Hurricane’s Kona API selected by UPU to help power global trade for posts

Hurricane’s Kona API selected by UPU to help power global trade for posts

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) has selected Hurricane Commerce’s unique Kona API to help power global trade for postal operators.

Hurricane is a member of the UPU’s prestigious Consultative Committee and its data validation product Zephyr has been available to members via the UPU’s Customs Declaration System since 2021.

Now, following a rigorous tender process, Hurricane has been chosen to supply its Kona API to members.

Kona is genuinely game-changing for cross-border trade, covering the critical areas of data validation, duty and tax calculation, prohibited and restricted goods screening and denied parties screening in a single API call.

Due to its modular nature, customers can choose the solutions it most urgently needs, whether that is one or all of Kona’s capabilities.

David Spottiswood, Co-Founder of Hurricane Commerce, said: “Hurricane is already established as the leading provider of cross-border data solutions to the postal sector with over 30 posts across the globe using our true AI-driven products and further major announcements to follow in the coming weeks.

“We are therefore delighted that the UPU is continuing to build on our already longstanding relationship with the adoption of our latest product, a truly unique innovation in cross-border eCommerce.

“We are also proud to be a gold sponsor of the UPU’s Consultative Committee, playing a pivotal role in providing members with knowledge and thought leadership.

“We now look forward to further embedding our long-term partnership with the UPU with the adoption of Kona, adding to the suite of products already available to its membership.

“The integration of Kona into the UPU’s CDS means that all the benefits of Hurricane’s tech are available to members in a single API call including data accuracy and speed, improved operational efficiencies, regulatory compliance and smooth customs clearance.”

Hurricane’s postal customers include Royal Mail, Australia Post, An Post, Canada Post, Hong Kong Post and Bpost.

Cyril McGrane, Director of Pricing, International and QOS at An Post, a longstanding Hurricane customer and UPU member, said: “The future success of cross-border trade hinges upon the adoption of a digital-first approach, underpinned by automated technologies. Only through such innovations can stakeholders ensure the seamless provision of data, capable of handling the ever-growing volumes associated with international transactions.

“As cross-border eCommerce continues to flourish, stakeholders must remain vigilant in navigating the evolving regulatory landscape. Embracing digital transformation and leveraging automated solutions will be imperative in sustaining growth and fostering a thriving global eCommerce ecosystem.

“Hurricane is a world-leader in the provision of cross-border data and a much-valued partner to An Post in supporting our own largescale programme of digitisation.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

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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.