For a country of just over 5.3 million people, Ireland can justifiably be said to punch above its weight.
That is certainly true in economic terms.
It is, for example, the UK’s sixth largest global partner, accounting for two-way trade across the Irish Sea worth £83.6 billion in the 12 months to the end of October.
Two-thirds of that amount are made up of exports from the UK, a strong proportion of which comprises orders placed by Irish consumers.
That it remains the case despite the administrative obstacles created by Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union is testament to the efforts and ingenuity of companies like COLL-8 which have kept the business of shipping between the two countries as simple as possible.
It is something evidenced in part by figures relating to parcel traffic published in the last few weeks by Ireland’s Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg).
They show that 42.59 million of the 140.73 million parcels handled by logistics firms in Ireland during 2023 were inbound.
Forty per cent of those inbound volumes were dealt with by COLL-8.
That fact is not just notable because Coll-8 created a bespoke platform which automated the customs clearance process regarded by many companies as a possible challenge to efficient trade.
The development quickly made us Ireland’s leading independent customs clearance specialist.
Even more remarkable is that COLL-8 achieved its dominant position just four years after being launched.
It is worth bearing in mind that the ComReg data on inbound volumes covers all consignments destined for Ireland from abroad.
If we consider only that traffic originating with UK-based retail brands, the proportion assisted by COLL-8 is even higher.
We have not only become the most trusted partner for businesses both large and small on the strength of IT which has transformed the degree of effort that they must invest in order to access a vibrant Irish market.
COLL-8 facilitates a considerable proportion of line haul shipments heading for Ireland and, 12 months ago, opened a warehouse at Rosemount, in Dublin, offering additional dedicated ‘pick and pack’ services.
Furthermore, our award-winning drop2shop network – enabling online firms to provide shoppers with a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly way of collecting and returning products bought online – completes the consumer journey.
It is an all-’round solution which has seen COLL-8 play an important part in Ireland’s being regarded as one of Europe’s fastest growing e-commerce market places.
One data analysis company, Statista, has predicted that Irish shoppers will spend €5.07 billion online this year – an increase of 13 per cent on last year’s tally.
Yet that figure is expected to be much higher in the future, topping €8.2 billion in 2029.
Effective cross-border trade has implications for more than individual businesses and their customers.
Within the last few weeks, Ireland’s Department of Finance has released details of the country’s increased tax take.
A growing share of that is made up of excise duties – up 15.5 per cent since this time last year.
Customs clearance and associated duties are essential elements of international trade.
Being able to manage foreign shipments, as COLL-8 has done, so that they do not absorb disproportionate amounts of time and money allows businesses to take advantage of the commercial prospects on offer.