What concepto does

Concepto SAS is a Uruguayan B2B enterprise software and consulting firm, founded in 1990 in Montevideo, that develops applied technology for foreign trade and customs operations. Its core offerings are the GIA (Gestión Integral Aduanera) integrated customs management platform, the SWiMF Single Window Message Framework, and the VUCE (Ventanilla Única de Comercio Exterior) electronic single-window solution, all built on the GeneXus low-code development platform of which Concepto is a GOLD Solution Partner. The firm's flagship LUCIA customs system has been maintained for Uruguay Customs (DNA) without interruption since 1998 and has been adapted into Costa Rica's TICA system and a risk module for Colombia's DIAN.

Concepto serves three primary customer segments: government customs administrations (Uruguay, Costa Rica, Colombia, and recently Peru), private-sector industrial and free-trade-zone operators (UPM, Montes del Plata), and international development organizations (notably the Inter-American Development Bank, with which the firm has held consultancy relationships for over 20 years). Revenue is generated through a mix of recurring maintenance and licensing for deployed customs systems, project-based single-window implementations, IDB-funded consultancies, and one-time private-sector licenses for the SIGE stock-management system (operated via a 2003 spin-off, SIGE Software SRL, in which Concepto holds a partnership interest). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; the go-to-market is direct enterprise sales with co-delivery partnerships (GeneXus Consulting) and industry-association alignment (CUTI). The company remains privately held and founder-controlled by its three original directors.

Name

concepto

Legal name

CONCEPTO SAS

Website

https://concepto.uy

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Concepto SAS is a Montevideo-based B2B software and consulting firm, founded in 1990, that builds and maintains customs-management and foreign-trade single-window systems for government agencies (Uruguay, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru), industrial free-trade-zone operators, and multilateral lenders across Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Customs Management Software

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Sanctions, Embargo & Export Controls (EAR/ITAR) Compliance Tools (TLAEAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

ITSM Platform Implementation & Administration (ServiceNow/JSM/BMC/etc.) (BPAEAJAC)

Keywords

• Customs management software
• Foreign trade technology
• Single window systems
• Risk management solutions
• Customs modernization services

Headquarters

HQ city

Montevideo

HQ country

Uruguay

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Customs Management Software Licensing and Maintenance: Development, licensing and ongoing maintenance of the LUCIA/GIA customs management system for government customs administrations. Maintenance and evolution services have been provided uninterrupted since 1998 for Uruguay Customs.
2. Single Window (VUCE) Implementation: Implementation and support services for Foreign Trade Single Window systems for governments, including redesign of processes and regulatory review.
3. International Development Consultancies: Consultancies executed for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for over 20 years, including technological infrastructure development for customs and evaluation of procedures and technology systems across Latin America.
4. SWiMF Framework Licensing: Licensing and deployment of the SWiMF (Single Window Message Framework) for organizations seeking software integration and messaging automation solutions.
5. Private Sector Solutions: Inventory management and stock systems (SIGE) for private sector companies including free trade zone management, integrated with customs and logistics systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Concepto SAS (CONCEPTO SAS) develops and licenses applied technology software platforms for foreign trade and customs operations, including the GIA Integrated Customs Management platform, the SWiMF Single Window Message Framework, the VUCE Electronic Single Window system, and customs risk analysis tools. The company primarily serves government customs administrations across Latin America (Uruguay, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru), and also delivers inventory and stock management solutions (SIGE) to private sector industrial companies operating in free trade zones.

Product overview

Concepto SAS offers an integrated suite of foreign trade software solutions centered around three core products: GIA (Gestión Integral Aduanera) for comprehensive customs operations management covering import, export, and transit; SWiMF (Single Window Message Framework) for software integration and business rules management; and VUCE (Electronic Single Window) for trade facilitation. The company also developed the LUCIA system (basis for Uruguay's customs modernization since 1998), TICA (Costa Rica), and SIGE stock management systems for free trade zones. All solutions are built using the Genexus development tool, with the company serving customs administrations and private sector clients across Latin America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GIA (Gestión Integral Aduanera): An IT platform for the control of import, export and transit customs operations covering maritime, air or land customs operations.
• SWiMF (Single Window Message Framework)
• VUCE (Ventanilla Única de Comercio Exterior)
• LUCIA

Products and services

• GIA (Gestión Integral Aduanera / Integrated Customs Management) Comprehensive IT platform that controls import, export, and transit customs operations across maritime, air, and land channels. It enables centralized data declaration by all operators (importers, exporters, freight agents, dispatchers, warehouses, ministries, auditors, transporters, banks) and provides real-time traceability of merchandise throughout the customs process. Designed for national customs administrations.
• SWiMF (Single Window Message Framework) Configurable and scalable framework that streamlines software integration and operations. Features a robust web API handling XML messages in REST or SOAP formats, supports industry standards (WCO, IATA, e-AWB), and includes a proprietary BRMS for defining, tracking, and auditing validation rules without extensive programming, plus dynamic forms based on Endpoint data structures. Targeted at organizations building or operating single window systems and integration platforms.
• VUCE (Ventanilla Única de Comercio Exterior / Electronic Single Window) Electronic single window mechanism for foreign trade facilitation, following UN/CEFACT recommendation 33. It unifies information and documentation in a single entry point for all import, export, and transit formalities, including process redesign and regulatory review, delivered as a single technology platform. Implemented by Concepto for Uruguay's VUCE in partnership with GeneXus Consulting.
• LUCIA Customs Management System Original customs management system developed for Uruguay Customs in 1998, serving as the foundation for the modernization of Uruguay's customs operations and continuously maintained and evolved since inception. Underpins the TICA system in Costa Rica.
• TICA Customs System (Costa Rica) Costa Rica's customs system based on Concepto's LUCIA platform. Supports modules for Import, Export, Transit, Free Zones, and Inward Processing, with second and third level support provided by Concepto to Ministerio de Hacienda - Aduana Costa Rica.
• Risk Analysis System for Customs Administrations Risk assessment and management tool for customs administrations based on the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards. Allows dynamic characterization of risks that change frequently, with knowledge stored in explicit form to support risk-based control balancing trade facilitation with regulatory oversight. Adapted and implemented for DIAN Colombia.
• SIGE (Stock and Inventory Management for Free Trade Zones) Inventory and stock management system for companies operating in free trade zones, integrated with access control, scales, logistics supply systems, and dispatcher software for customs reporting. Deployed for industrial clients such as UPM (Fray Bentos) and Montes del Plata (Punta Pereyra) to comply with regulations such as CAROU.

Quantifiable outcome

• Uninterrupted maintenance and evolution of Uruguay customs system since 1998
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GeneXus ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneXus Consulting partnered with Concepto to implement the VUCE (Foreign Trade Single Window) in Uruguay. Concepto is a GOLD Solution Partner of GeneXus, using the Genexus development tool as a core technology for all software development. This is a key strategic partnership providing access to a leading low-code development platform.
• SIGE Software SRLcoreTechnology or IntegrationSIGE Software SRL is a spin-off from Concepto (founded 2003). They are customers, partners and commercial allies. Concepto supports SIGE projects in foreign trade integration with brokers, free zones, customs and other components. SIGE contributes business management modules to Concepto's projects. SIGE also developed the stock system for Montes del Plata and UPM free trade zones.
• CUTI (Cámara Uruguaya de Tecnologías de la Información)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCUTI (Uruguayan Chamber of Information Technology) is listed as a Partner & Ally on Concepto's website. CUTI is the main industry association for technology companies in Uruguay.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Webb Fontaine: Dubai-headquartered provider of customs and trade facilitation technology, including single-window and risk management solutions for government agencies in emerging markets — directly comparable to Concepto's GIA, VUCE, and risk-analysis offerings.
• CrimsonLogic: Singapore-based trade and customs technology provider with national single-window implementations globally. Highly comparable to Concepto in targeting government customs modernization with configurable, standards-aligned platforms.
• MIC Customs Solutions: Austrian vendor specializing in customs declaration and tariff classification software for both government and enterprise. Comparable to Concepto in customs domain depth and in serving public-sector and trading companies.
• AEB (International Business Solutions): German provider of customs, trade compliance, and logistics software, including export controls and sanctions screening. Overlaps with Concepto in customs management and trade compliance software, though serving a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• Indra: Large Spanish IT services and systems integrator with public-sector customs and trade modernization projects across Europe and Latin America. Competes for the same government RFPs but operates at much broader scale and portfolio depth.
• Descartes Systems Group: Global trade compliance, customs, and logistics technology company serving both government and private-sector clients. Comparable in customs technology but with a far broader portfolio and enterprise customer base.
• OpenText (Trading Grid / GXS): Large enterprise information management vendor with a trade and customs integration offering (formerly GXS). Competes with Concepto in B2B integration and single-window messaging but as a much larger incumbent.
• Generix Group: European supply chain and trade compliance software vendor covering customs, EDI, and warehouse management. Concepto's SWiMF and integration capabilities are adjacent to Generix's portfolio.

Regional players

• Softtek: Mexico-headquartered IT services and software firm with significant Latin American public-sector and enterprise clients. Concepto competes with Softtek for government IT modernization projects in the region but at much larger scale.

Others

• GeneXus: Uruguayan low-code development platform vendor and Concepto's core technology partner. Relevant as an enabling technology provider and co-implementation partner on VUCE Uruguay; not a direct competitor but a critical ecosystem dependency.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/concepto-uruguay

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 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 concepto