Every freight forwarder and licensed customs broker eventually faces the same question: how long will a generic ERP hold up? And when is it time to move to a dedicated TMS or customs clearance platform?
The answer depends on company size, geographic scope, and regulatory profile. This article introduces the main market players in 2026 — CargoWise One, Akanea, and Conex — and provides a decision guide by operational profile.
IT Requirements Specific to Freight Forwarders
Customs Mandate and Power of Attorney Management
A freight forwarder acts on behalf of the principal. This mandate relationship has direct implications for the information system:
- Traceability of powers of attorney per client and per operation
- Management of delegated AEO codes (a shipper’s Authorised Economic Operator status can be used by their freight forwarder under certain customs procedures)
- Archiving of mandates in compliance with customs authority requirements (minimum three-year retention)
- Generation of customs declarations using the principal’s attributes, not the agent’s
A generic ERP — whether SAP S/4HANA, Microsoft Dynamics 365, or Sage X3 — has no native module to manage customs mandates. This concept is simply absent from their standard data schemas.
Multi-Currency Billing and Disbursement Re-invoicing
Freight forwarder billing combines several sources of complexity simultaneously:
- Own fees: clearance charges, handling fees, margin on freight
- Customs disbursements: import duties and VAT advanced on behalf of the client and re-invoiced without margin
- Third-party charges: terminal fees, demurrage, port handling charges
Disbursement re-invoicing is not a margin item: it is a cash flow item with specific accounting treatment. A generic ERP without a customs module does not natively handle this split. The typical result: a manual monthly reconciliation, often in a spreadsheet, with all the associated risk of discrepancies.
Shipment Tracking: Air, Sea, Road, Express
A multi-modal freight forwarder tracks shipments across air (AWB — Air Waybill), sea (B/L — Bill of Lading), road (CMR), and express (Hawker Waybill). Each mode has its own documents, nomenclature, and regulatory timelines.
The system must store and archive transport documents and associated declarations, calculate estimated lead times by transport mode and Incoterm, and manage exceptions (delays, damage, customs disputes) with their financial impact. For a freight forwarder processing dozens of shipments per day, this level of traceability requires a purpose-built tool, not a generic ERP stretched beyond its design.
Generic ERP vs Specialized Solution: The Real Trade-Off
What Classic ERP Cannot Handle Natively
Generic ERPs cover accounting, procurement, sales, and payroll well. They consistently fail on three points that are critical for freight forwarders.
First: connectivity to customs portals. National customs authorities operate dedicated declaration portals — France’s DGDDI uses DELTA I (imports) and DELTA E (exports); the UK has the Customs Declaration Service (CDS); Germany uses ATLAS. No generic ERP offers certified native connectivity to these portals. A third-party customs module or specialized solution is always required, along with the associated integration, maintenance, and regulatory update costs.
Second: complex customs procedures. Bonded warehouses, temporary admission, inward processing, and customs transit involve specific documentary and accounting workflows. These procedures require guarantee management, stock movements under customs supervision, and procedure closure declarations. Only certified software maintained by dedicated customs teams masters these flows reliably.
Third: ICS2 Release 3. Since June 2024 for maritime and inland waterway, and since April 2025 for road and rail, freight forwarders filing house-level declarations must submit Entry Summary Declarations (ENS) in the EU’s ICS2 system before goods arrive on EU territory (Taxation and Customs Union, EU, June 2024). Freight forwarders not connected to ICS2 have been non-compliant since April 2025.
When Specialized Becomes Non-Negotiable
Investing in a specialized solution is justified when several conditions converge: a monthly customs declaration volume exceeding a few dozen (beyond that, error risk and manual entry costs make automation mandatory); a multi-modal operation covering two or more transport modes; AEO status or a project to obtain it (with the associated traceability and internal audit obligations); and billing that regularly includes disbursements to be accurately re-invoiced.
For an independent customs broker with low volumes and a single corridor, a simple accounting ERP complemented by direct access to the national customs portal may suffice initially — but that situation typically becomes a growth constraint quickly.
CargoWise One: The Global Standard for Large Freight Forwarders
Developed by Australian company WiseTech Global (listed on ASX since 2016), CargoWise One is the reference platform for large international freight operations. It covers the entire freight forwarding chain: shipment management, customs declarations in over 50 countries, billing, real-time shipment tracking, and consolidated performance analysis.
Strengths: Integrated Declarations and the Global CW1 Network
CargoWise stands out through three structural advantages for an internationally active freight forwarder.
Native global coverage allows customs declarations to be managed directly from the platform in more than 50 countries — including France, the UK, Germany, and the US. No third-party connector, no interface to maintain: shipment data feeds directly into the declaration.
The CW1 network offers a unique operational advantage: CargoWise clients exchange transport documents (pre-alerts, manifests, delivery instructions) directly with each other via the proprietary network. This network includes major shipping lines, airports, and port terminals. For a freight forwarder whose partners are already on CargoWise, the productivity gain is immediate.
ICS2 Release 3 management is natively integrated: ENS filing for maritime and road, pre-notification deadline management, and transmission to national portals.
Weaknesses: The Value Packs Model and Learning Curve
Since December 2025, WiseTech Global replaced its previous per-user licence model with Value Packs — transaction-based billing (GoFreight, 2026). Each logistics act generates a cost: indicative pricing is around USD 19.95 for a full-container import with inland leg, and USD 9.95 for a standalone import declaration.
This change has two major implications for freight forwarders currently evaluating the platform.
The first is reduced budget predictability: monthly cost depends directly on volumes processed. Reports published in early 2026 point to increases of 20–50% versus the old model for some clients, sometimes on short notice. Modelling cost against actual volumes — not estimates — before signing is essential.
The second is the learning curve: a mid-sized freight forwarding team typically reaches full autonomy on CargoWise in 12 to 18 months. That timeline represents a real operational risk, particularly for smaller businesses.
CargoWise is best suited to mid-to-large freight forwarders with high declaration volumes and multi-country operations, capable of absorbing training costs and handling the variability of transaction-based billing.
Akanea: The French Multi-Sector Transport Reference
Akanea is a French software publisher specialising in management solutions for transport, logistics, and agri-food. Its freight forwarding offering is built around two complementary products designed to work together in a unified architecture.
Integrated TMS Freight Forwarding and Customs Modules
Akanea TMS Freight Forwarding manages international freight operations for air and sea: shipment file creation, AWB and B/L management, shipment tracking, freight billing, and client re-invoicing. The IT FREIGHT portal, launched in 2025, provides a web interface for services and traceability for clients and partners of freight forwarders.
Akanea Customs, certified by French Customs since 2004, covers import and export declarations (DELTA I and DELTA E), NCTS transit procedures, special procedures including bonded warehouses and temporary admission, and integrated billing between the TMS and accounting.
Akanea’s strength is the native integration between TMS and customs: a single database, a single data entry flow, and coherent billing between transit fees and customs disbursements. This architecture eliminates the dual-entry problem characteristic of companies running separate TMS and customs software connected by an interface.
DELTA I/E Connectivity and Market Positioning
Connectivity with the French DELTA I/E portals is certified and kept up to date with every DGDDI regulatory change, including ICS2 Release 3 requirements. Freight forwarders using Akanea do not need to manage a third-party connector or monitor regulatory updates — the publisher handles that maintenance.
Akanea targets French freight forwarders and customs brokers of SME to mid-market size (roughly 10 to a few hundred employees). Its main competitive advantage is mastery of the French regulatory context, local commercial presence, and French-language support — three dimensions where international platforms like CargoWise show real limits for French mid-market businesses.
For operators working exclusively in France and neighbouring EU markets, Akanea offers more predictable compliance costs and faster on-boarding than global alternatives.
Conex and French-Native Customs Solutions
For customs brokers whose primary activity is declaration filing — without physical transport management — specialized customs tools offer a focused alternative. Conex is the French reference in this category.
Conex is a French publisher with over 30 years of experience in customs clearance software. Its suite covers several complementary needs:
- CUSTOMS via conex: electronic clearance management on DELTA I/E for France, Belgium, Spain, and the UK, covering all customs procedures (import, export, transit, warehouse)
- SAFE via conex: security and safety declaration filing before clearance, including ICS2 Release 3 and ANTES (for air freight)
- FACTO via conex: automated billing for customs broker services
- ZEN via conex: traceability and 24/7 archiving of customs electronic exchanges, with a full history of transmissions and DGDDI acknowledgements
Descartes Systems Group also offers a certified customs solution in France, covering import, export, transit, and warehouse declarations. Descartes is active in the French market and has a local commercial presence. For freight forwarders already integrating Descartes in their logistics chain (routing, tracking, supplier portal), this ecosystem consistency is a genuine argument.
One important limitation of Conex and Descartes: neither manages transport natively — no AWB, no B/L, no freight tracking. These are declarative tools. For customs brokers who handle only declarations without managing physical transport, this positioning fits. For freight forwarders with integrated freight operations, a solution covering both functions is required.
Comparison Table
| Criterion | CargoWise One | Akanea | Conex |
|---|---|---|---|
| International freight TMS | Native | Native | No |
| Customs declarations (national portals) | Yes (50+ countries) | Yes (FR + EU) | Yes (FR, BE, ES, UK) |
| Geographic coverage | 50+ countries | France + Europe | France, BE, ES, UK |
| Special customs procedures | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ICS2 Release 3 | Native | Native | SAFE module |
| Global partner network | Yes (CW1) | Limited | Not applicable |
| Local language support | Limited | Yes (French) | Yes (French) |
| Target profile | Large international freight forwarder | French SME/mid-market freight forwarder | Customs broker |
| Pricing model | Per-transaction (Value Packs) | On request | On request |
| Implementation complexity | High (12–18 months) | Intermediate | Low to intermediate |
Recommendation by Profile
Air or Sea Freight Forwarder Under 30 Employees
For an international freight SME with fewer than 30 staff, CargoWise One presents a cost-to-complexity ratio that is hard to justify. The transaction-based Value Packs model can become expensive even at moderate volumes, and the learning curve typically exceeds 12 months — a heavy operational burden for a small team.
Recommendation: Akanea TMS Freight Forwarding combined with the Akanea Customs module. The native integration between the two modules eliminates dual entry, French-language support reduces dependence on external consultants, and implementation cost is more predictable for a small business. If the primary activity is exclusively declaration filing (without physical transport management), Conex may offer a focused and more cost-effective option.
Multi-Modal Operator Over 100 Employees
A multi-modal freight forwarder active on several international corridors (Europe–Asia, transatlantic, Africa) needs a platform capable of consolidating operations into a single system.
Recommendation: CargoWise One is the natural fit at this scale, provided the implications of the Value Packs model are properly anticipated. This means modelling per-transaction cost against actual volumes — not estimates — securing transitional pricing protection in early contract negotiations, and allocating an 18-month training budget. For operators focused on France and Europe, Akanea remains relevant and offers better control over the local regulatory context.
AEO Seeking to Reduce Customs Errors
Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) status imposes enhanced traceability obligations, internal self-assessment requirements, and customs authority audits. Software lacking a consolidated audit trail and compliant archiving creates genuine risk at renewal time. AEO status renewal is partly conditional on the quality of the customs information system.
Recommendation: the choice of customs solution becomes critical here. Conex with its ZEN module (24/7 traceability and archiving) and Akanea Customs (native traceability within the clearance file) both meet AEO requirements. CargoWise One does as well, for businesses that have adopted that platform.
What is not acceptable for an AEO: declarations entered manually in the national customs portal with no certified management system, and disbursement billing reconstructed in a spreadsheet. This is not a hypothetical risk — it is exactly the profile customs authorities identify during renewal audits.
A Note on Incoterms and Customs Disputes
One aspect frequently underestimated in RFPs is customs dispute management: duty refunds for overcharges, tariff classification challenges, guarantee deposits for suspensive procedures. These flows require documentary traceability that only specialised tools handle correctly. Always request a live demonstration of this use case during an evaluation.
Similarly, how the system handles Incoterms determines who is responsible for customs clearance. Under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), the seller bears clearance costs at destination. Under EXW (Ex Works), the buyer does. These rules must be correctly configured in the solution to avoid disbursement billing errors.
Further Reading
To go deeper on logistics and customs IT management, these three complementary resources cover the most frequently asked adjacent topics:
- Our ERP and international trade guide covers HS code management, intra-EU VAT, CBAM, and sanctions from an ERP perspective — a broader view than customs declaration alone.
- Our transport and logistics ERP comparison examines Oracle OTM, SAP TM, Descartes, and Alpega for shippers and carriers — a useful companion read if you also manage in-house flows.
- Our EDI to Peppol migration guide details the implications of the 2026 e-invoicing mandate for B2B freight forwarders — a topic that directly affects customs service billing from 2026 onwards.
