Descartes Thyme-IT Integration: Transforming UK

“Customs efficiency is no longer a goal; it’s a daily operational demand.”

As UK-Ireland trade becomes more data-intensive and compliance-driven, freight forwarders are discovering that outdated, disconnected systems are their most significant operational limitation. This is where Descartes Thyme-IT comes in, reshaping customs workflows and making modern, integrated operations not only possible but also necessary.

This blog explores Descartes Thyme-IT in depth, why customs integration matters, and why forwarders can no longer rely on separated customs systems.

What is Descartes Thyme-IT Customs Software?

Descartes Thyme-IT is a cloud-based, multi-system customs filing platform designed specifically for businesses that trade between the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Europe. Developed by Thyme-IT and later strengthened by Descartes Systems Group, the software combines decades of customs experience with modern digital workflows.

It supports a wide range of custom environments, including

UK CDS (Customs Declaration Service)
Irish AIS (Automated Import System)
AES (Automated Export System)
ICS2 (Import Control System 2) safety filings
NCTS (New Computerised Transit System) for transit movements
EMCS (Excise Movement Control System)
PBN (Pre-Boarding Notifications) for Irish Sea ferry routes

Thyme-IT is designed to handle the speed and variety of logistics operations, including air and sea freight, road transport, and cross-border groupage. It centralizes all customs declarations on a single platform, eliminating the need for forwarders to navigate multiple government portals or reconcile inconsistent filing formats.

How is Descartes Thyme-IT Changing Customs Workflows?

Descartes Thyme-IT is redefining customs operations through automation, centralization, and smarter data management. Its impact is most visible in four major areas:

Unified control over UK-Ireland customs

Forwarders often need to submit two declarations, one for the UK and one for Ireland. Instead of switching between multiple government systems, Thyme-IT provides a single unified interface, reducing complexity and keeping workflows consistent.

Automatic Data Entry and Validation

The software automatically maps tariff codes, trader data, values, weights, and procedure codes, and then validates each field against CDS, AIS, or NCTS requirements, significantly reducing rejections due to missing or incorrect data.

Faster High-Volume Processing

Speed is critical for forwarders handling hundreds of declarations daily, especially on routes like Holyhead–Dublin. With bulk uploads, reusable templates, and automated workflows, Thyme-IT lets teams process high volumes of entries in minutes instead of hours.

Real-time Customs Response Management

Thyme-IT instantly displays customs acceptances, queries, and rejections, allowing teams to respond quickly, keep customers informed, and avoid unnecessary delays at borders and ports.

Advantages of Descartes Thyme-IT Customs Software

Accurate, Error-Free Declarations

The platform’s built-in checks detect formatting errors, incorrect codes, and missing information before submission. This reduces errors, penalties, and costly delays caused by customs rejections.

Reduced Manual Workload

Thyme-IT significantly reduces repetitive data entry, allowing customs teams to focus on critical tasks. Many forwarders report time savings of up to 60-80% during declaration preparation.

Ideal for SMEs and Large Enterprises

The platform is easily scalable, allowing it to support small forwarders, large 3PLs, multinational supply chains, and high-volume carriers without sacrificing performance.

Multi-Modal and Multi-Jurisdiction Coverage

Thyme-IT supports road, sea, rail, and air freight filings for both the UK and Irish customs authorities, making it extremely versatile.

Enhanced Compliance and Audit Readiness

Strong audit trails, historical data logs, and ongoing schema updates ensure that forwarders comply with changing regulatory requirements.

Why do Freight Forwarders Need Integrated Customs Systems to Stay Compliant and Competitive?

While Descartes Thyme-IT works well on its own, using it as a standalone tool limits its impact. Customs workflows depend on data from ERP, TMS, WMS, freight systems, and finance platforms. Without integration, teams end up re-entering data, checking multiple sources, and validating information manually, slowing operations and increasing the risk of errors.

Customs Data is Spread Across Multiple Systems

Shipping information is obtained from the TMS or CargoWise. Product information is derived from the ERP. Finance provides valuation and invoice data. When these systems are not linked, customs officers must manually copy and paste data, which is a slow and error-prone process.

Standalone Systems Cause Delays and Errors

Manual re-entry increases the possibility of discrepancies between invoices, packing lists, and customs declarations. These mismatches frequently result in declaration rejections or customs holds.

Integrated Workflows Improve Visibility

When Thyme-IT is completely integrated with operational systems, customs statuses are automatically updated on operational dashboards, customer portals, and internal screens. This provides complete visibility to forwarders at all stages of the shipment journey.

Faster Border Crossings and Fewer Holds

Integrated data leads to more accurate declarations. This reduces the likelihood of customs checks, minimizes delays, and speeds up clearance times.

A Competitive Advantage in a Fast-Moving Market

Forwarders who provide real-time customs visibility, faster clearance, and error-free filings improve the customer experience and win more business.

In 2026 and beyond, compliance alone isn’t enough; competitive freight forwarders must integrate customs into their full supply chain workflow.

Importance of Descartes Thyme-IT Customs Software Integration

Integration turns Descartes Thyme-IT from a strong customs tool into a fully automated customs ecosystem. When connected with ERP, WMS, TMS, CargoWise, and forwarding systems, it creates a smooth flow of operational and customs data, reducing delays, boosting compliance, and strengthening the entire supply chain.

Eliminating Duplicate Data Entry

Shipment, invoice, SKU, and transport data can flow seamlessly into customs declarations, eliminating hours of manual work and significantly reducing the chance of human error.

Real-Time Updates Across Systems

Customs responses received in Thyme-IT can automatically update ERP, CargoWise, CRM, or TMS platforms. This gives operations and customer service teams instant visibility into approvals, holds, and rejections.

Enhanced Compliance and Accuracy

Integrated systems ensure that every declaration uses verified, up-to-date operational data. This consistency reduces compliance risks, audit exposure, and costly customs rejections.

Scalability for High-Volume Operations

API-driven connections allow forwarders to automate thousands of declarations per day, enabling high-volume clearance without increasing the size of the customs team.

Better Customer Experience

Real-time integration enables forwarders to send automatic status updates to customers, display customs events in portals, and provide end-to-end visibility throughout the shipment lifecycle.

Adapting to Regulatory Changes

Integrated systems can quickly sync schema updates, regulatory requirements, and customs rule changes when CDS, AIS, ICS2, or transit regulations evolve.

Here Carguber plays an important role in Descartes Thyme-IT integration because customs data is sourced from multiple operational systems, and only a logistics-aware team can ensure that everything connects properly. We help forwarders in accomplishing this by facilitating smooth data mapping, resolving integration issues quickly, and maintaining real-time visibility across operations. In short, strong logistics support and helpdesk ensure Thyme-IT runs smoothly, scales easily, and provides the speed and accuracy that modern forwarders require.

Conclusion

Descartes Thyme- IT has become a game-changer for customs management in the UK and Ireland, helping forwarders automate declarations, reduce errors, and stay compliant. But today’s logistics environment requires more than standalone customs tools; customs must operate within a connected ecosystem. When Thyme-IT integrates with ERPs, transport, finance, and operational platforms, forwarders gain faster processing, fewer delays, better visibility, and the ability to scale confidently. Want to see how integrated customs workflows can work for your business? Schedule a free demo with Carguber today.