NTT DATA acquires Conexos to expand its software product portfolio

September 29, 2023

NTT DATA, Inc.

Bielefeld, Germany/Vitoria, Brazil – 28 September 2023 – NTT DATA Business Solutions AG expands its software product portfolio with the acquisition of Conexos, the market leader for solutions for trading companies in Brazil. Founded in 1998, Conexos serves clients in the retail, trading, logistics, industrial, and commodity exchange sectors. Its flagship product is the Global Trade Management (GTM) software "Conexos Cloud" focused on the comprehensive management of foreign trade, from visibility in international logistics to the most complex control processes relating to customs clearance, special regimes, currency exchange, and taxation.

The logistics of importing and exporting goods and commodities in Brazil are complex and strictly regulated. In addition, the calculation of taxes and communication with Siscomex, the Brazilian government system, is unique compared to other countries. With the acquisition, the two companies combine their competencies in an exclusive offering: NTT DATA Business Solutions enables the transformation to SAP® S/4HANA and offers multiple tax solutions. Conexos, with its GTM software, enables efficient and agile control of imports and exports, focusing on process optimization with the commitment to increase the level of visibility, management, and governance of foreign trade transactions.

"With the acquisition of Conexos, we are fostering our growth ambitions in Brazil. At the same time, we are pursuing our strategy to keep growing successfully in our software products segment," comments Norbert Rotter, CEO of NTT DATA Business Solutions and EVP NTT DATA, Inc. "Our goal is to provide our Brazilian customers with a comprehensive SAP® and own software solution that is tailored to their specific needs. With Conexos, we offer a GTM software that effectively facilitates the work of our customers and can be easily integrated into SAP through its existing API structure."

Global trade is a complex system involving the exchange of goods, services, and capital across national borders. The multitude of participants, regulatory frameworks, tariffs, and non-tariff barriers such as quotas, embargoes, technical standards, and customs procedures create complex interactions. Conexos has developed a comprehensive Software as a Service (SaaS) product consisting of several modules that automate import and export processes for customers. The goal is to simplify bureaucracy and facilitate the efficient processing of customs clearance procedures. The synergistic collaboration of more than 65 integrated robots gives the platform the ability to provide assistance while reducing the need for manual intervention, eliminating potential human error. It also has a suite of more than 4,000 reports that provide critical support for strategic decisions.

"Conexos Cloud has been developed with a focus on speed and flexibility, enabling the management of large volumes of data and processes necessary for a company's logistics system," says Claudenir Scalzer, Founder and CEO of Conexos. "We have already started our first projects with customers using SAP. The merger with NTT DATA Business Solutions provides us with a significant green field for our products and a valuable opportunity to modernize foreign trade."

The two companies have successfully partnered on the brand GUEPARDO – Fostering Finance, a hybrid product portfolio that combines cloud and on-premises components. "GUEPARDO Global Trade by Conexos is a result of our ongoing partnership," explains Ricardo Fachin, Managing Director of NTT DATA Business Solutions Brazil. "It is a high-performance management platform, capable of automating up to 70% of the routines of the main foreign trade operators. As one company, we will be able to combine our in-depth expertise in an even stronger way and attract more potential customers to our services."

With the acquisition, more than 300 existing customers of Conexos will move to the NTT/NTT DATA Group. Geographic expansion throughout Latin America is a potential future goal, as Conexos Cloud, currently available only in Brazil, is already tailored to Latin American companies and has additional versions in Spanish and English.