By Business & Finance In our Ones to Watch section, we highlight some of the top up and coming businesses in Ireland. This week we feature Custran, a SaaS platform for importers, exporters (SMEs), international logistics companies, and customs agents.
What is it?
Custran is a B2B, early stage, software as a service (SaaS) platform for importers, exporters (SMEs), international logistics companies, and customs agents. Our mission is to digitalise and streamline all customs and transportation operations between stakeholders, on a single cloud-based platform.
Custran has developed a platform that allows users to process customs declarations through a secure connection with Revenue Online System.
The platform provides a full service around customs including helpdesk, ticketing, document upload and sharing, and real-time notifications.
There are 1.5 million customs declarations processed in Ireland annually. This figure is set to rise to 33 million in the post-Brexit market. In the UK there are 55 million SADs processed every year. This figure will rise to over 200 million post-Brexit. Currently a transaction-based model is standard across the market. We are currently working with customs services providers who describe existing methods as outdated and not fit for purpose. These services providers are helping us to develop a service-based model, with a monthly recurring fee included.
Who’s behind it?
Kieran Gleeson, CEO, previously worked in international logistics, where he gained a deep sectoral knowledge of the industry and awareness of key gaps within the industry’s processes. He is the current secretary of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) southern section.
Steven Merrick, CIO, has 25 years’ experience in various business development roles in sales and marketing in B2B & B2C companies in Ireland, UK, Sweden & Cyprus.
How is it funded?
Custran is an Enterprise Ireland client and plans to raise €500,000 in funding by the end of the year.
Future plans
After entering the Irish market in 2019 the team plan to develop services for the UK market by early 2020.
The Custran team at the Port of Cork.
