Hurricane takes part in CB Commerce EU Spring Conference

Hurricane takes part in CB Commerce EU Spring Conference

Hurricane Commerce took part in the Cross-Border Commerce EU C-Suite Spring Conference in Brussels.

CEO Martyn Noble attended the two-day event which brought together 220 senior decision-makers from the worlds of retail, brands, marketplaces, and the wider eCommerce supply chain.

Hurricane was attending in its capacity as Knowledge Partner for the CB Commerce EU High-Level Marketplaces Group.

CB Commerce EU is the EU’s retail business accelerator providing valuable information and partner connections for companies wanting to start or scale their cross-border eCommerce within, from and to Europe.

Retailers, brands and marketplaces are key customer segments for Hurricane along with postal operators, carriers, multi-carriers and eCommerce platforms.

The intensive two-day conference included keynote talks, roundtables, and networking.

Martyn also took part in a face-to-face meeting of the High-Level Marketplaces Group – the first time the group had been able to meet in person.

Last year, the top 100 marketplaces were responsible for delivering over $3.23 trillion and well over 60% of all eCommerce sales now take place on marketplaces.

But the number of marketplaces also continues to grow exponentially, as more and more competitors enter the space.

This means that marketplaces must differentiate themselves and provide their sellers and their customers with the best possible experience.

This includes global exposure, efficient and flexible delivery and payment solutions, and cost transparency through the provision of Delivered Duty Paid [DDP].

And the key to being able to meet these requirements is through complete, accurate and compliant data solutions.

Hurricane’s award-winning AI-driven, real-time data services, Aura and Zephyr cover the critical cross-border eCommerce areas of duty and tax calculation, prohibited and restricted goods screening, denied parties screening and data enhancement through the provision of valid product descriptions, HS6 codes and import and export codes.

Martyn Noble said: “The CB Commerce EU conference brought together a fantastic delegate list including some of the most influential brands, retailers, and marketplaces in and around Europe.

“There are no shortage of challenges facing the sector, but also, for those who get it right, almost limitless opportunities.

“It was great to find out first hand some of the big issues facing the sector and the ways in which they are trying to overcome them.

“What was very apparent is the vital role high quality, lightning quick data has to play in terms of enabling retailers, brands and marketplaces to excel in cross-border eCommerce.

“I look forward to continuing to work closely with other colleagues in the CB Commerce EU network over the coming weeks and months, providing thought leadership and solutions.”

CB Commerce EU has produced a short film recording some of the highlights of its recent event in Brussels – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIN0NhZ2yyM

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David SpoTtiswood
Co-founder

Interesting Fact: I am an amateur baker, but I still have no idea how sourduogh starter actually works, and am intrigued how it all reacts together to produce an incredible taste.

Favourite Music: November Rain by Guns ‘n’ Roses.  Going to Wembley with my wife our go to fun thing in our early years, our youth with long hair and rock clothing and not a care in the world other than getting the best spot in the house.

Favourite Quote: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results ” – Albert Einstein

Harry Reilly
Non-exec

Interesting Fact:  I learned Arabic for five years!.

Favourite Music:  A Long December by Counting Crows.  Memory of best family time together in California.

Favourite Quote: “Don’t forget execution, boys. It’s the all-important last 95%”

Tom Lee

Technical Director

Interesting Fact:  I am completely self-taught from a technical skills persepctiuve, and left formal education at 18.

Favourite Music:  Blink 182 – Aliens Exist.  Brings back fond memories of stickly floors and cheap beer.

Favourite Quote: “He sprayed water in my face – thta’s not allowed” – James Haskell.  The whole event surrounding it is hilarious and shows the power of a good wind up

Martin Palmer
Co-Founder

Interesting Fact: I started my working life training to be an accountant but decided I hated numbers. (Ironically I now love them!). I really wanted to join the Hong Kong Police force but couldn’t do that until i was 24. I took a temporary job in Imports and 47 years later here I am.

Favourite Music: There only was one choice. Harry Chapin. Meant a lot to me in my early years as an import broker. We played Chapin for hours and this one seemed to cover so many modes.

Favourite Quote: “No man is an island”

Neil Harmer

Operations Director

Interesting Fact:  As a Geologist my idea of the perfect beach holiday is going to the beach and investigating the rocks in the cliffs behind.

Favourite Music:  Broken Stones – Paul Weller, I’m a huge Paul Weller / The Jam fan; Broken Stones is a very relaxing song, I love the use of the electric piano in it

Favourite Quote: “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today”. This is a great quote by Benjamin Franklin, to have in your head when working through a series of tasks to help keep focused.

Robert Dundas
Sales Director

Interesting Fact:  One of my life goals is to be able to speak French, I’ve been doing Duolingo every day for the last five years, and I’m still rubbish! 

Favourite Music: Where do I even start! Tom Petty Running Down a Dream, this is my top-down driving next to the ocean song

Favourite Quote: “This time will pass”

ASHLEY DEXTER
CFO & Co-founder

Interesting Fact: I was nearly named Battle Dexter (I would have probably now been residing in one of His Majesty’s establishments)

Favourite Music: Even though I spent a few years in the music industry my taste of music was always a cause for concern with my colleagues, so to surprise them all my current favourite is Kids by MGMT (absolute belter)

Favourite Quote: “Quitters never win and winners never quit”

Ian Venner
CTO & Co-founder

Interesting Fact: Runs Red Lantern Records, a not-for-profit, ethical label as a side project, whose artists have regular national BBC radio airplay.

Favourite Music: Tom Waits, pretty much all of his work.  Beautifully observed avante-garde vignettes of life.  Oh, and anything really loud!

Favourite Quote: “It’s not the mountains we climb, but the grit in our shoe that grinds us down” – which sums up taking a business from start-up to enterprise.

Martyn Noble
CEO & Co-founder

Interesting Fact: Played a high standard of semi-professional rugby union (too many years ago now!)

Favourite Music: Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven…my first live gig – Knebworth 11th August 1979, the track never grows old and is the iconic song of ‘hope’ whatever mood you are in when listening too it…and I’m still trying to work out what the lyrics mean!!

Favourite Quote: “Know your customers, Know your People, Know your Numbers” – plagiarised from Sir John Harvey Jones when I met him very early on in my career and values I stick to in my business life.