ocean manifest and cargo plan information to CBP via ACE. Supports NVOCCs, freight forwarders, and customs brokers with Permit to Transfer (PTT), in-bond, and conveyance arrival functions.
• SmartBorder Shipper/Client Portal Customer-facing portal module for customs brokers to grant clients access to view documents, track shipment statuses, prepare customs documents (e.g., Proforma Invoice), and access billing invoices in real time.
• SmartBorder Mobile Tools Free mobile and web-accessible trade data application providing HTS number search, tariff schedule browsing, denied persons list search, currency rates, antidumping/countervailing information, carrier codes, FIRMS codes, port codes, and entry tracking. Updated nightly from government databases.
• SmartBorder U.S. Direct Air E-commerce import solution for low-value goods (under USD $800 per Section 321) arriving by air. Automates Entry Type 86 filings via ABI for high-volume e-commerce shipments, processing millions per day and avoiding ECCF (Express Consignment Carrier Facility) fees.
• SmartBorder U.S. Indirect Truck E-commerce import solution for Section 321 qualified goods routed through Canada. Uses ACE e-Manifest Section 321 shipment modules to process goods via Canadian border pre-clearance, enabling faster duty-free entry into the U.S. for high-volume low-cost e-commerce shipments.
• SmartBorder WebTracker Web-based shipment tracking interface allowing customers to monitor the status of their customs entries and shipments filed through SmartBorder's compliance suite.
• SmartBorder Trade Tools

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.999% uptime over the past five years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AurionprocoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology products and solutions provider. SmartBorder integrates with Aurionpro's SCMProFit product suite for supply chain visibility, control, collaboration and execution. Integration provides seamless supply chain management combined with SmartBorder compliance.
• Trade Tech InccoreTechnology or IntegrationComplete solution provider for Ocean or Air Intermediaries. Trade Tech integrates ocean Service Contract Management, FMC filing, Operations Management, Document creation/release, Track and Trace, PO Management, Security Filings (AES, AMS, ISF, AFR), EDI connections, and full accounting capabilities with integrated ABI through SmartBorder.
• CSA SoftwarecoreTechnology or IntegrationDeveloper of state-of-the-art software solutions for freight forwarding and logistics organizations. CSA provides complete freight management software solutions running every aspect of a freight business using the latest technology.
• Amber RoadcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides a single, on-demand platform that automates and streamlines global trade. Helps organizations comply with country-specific trade regulations, plan, execute and track global shipments, enabling goods to flow unimpeded across international borders.
• MagayacoreTechnology or IntegrationSoftware covering the complete logistics process within the supply chain from Sales Orders to final consignee delivery. Customers can track cargo status through the Internet using Magaya tracking tools regardless of where cargo is in the supply chain.
• Livingston InternationalcoreOthersParent company of SmartBorder (South Ranch, Inc.). Strategic decision as of February 1, 2025 to focus SmartBorder on centralized service and innovation through Livingston International. Non-brokerage customers supported by designated groups within Livingston.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Descartes Systems Group: Major provider of customs and trade compliance software (including its CustomsInfo and Datamyne offerings) competing directly with SmartBorder in ABI/ACE filing, customs broker workflows, and global trade management.
• Amber Road (now part of Elemica): Named SmartBorder integration partner and direct competitor in global trade compliance, offering trade management platforms that automate customs, export controls, and supply chain visibility.
• Magaya: SmartBorder integration partner and adjacent competitor providing logistics and freight forwarding software with customs-related capabilities for forwarders and brokers.
• Trade Tech Inc: Ocean and air intermediary platform named as SmartBorder integration partner; offers security filings (AES, AMS, ISF, AFR) and ABI integration comparable to SmartBorder's compliance suite.
• CSA Software: Freight forwarding and logistics software provider named as SmartBorder integration partner; competes in the same broker/forwarder segment with end-to-end freight management plus compliance.
• Integration Point (Elemica): Global trade compliance and customs software vendor (now part of Elemica) offering denied-party screening, classification, and customs filing solutions competing with SmartBorder's compliance suite.

Broad incumbents

• E2open: Broad supply chain and global trade management platform (formed by merger of E2open, Amber Road, and BluJay) that competes with SmartBorder's ABI/ACE and trade-compliance modules at the enterprise tier.
• WiseTech Global (CargoWise): Global logistics execution platform including customs and compliance modules; targets freight forwarders and brokers with an integrated suite that overlaps SmartBorder's ABI/ACE, AMS, and AES functionality.

Emerging players

• ClearCustoms: Cloud-native customs broker software targeting SMB and mid-market customs brokers, directly overlapping SmartBorder's ABI/ACE entry tier with a modern SaaS experience.

Others

• Aurionpro: Named SmartBorder technology partner; provides SCMProFit supply chain visibility platform. Comparable as a logistics/supply-chain software ecosystem participant, though not a direct ABI competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SmartBorderABI

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 SmartBorder