Gig Harbor, Washington, August 11, 2021 - International Trade Systems (ITS), based in Gig Harbor, Washington, a leading provider of Customs Brokerage and Freight Forwarding logistics software solutions, announced today that Xtheta, a logistics software leader in the Customs Brokerage business is merging through an exclusive partnership with ITS. 

This joint venture is a dynamic response to disruptions in worldwide supply chains caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. ITS and Xtheta are confident that their agreement will benefit customers by capitalizing on emerging trends in cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), digitization, automation of processes such as customs clearance and freight forwarding. 

This deal follows ITS's merger momentum with GMS International last year, as well as the recent release of the ITS NxGen Software Platform earlier this year and extensive collaborations with industry experts and mutual customers.

Derek Stevens, Xtheta CEO commented, saying, “With ITS, GMS and Xtheta working together, I know we have the deepest industry knowledge of any company in the Customs Brokerage area. The migration to the ITS NxGen Software Platform offers all of our customers a great user experience while supporting the many changes that are coming in the logistics industry.”

Steve Platman, CEO of ITS and Derek Stevens, CEO of Xtheta envision greater opportunities for fueling growth for their current Customs Brokerage customers. They’re excited about the prospect of bringing on larger logistics companies by working together. An existing customer, Joanne Rabideau, VP of US Operations at Axxess International, commented, “we are very excited by this merger announcement. Migrating to NxGen will be greatly simplified and accelerated by coordinating our resources and the movement of our data."

The merger will focus on modernizing and accelerating growth within their current Customs Brokerage customer base by utilizing ITS’s NxGen Software Platform. ITS NxGen is an innovative, AI, digital powered native-cloud logistics platform that harmonizes the intelligence of digitized data together with workflow and process automation.

Steve Platman, ITS CEO says, “The merger with Xtheta brings together an industry powerhouse CBP approved ACE software vender. Additionally, Derek and team offer a vast array of knowledge and years of experience to lead the modernization of our joint customer move to ITS NxGen Software Platform. This is a huge win for all our customers, future customers and staff.”

ITS’s current management team will remain in place. Platman will continue as CEO of ITS and focus on sales, business development and marketing, while Stevens will focus on technology integrations and customer successes.

In addition, the merger enables both companies to combine their efforts to bring on new Customs Brokerage companies, Freight Forwarders, importers, exporters and other logistics companies with additional technology investments and innovation in industry applications, cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), digitization and automation. Moreover, ITS plans on adding new jobs in client services, technical services and business development.

Longer term, the merger will enable the development of a full AI-driven digital automation transportation management system (TMS).

About ITS

International Trade Systems (ITS) based in Gig Harbor, Washington is a leading provider of Customs Brokerage, Freight Forwarder, importer and exporter software solutions. ITS NxGen solution delivers one of the most innovative and easy to use native-cloud digitization & automation logistics software platforms built on a strong foundation based on 30+ years of experience in the industry and providing service to over 3,200 exclusive users.

About Xtheta

Xtheta based in Skippack, PA is a software leader in the U.S. Customs Brokerage industry, which offers a full featured logistics solution. With over 50 years in the industry, Xtheta has used their vast knowledge, expertise, and history in the U.S. Customs industry to deliver technology that helps solve complex logistics execution transactions for any size Customs Broker.