CDL Software
CDL Software is a UK-based, privately held insurance software house that builds cloud-native SaaS platforms on AWS for UK insurance retailers, brokers, insurers and MGAs, powering roughly 65% of companies on UK price comparison websites. Its CDL Strata platform and modular ecosystem (Hummingbird, Aggregator Hub, Telematics Hub, CDL VIS) serve enterprise insurance clients under recurring SaaS contracts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersStockport, United Kingdom
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What CDL Software does
CDL Software (legal name Cheshire Datasystems Limited) is a UK-based, privately held insurance software house founded in 1977 and headquartered at a single Stockport campus employing over 600 people. The company builds and operates cloud-native SaaS platforms on AWS that serve UK insurance retailers, brokers, insurers, MGAs and affinity partners, with approximately 65% of companies on UK price comparison websites reported as CDL clients and over 50 insurer partners connected through its ecosystem.
The core platform is CDL Strata, a multi-channel, multi-brand sales and administration system supporting personal and commercial lines across web, aggregator, contact centre and mobile channels. This is complemented by a modular ecosystem including Hummingbird (sub-second data intelligence and fraud detection), Aggregator Hub (single integration returning quotes in ~3 seconds across 100+ broker/insurer brands), Telematics Hub (connected insurance for vehicles and homes), Kingfisher (BI on AWS), Chorus (image-recognition mobile platform), InsurTechX/Jay (AI-driven conversational quoting with Alexa integration), CDL VIS (1M+ vehicle checks/day across DVLA, PNC, ABI, SMMT, MIAFTR, DVSA, Thatcham datasets), Proteus (Insurer Hosted Pricing) and Anti-Fraud Solutions.
CDL earns revenue primarily through enterprise SaaS subscriptions (annual billing tied to policy volumes, brands and modules), supplemented by professional services for implementation and integration, data monetisation through CDL VIS, and managed hosting services. The company is privately held with no disclosed external institutional investment, self-funded through operations, and holds a comprehensive compliance stack including ISO 27001, 27701, 22301, 14001, 42001, SOC 1/2 Type 2, PCI-DSS Level 1 and Cyber Essentials Plus.
CDL Software firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CDL Software
- Legal name
- Cheshire Datasystems Limited
- Website
- https://cdl.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- CDL Software is a UK-based, privately held insurance software house that builds cloud-native SaaS platforms on AWS for UK insurance retailers, brokers, insurers and MGAs, powering roughly 65% of companies on UK price comparison websites. Its CDL Strata platform and modular ecosystem (Hummingbird, Aggregator Hub, Telematics Hub, CDL VIS) serve enterprise insurance clients under recurring SaaS contracts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where CDL Software is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stockport
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
CDL Software business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- SaaS Platform Subscription: CDL operates as a cloud-only SaaS provider offering its Strata ecosystem and associated solutions under subscription model. AWS provides cloud-hosting while CDL functions as ISV building and running business services. Regular product updates delivered through six-week release cycles.
- Software Development and Support: Custom software development and ongoing technical support services for insurance providers. Includes integration services, implementation, and managed services.
- Vehicle Data Services: Vehicle information lookup services including DVLA data, MOT history, finance checks, and vehicle valuations. Licensed provider of extensive vehicle and property datasets.
- Systems Hosting and Management: Application service provision and hosting services for insurance platforms. Includes data analysis and data exchange services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise SaaS platform licensing |
| Subscription | Monthly | Low code/no code partner activation |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
CDL Software product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CDL Software (Cheshire Datasystems Limited) is a UK insurance technology company that builds and operates a cloud-native SaaS platform, CDL Strata, providing insurance sales, administration, pricing, claims, and self-service capabilities for insurance retailers, brokers, insurers, and MGAs. Its ecosystem includes Hummingbird data intelligence and fraud analytics, Kingfisher business intelligence, Telematics Hub, Aggregator Hub for price comparison websites, Vehicle Information Services (VIS), Property Data via Loqate, InsurTechX conversational AI, Chorus mobile platform, and Insurer Hosted Pricing (Proteus). Approximately 65% of UK price comparison website insurance providers are CDL clients.
Product overview
CDL is a UK-based insurance software house providing a comprehensive platform-plus-modules architecture for the retail insurance sector. The core platform is CDL Strata, a next-generation sales and administration solution supporting multi-channel, multi-brand insurance distribution. This core is complemented by specialized modules including Hummingbird (data intelligence and fraud detection), Kingfisher (business intelligence), Telematics Hub (connected vehicle insurance), Aggregator Hub (price comparison site integration), Property Data (via Loqate partnership), Anti-Fraud Solutions, Online Experience, and Connected Insurance products. CDL also offers InsurTechX as a sub-brand focusing on millennial-focused insurance through conversational AI (Jay chatbot, Alexa voice interface), and provides vehicle information services through CDL VIS integrating DVLA, ABI, SMMT and other data sources. The ecosystem processes approximately 65% of UK price comparison website insurance transactions and supports over 50 insurer partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CDL Strata: CDL's next generation insurance solution and sales and administration platform for business growth, supporting multiple channels, branches, brands, sub-agents and affinities across personal and commercial lines.
- InsurTechX
- Hummingbird
- Chorus
- Kingfisher
- Proteus
- MyCarCheck.com
Products and services
- CDL Strata Next-generation insurance sales and administration platform supporting multiple channels, branches, brands, sub-agents and affinities across personal and commercial lines. Enables 80%+ of administration tasks via self-service without contact centre interaction. Built on AWS cloud with open architecture for integration.
- Hummingbird Data intelligence solution using intelligent agents and sub-second big data analysis (50 millisecond response) to provide consumer insights, real-time pricing decisions, and fraud detection at point-of-quote.
- Kingfisher Business Intelligence High-performance business intelligence and management information solution built on AWS, enabling executive reporting, KPI monitoring, data mining, and natural language queries via AWS QuickSight Q integration.
- Telematics Hub Market-leading telematics solution providing fully automated insurance telematics with access to multiple telematics suppliers and connected home devices, including rules-based engine for mid-term premium adjustments based on driving behaviour.
- Aggregator Hub Single-connection solution giving price comparison websites access to over 100 broker and insurer brands, returning a full panel of quotes in an average of three seconds with filtering and customer profiling capabilities.
- CDL Vehicle Information Services (VIS) Leading UK provider of registration and DVLA vehicle lookup services with over 200 vehicle lookup fields including mileage, VED bands, finance, accident and theft data. Conducts over one million checks per day for B2B partners and integrates PNC, DVLA, ABI, SMMT, MIAFTR, DVSA, and Thatcham data.
- InsurTechX InsurTech initiative applying machine learning, AI and big data to chat and voice interfaces for simplified insurance shopping. Includes Jay chatbot and voice integration with Amazon Alexa.
- Property Data Property intelligence data solution in partnership with Loqate (GB Group plc), accessing over 50 attributes for 29 million residential properties, including building volume, business usage, and burglary rate for underwriting insight.
- Chorus Mobile Platform Proactive insurance mobile platform using image recognition technology and automatic Wi-Fi device scanning to identify home contents and enable consumers to insure possessions through augmented reality displays.
- Insurer Solutions (Proteus) Insurer Hosted Pricing (IHP) hub solution enabling insurers to make real-time product and pricing changes via cloud-hosted platform with next-generation visualization tools, supporting thousands of product variations with point-of-sale documentation and EDI messaging.
- Anti-Fraud Solutions Multi-pronged fraud detection at point-of-quote identifying inaccurate information, detecting devices with fraud history, and assessing propensity to claim or default on payments using Experian Delphi and other data sources.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80%+ of customer administration tasks completed via self-service without contact centre interaction
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use CDL Software
Customer profileNamed customers25 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CDL Software technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
AI capability14 records
Feature10 records
CDL Software partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Loqate (GB Group plc)coreProperty data partnership providing access to industry-leading property intelligence data integrated with CDL retail solutions. Loqate data covers 50+ attributes for 29m+ residential properties from 29 datasets across 18 independent sources. Supports underwriter rating insight and streamlined online customer experiences.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreCloud hosting provider for CDL's SaaS platform. CDL achieved AWS Financial Services ISV Competency status and operates cloud-only with AWS. AWS PrivateLink connectivity for secure data exchange. AWS Ambassador in CDL team (Matt Houghton, Data Architect).
- Loqate (GB Group plc)coreStrategic data partnership for property intelligence integrated into CDL Strata platform for insurance underwriting and customer experience enhancement.
- Police National Computer (PNC)coreCDL VIS integrates with Police National Computer data for vehicle lookup services supporting insurance verification and fraud detection.
- Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)coreCDL VIS integrates with DVLA data for vehicle registration lookups and MOT data from Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
- Association of British Insurers (ABI)coreCDL VIS integrates with ABI data for Motor Insurance Anti Fraud and Theft Register (MIAFTR) and other industry databases.
- Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)coreCDL VIS integrates with SMMT data for vehicle specification and industry data supporting insurance valuation services.
- ThatchamcoreCDL VIS integrates with Thatcham data for vehicle security ratings and repair cost data supporting insurance underwriting.
- 1 Answer NetworkcoreLeading UK broker network using CDL Strata to offer powerful, scalable and affordable trading platform for SME and personal lines. Platform enables smaller brokers to access wider insurer panel.
- ExperiancoreAutonet uses Experian Delphi for Insurance (DFI) for real-time credit data analysis alongside CDL Strata to assess customer propensity to claim or default on payments.
Scale indicators18 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CDL Software competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Applied Systems: Large global insurance agency management software provider serving brokers and insurers with similar product breadth (retail management, analytics, mobile). Comparable platform play, though US-centric.
- Guidewire Software: Global P&C insurance platform vendor providing core systems (PolicyCenter, BillingCenter, ClaimCenter) to insurers. Overlaps with CDL's Insurer Solutions/Proteus rating and policy admin capabilities, especially at larger insurer tier.
- Majesco: Cloud-native insurance platform software for P&C and life insurers, including data and analytics. Comparable SaaS-based platform with overlapping customer base of mid-market insurers.
- Sapiens International: Global insurance software provider offering core systems, reinsurance, and analytics. Comparable platform play for insurance carriers, particularly in personal lines.
- Vertafore: Major US insurance technology provider offering agency management, rating, and content/workflow tools. Broad incumbent in insurance distribution software with overlapping customer types.
- Duck Creek Technologies: Cloud-native insurance SaaS platform for P&C insurers offering policy, billing, and claims. Direct competitor at the insurer-hosted SaaS layer relevant to CDL's Proteus and Insurer Solutions modules.
Direct peers
- Open GI: UK-based insurance software provider serving brokers, insurers, and MGAs across personal and commercial lines with a comparable core platform-plus-modules architecture. Closest geographic and product analog to CDL.
- SSP (Verisk): UK-originated insurance software house (now part of Verisk) offering broker and insurer platforms. Directly comparable as a UK insurance retail/back-office software competitor with similar target customers.
Emerging players
- Instanda: Low-code/no-code insurance product, distribution and policy admin platform targeting insurers, MGAs and brokers. Directly overlaps with CDL Strata's low-code positioning and rapid-deployment value proposition.
- EIS Group: Cloud-native insurance core platform with strong configurability, competing for the same digital-first insurer and MGA segment that CDL's Strata ecosystem serves.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CDL Software social profiles
Digital presenceCDL Software compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance10 records
CDL Software financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CDL Software leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
CDL Software subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
CDL Software funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CDL Software 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 CDL Software
What does CDL Software do?
CDL Software (Cheshire Datasystems Limited) is a UK insurance technology company that builds and operates a cloud-native SaaS platform, CDL Strata, providing insurance sales, administration, pricing, claims, and self-service capabilities for insurance retailers, brokers, insurers, and MGAs. Its ecosystem includes Hummingbird data intelligence and fraud analytics, Kingfisher business intelligence, Telematics Hub, Aggregator Hub for price comparison websites, Vehicle Information Services (VIS), Property Data via Loqate, InsurTechX conversational AI, Chorus mobile platform, and Insurer Hosted Pricing (Proteus). Approximately 65% of UK price comparison website insurance providers are CDL clients.
Is CDL Software a public or private company?
CDL Software is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CDL Software founded?
CDL Software was founded in 1977. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is CDL Software based?
CDL Software is headquartered in Stockport, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does CDL Software make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. SaaS Platform Subscription is the primary driver. The others are software Development and Support, vehicle Data Services and systems Hosting and Management.
Who are CDL Software's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Applied Systems, Guidewire Software, Majesco, Sapiens International, Vertafore and Duck Creek Technologies. Direct peers are Open GI and SSP (Verisk). Emerging players are Instanda and EIS Group.
Does CDL Software have an API?
Yes. CDL Vehicle Information Services (CDL VIS) offers instant vehicle look-up with 200+ vehicle look-up fields, including mileage, VED bands, finance information, accident and theft data. The service includes an inclusive, in-house vehicle valuation service that is fully scalable, with instant response times 24/7 and easy XML integration to API. CDL processes over one million vehicle checks per day for B2B partners.