What FORWARD COMPUTERS ALLIANCE LIMITED does

Forward Computers Alliance Limited is a UK joint venture holdings company established in 2024 by three independent freight forwarders — Cardinal Partnership, Davies Turner, and Woodland Group — to acquire Forward Computers Ltd, which trades as Forward Solutions. Forward Solutions is one of the UK's longest-established freight management software developers, operating continuously since 1986 with headquarters in Nottingham and a secondary office in Southampton. The company develops and licenses "Forward Office," a modular freight management software suite (FMS/TMS) covering air, sea, road, and rail freight, built on a Forward Core base with six independently licensable add-on modules (Forward Plus, Forward Clear, Forward Connect, Forward Vision, Forward Mobile, Forward eDocs) plus a Forward Bespoke custom development service. Underlying technology includes JavaScript, HTML, and web services deployed across Red Hat Linux and Windows environments, with API/EDI integration via Forward Connect and a HaloITSM-powered customer support ticketing layer.

The company generates revenue through subscription licensing of its software modules, sold as an annual subscription, with pricing quote-based and not publicly disclosed. It targets enterprise and mid-market freight operators with 20 or more users, across the UK, Europe, Asia (including Hong Kong and China), and the US. Forward Solutions supports over 80 customers directly (with a combined group portfolio exceeding 350 customers alongside sister company BoxTop Technologies) and over 2,000–3,000 daily active users. Go-to-market is sales-led and consultative, executed via Customer Success Managers and account management teams, with marketing concentrated around the annual Multimodal trade show, the new Client Connect customer conference (launched 2025), the company's blog/news platform, and PR through Eden PR. Customer relationships are characteristically long-tenured, with multiple named enterprise clients retained for 25+ years, reflecting deep integration into customer operations and meaningful switching costs.

Name

FORWARD COMPUTERS ALLIANCE LIMITED

Legal name

Forward Computers Limited

Website

https://forwardsolutions.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Forward Solutions develops and licenses Forward Office, a modular multi-modal freight management software suite (FMS/TMS) for enterprise freight operators with 20+ users across the UK, Europe, Asia, and the US, owned since 2024 by a customer-led joint venture.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freight Management Software

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (48851), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Freight Transportation Arrangement (4885)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Door-to-Door Integrated Multimodal (DDP/DDU) Forwarding (TLACAEAI)

Keywords

• Freight management software
• Transport management systems
• Customs clearance software
• Logistics software solutions
• Supply chain visibility

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing — Forward Office Suite: Forward Solutions derives revenue from licensing its modular freight management software suite, Forward Office. Customers can purchase individual modules (Forward Core as a base, with additions such as Forward Clear, Forward Connect, Forward Vision, Forward Mobile, Forward eDocs, and Forward Plus) independently. The modular structure allows customers to build their own solution tailored to operational needs. Packages start from Forward Core as an essential services package.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Forward Solutions designs, develops and licenses the Forward Office Suite, a modular freight management software (FMS/TMS) platform that enables logistics and transport operators to manage multimodal shipments — air, sea, road and rail — from quote through to invoice. The suite comprises Forward Core as the base package plus independent add-on modules (Forward Plus, Forward Clear, Forward Connect, Forward Vision, Forward Mobile, Forward eDocs and Forward Bespoke) that customers can purchase separately to build tailored freight operations software.

Product overview

Forward Solutions operates a platform-plus-modules architecture with Forward Office as the core comprehensive freight management software suite. At the heart of Forward Office is Forward Core, an essential services package providing core shipment management from quote to invoice. The platform is supported by six additional independently-usable modules: Forward Plus, Forward Clear (customs clearance), Forward Connect (API/EDI integration), Forward Vision (supply chain management portal), Forward Mobile (mobile access), and Forward eDocs (electronic documentation). Forward Bespoke provides custom development for unique requirements. Together, these eight products form a modular, scalable freight management system for air, sea, road, and rail freight operators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Forward Office Comprehensive and fully integrated freight management software solution (FMS/TMS) capable of handling every aspect of freight forwarding for logistics and transportation industries, from initial sales lead and operations to cash receipts and management reporting.
• Forward Core Essential services package at the core of Forward Office that allows management of shipments precisely from quote through to invoice for any mode of transport. Features include job costing, sales tariff, shipment management (Air/Sea/Road), transport/courier/domestic management, equipment management, shipment tracking, workflow, dashboard designer, invoicing, and reporting.
• Forward Plus Additional module within the Forward Office suite offering enhanced functionality for freight management operations. Sold independently as an add-on to Forward Core.
• Forward Clear Integrated customs clearance module handling import and export customs management. Supports CDS (Customs Declaration Service) and CHIEF transitions for UK customs declarations. Sold independently as an add-on.
• Forward Connect API and EDI integration module enabling connectivity with customer systems, trading partners, and external services. Supports electronic data interchange capabilities. Sold independently as an add-on.
• Forward Vision Web-based supply chain management portal allowing Forward Office users to manage their entire supply chain from purchase order to delivery. Provides real-time visibility, dashboards, KPI monitoring, tracking with global mapping tools, and customer notifications. Developed in partnership with Ceedbox Ltd.
• Forward Mobile Mobile application module providing mobile access to Forward Office functionality for freight operations. Sold independently as an add-on.
• Forward eDocs Electronic documentation module for managing and processing freight documentation digitally, including customs documentation, booking confirmations, collection notes, and bespoke document generation. Sold independently as an add-on.
• Forward Bespoke Custom development module providing bespoke solutions tailored to specific customer requirements and unique operational needs, complementing the standard Forward Office modules.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% invoice accuracy for Advance Forwarding — what previously required two full-time staff now takes only a couple of hours per week
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Forward Computers Alliance LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2024Forward Computers Alliance Limited is a joint venture holdings company created by the Cardinal Partnership, Davies Turner, and Woodland Group. It purchased Forward Computers Ltd (trading as Forward Solutions) from the Freight Software Group in June 2024. All three venture partners are long-standing customers of Forward Computers with extensive freight forwarding and supply chain management experience. Forward Computers Ltd continues to operate as an independent business with client confidentiality assured.
• Ceedbox LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2021Ceedbox Ltd is a technology company launched by logistics firm Cardinal Maritime to support digital technology growth in the sector. Woodland Group is also a partner in Ceedbox. Ceedbox spent three years developing products for real-time goods tracking across supply chains. Forward Solutions partnered with Ceedbox for the development and integration of Forward Vision, the digital supply chain management product. Richard Litchfield sits on Ceedbox's Vision Panel to contribute to product development. Both Cardinal Maritime (500+ people, 40 offices globally) and Woodland Group (700 staff worldwide) are major freight operators with deep industry knowledge.
• BoxTop TechnologiesminorOthersBoxTop Technologies is a sister company within the Freight Software Group (FSG). Both Forward Solutions and BoxTop exhibit together at the Multimodal trade show on a shared stand. The Freight Software Group is the largest independent group in the UK specialising in freight software. Following the sale of Forward Computers Ltd to Forward Computers Alliance Limited, FSG continues to own BoxTop Technologies.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BoxTop Technologies: BoxTop Technologies is Forward Solutions' sister company under Freight Software Group, providing freight forwarding software. They share a trade show stand at Multimodal and target the same UK freight forwarding customer base with similar capabilities.
• Softship: Softship provides freight management software solutions specifically for the air and ocean freight forwarding industry, covering rating, booking, documentation, customs, and accounting — directly comparable to Forward Office's air and sea freight modules.
• Riege Software: Riege Software offers Scope, a cloud-based freight forwarding software for air, sea, and road freight with customs and warehouse modules. It targets mid-size freight forwarders with a modern cloud architecture, comparable to Forward's mid-market focus.
• Magaya Software: Magaya provides freight management software for logistics service providers including freight forwarders, customs brokers, and 3PLs. Its modular platform covers the quote-to-cash cycle across air, ocean, and road freight, directly competing with Forward Office.
• CargoWise (WiseTech Global): WiseTech Global's CargoWise is a leading global freight management software platform serving freight forwarders and logistics operators across air, sea, road, and rail. It is the most direct competitor to Forward Office in multimodal freight forwarding TMS.

Emerging players

• Aljex Software: Aljex Software provides cloud-based freight management software for freight forwarders and 3PLs, focusing on smaller and mid-market operators. It is an emerging cloud-native alternative to legacy platforms like Forward Office.
• A2B Tracking: A2B Tracking offers shipment tracking and visibility software for freight forwarders, complementing TMS platforms. Its real-time tracking capabilities overlap with Forward Vision and Forward Connect modules of Forward Solutions.

Broad incumbents

• Manhattan Associates: Manhattan Associates offers supply chain, warehouse, and transportation management software to large enterprises. Its TMS module competes with Forward Office in multimodal freight management, though typically for larger enterprise customers.
• Descartes Systems Group: Descartes is a broad logistics technology incumbent offering a wide portfolio including customs, TMS, transportation management, and global trade compliance. Its customs and forwarding solutions overlap with Forward Clear and Forward Office but as part of a much larger enterprise software portfolio.
• Blue Yonder (formerly JDA Software): Blue Yonder provides supply chain and transportation management software for large enterprises globally. While focused on broader supply chain orchestration, its TMS capabilities overlap with Forward Office in the multimodal freight management space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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 FORWARD COMPUTERS ALLIANCE LIMITED