CNS

What CNS does

CNS (Community Network Services Ltd) is a UK-based software company founded in 1985, headquartered in Southampton with a registered office in London, and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of DP World Southampton. The company designs electronic data systems that facilitate trading information across the maritime and air logistics industry, providing HMRC-approved Port Community Systems (Compass), border management software (BEEMS suite covering Pre-lodgement, Safety & Security Declarations, Customs Declarations and Travel Wallet), customs declaration management (CDMS), airport community systems (Air Courier at Heathrow), and supporting modules such as Vehicle Booking Systems and Where's My Container. The platform is cloud-based and built around native integrations to HMRC CDS, CHIEF and GVMS, French Douane, Irish Revenue and CCS UK, with APIs exposed for partner integration. It is used by major UK ports including Southampton, London Gateway, Tilbury (Forth Ports), Belfast, and Portsmouth, as well as by clearing agents, freight forwarders, hauliers, couriers and shipping lines across multiple transport modes.

The business model is primarily subscription-based (monthly recurring, paid in advance by Direct Debit) with transaction-based fees for Safety and Security declarations and tiered pricing for the Customs Access Product starting under £120/month. CNS distributes through a direct enterprise sales team, a self-service online platform (eu-community.cargoes.com), embedded presence in the DP World terminal ecosystem, the Travel Wallet integration with P&O Ferries, and a network of approved software houses (including WiseTech Global, Descartes, and DataFreight). The company has no external funding and does not publicly disclose revenue; its growth has been driven by regulatory tailwinds from Brexit border requirements, the HMRC CHIEF-to-CDS migration, and the extension of customs digitisation into air cargo via the February 2024 CCS UK integration.

Name

CNS

Legal name

Community Network Services Ltd

Website

https://cnsonline.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CNS (Community Network Services) is a DP World subsidiary that provides HMRC-approved port community systems, customs declaration software, and border management solutions for the UK maritime and air logistics industry, serving ports, clearing agents, freight forwarders, and couriers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port Community Systems and Customs Management Software

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Port and Harbor Operations (48831)

SIC

Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Cargo Visibility, Track & Trace & Port Analytics (ETA/ETD, Dwell, Predictive) (TLAHAOAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Customs Declaration & Filing (Import/Export Entry) Platforms (TLAEAOAA), Port Data Exchange / Data Space & Master Data Management (MDM) (TLAHAOAO), Port Call Clearance & Documentation (Arrival/Departure, Customs/Immigration/Health) (TLAHAJAA)

Keywords

• Port community systems
• Customs declaration software
• Border management systems
• Maritime logistics technology
• Customs compliance software

Headquarters

HQ city

Southampton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Subscription Services: Monthly subscription fees for CNS products including Customs Access with tiered band options. Customers pay monthly in advance with set-up costs. Includes connectivity to HMRC and CDS systems with support.
2. BEEMS Pre-lodgement Tariffs: Tariff-based pricing for BEEMS Border Management Products including GMR and PBN management. Transport operators receive SMS and email notifications as part of the service.
3. Safety and Security Declarations: Fees for submitting Safety and Security declarations (ENS) via the platform to UK, Irish and French systems. Invoices payable by Direct Debit collected 30 days after invoice date.
4. Air Courier Services: Tariff for airport courier services including import/export declarations, manifesting, gate passes, and DUCR/MUCR management at Heathrow.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CNS designs, builds and operates cloud-based port community systems and customs management software for the UK and EU maritime, air and inland logistics communities. Its flagship offerings are Compass (HMRC-approved maritime PCS) and the BEEMS suite (pre-lodgement, safety and security declarations, customs declarations, Travel Wallet), complemented by CDMS, Where's My Container, terminal Vehicle Booking Systems, Air Courier at Heathrow, and a SeaRates-partnered Enterprise Freight Management Platform.

Product overview

CNS provides a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on port community systems and customs management solutions. The core offerings include Compass (HMRC-approved maritime port community system) and BEEMS (suite of four border management modules). Supporting modules include Customs Declarations Management Software, Where's My Container, Vehicle Booking Systems for DP World terminals, Air Courier for Heathrow, Customs Access Product, and Enterprise Freight Management System. These products serve transport operators, clearing agents, freight forwarders, importers/exporters, shipping lines, terminal operators, rail freight operators, ship’s agents, and couriers across UK maritime ports, airports, and inland locations. CNS operates as a DP World owned digital trade solution business with 30+ years of heritage in UK trade technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BEEMS: Suite of Border Management products for post-Brexit trade including Pre-lodgement, Safety and Security Declarations, Customs Declarations, and Travel Wallet.
• Compass
• Air Courier
• CDMS (Customs Declaration Management Software)
• Where's My Container (WMC)
• Vehicle Booking System (VBS)

Products and services

• Compass Port Community System HMRC-approved cloud-based port community system for maritime ports across the UK, providing real-time visibility of units and cargo, direct connectivity to HMRC CDS and CHIEF systems, terminal operating system integration, and secure information exchange between business and government stakeholders at temporary storage locations for imports, exports and transhipments.
• BEEMS (Border Entry and Exit Management System) Suite of cloud-based post-Brexit border management products covering pre-lodgement (GMR/PBN generation), safety and security declarations (ENS to UK/Irish/French ICS), customs declarations and Travel Wallet, built for transport operators, clearing agents and freight forwarders moving cargo across UK-EU RORO routes.
• Customs Declarations Management Software (CDMS) Cloud-based customs declaration software supporting HMRC CDS, CHIEF and UK transit declarations with configurable dashboards, MUCR processing, party directory, document storage, APIs and CCS UK integration, designed for clearing agents, freight forwarders and importers/exporters.
• Air Courier Airport community system for couriers and express parcel operators at Heathrow providing customs clearance, inventory control, manifest and gate pass issuance, MUCR registration and shed-operator real-time operational insights, shaped with feedback from Courier Facilities Limited (CFL) and AICES.
• Enterprise Freight Management System Integrated cloud-based customs and freight management platform unifying customs declarations, cross-border movements, shipping, cargo management and CRM, covering air, sea and land freight with integrated billing, analytics and quotations; powered by SeaRates ERP and targeted at enterprise forwarders and shippers.
• Customs Access Product HMRC connectivity service for EU import and export customs declarations, priced from under £120 per month, delivering CDS access, support and a bundled tariff across import, export and supplementary frontier declarations for SMB and mid-market traders.
• CNS Maritime PCS Service (CNS PCS) Subscription-based port community system service covering multiple UK maritime locations including Southampton, Tilbury, London Gateway, Manchester, Birmingham, Belfast and others, providing connectivity to HMRC CDS/CHIEF systems and terminal operating systems on a monthly recurring basis.
• Air Courier Tariff Service Subscription-based tariff service for the Air Courier airport community system providing import/export declarations, manifesting, gate passes and DUCR/MUCR management for express couriers at Heathrow on a monthly recurring basis.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced manual data entry and associated error risks through automated customs declaration processing
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CCS UK (Air Cargo Community System)coreTechnology or Integration · 14 February 2024CNS integrated its customs management system with CCS UK, the electronic system that connects the UK air cargo community. This integration enables streamlined processes across land, air, and sea, providing a unified view of statuses across both CCS UK and CDS dashboards.
• P&O FerriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 December 2021P&O Ferries, part of the DP World Group, partnered with CNS to launch the Travel Wallet product for drivers. The integration creates a seamless and streamlined process for transport operators and drivers on the Dover/Calais route.
• DP World SouthamptoncoreOthersDP World Southampton is the parent company of CNS. Community Network Services Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of DP World Southampton. This relationship provides CNS with access to global resource, expertise, and distribution capability across DP World's worldwide logistics network.
• Courier Facilities Limited (CFL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFL, which operates the main receiving areas at Heathrow, uses CNS Air Courier as its primary means to manage shipment and release of both import and export consignments. CNS works closely with AICES to ensure feedback shapes product development.
• AICES (Association of International Courier Express Services)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNS works closely with AICES to ensure their feedback and views help shape the future development of the Air Courier system for the courier and express parcel industry.
• DP World London GatewaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDP World London Gateway is the UK's first 21st century major deep-sea container port. CNS provides the Vehicle Booking System and full automated community system including EDI, inventory control and HMRC connectivity for the terminal.
• Belfast HarbourminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBelfast Harbour is a port operator partner using CNS Compass Port Community System for maritime port operations management.
• Portsmouth International PortminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPortsmouth International Port uses CNS Port Community services for customs and cargo management operations.
• Trade Associations (ACITA, BIFA, AFSS, AICES, Logistics UK, CILT, UK Chamber of Shipping)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCNS maintains membership in industry trade associations including ACITA, BIFA, AFSS, AICES, Logistics UK, CILT, and UK Chamber of Shipping for industry engagement and market presence.
• Government Agencies (HMRC, Port Health Authorities, FSA, Trading Standards)coreOthersCNS maintains operational relationships with HMRC for customs systems connectivity, Port Health Authorities for health compliance, Food Standards Agency, Trading Standards, and other government bodies for regulatory compliance coordination.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DAKOSYS (Dakosys Datenverarbeitungs-GmbH): Operates the Port Community System for the Port of Hamburg (DAKOSYS PCS) and other German ports. Directly comparable to CNS's Compass PCS in providing HMRC-equivalent customs connectivity and trade community data exchange for maritime ports.
• Softship AG: Provides aviation and maritime software including customs handling, declaration management and community solutions. Comparable to CNS in customs declaration and air-cargo community functionality similar to the Air Courier product.
• MESPAS: Provides port management software including vessel clearance, berth planning and customs declaration modules for European ports. Comparable to CNS as a PCS/c port-IT vendor serving maritime communities with similar regulatory and operational workflows.
• Portbase: Port Community System operator for the Port of Rotterdam and Amsterdam, providing a single-window platform linking terminals, shipping lines, customs and forwarders. Closest direct functional peer to CNS's Compass PCS offering for maritime ports.
• CargoSmart: Provides shipment management, visibility and customs/community solutions for ocean carriers, terminals and freight forwarders. Directly comparable to CNS's Compass, WMC and Enterprise Freight Management System offerings in maritime trade execution and visibility.
• Customs4U: UK-focused customs declaration software for HMRC CDS/CHIEF serving freight forwarders and customs brokers. Directly comparable to CNS's CDMS and Customs Access Product on subscription-based UK customs filing.
• INFORM GmbH: Supplies terminal operating, port community and customs declaration software to ports and logistics communities worldwide. Comparable to CNS across PCS, customs and border management functionality for container and RORO terminals.

Broad incumbents

• Descartes Systems Group: Global logistics technology and customs compliance software provider; comparable to CNS as it offers customs declaration, trade compliance and port community connectivity used by the same freight forwarder and customs broker ecosystem that CNS serves, but at a much larger scale and breadth.
• WiseTech Global: Owner of the CargoWise platform, a leading global customs, freight forwarding and logistics software suite. Comparable to CNS because it provides customs declaration and cross-border trade workflows that overlap with CDMS and BEEMS, and is integrated into CNS's Approved Software Houses network.

Emerging players

• Royal Dirkzwager: Provides vessel traffic, port call and maritime information services for European ports including port community components. Adjacent to CNS's Compass and BEEMS modules in port call, clearance and maritime community data exchange.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cns-community-network-services
• Xx.com/cnstweets

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 CNS