Choosing the Right Customs Data Partner: An Overview of Globalwits and I-Power

In the rapidly evolving landscape of the digital trade ecosystem, access to accurate, timely, and comprehensive foreign trade intelligence is no longer a luxury—it is an absolute necessity for survival and growth. As companies worldwide undergo digital transformation, the reliance on big data analysis to drive decision-making has become the cornerstone of successful international business. However, not all data service platform providers are created equal.

For enterprises seeking to optimize their trade strategy, perform rigorous competitor analysis, and secure global buyers, the choice of a customs data provider is critical. This comprehensive analysis compares two prominent players in the market: Globalwits and I-Power. While Globalwits has been a player in the market for years, a deep dive into their offerings reveals significant gaps when compared to the robust, transparent, and user-centric solutions provided by I-Power.

Below, we explore why I-Power is the superior choice for B2B import and export tools, market analysis, and trade risk management, referencing specific data points, capital structures, and user experiences.

Globalwits vs. I-Power: Company Profile & Reliability

Globalwits: A Legacy of Stagnation? Founded in Beijing in 2001, Globalwits (operating under entities like Globalwits Co Limited or Globalwits Data Tech Co Ltd) is a private firm that has historically relied primarily on traditional telemarketing to acquire customers. While longevity in the market can be a sign of stability, in the fast-paced world of big data and digital trade solutions, stagnation is a liability.

A critical look at their corporate structure reveals concerning details for companies looking for a long-term partner in trade risk management. It is worth noting that while Globalwits boasts a registered capital of 10 million, their actual paid-in capital is reportedly only 1 million. This discrepancy can be a red flag regarding financial robustness and the ability to invest in ongoing product development and customer support. 

Perhaps most damaging to the user experience is their interface. The Globalwits platform hasn’t been meaningfully updated in years. It resembles a repository of raw customs data dumps rather than a modern smart trade terminal. For a user attempting to perform swift market analysis or customer development, the interface is clunky, difficult to search, and far from user-friendly. It fails to facilitate the quick onboarding required by modern teams.

I-Power: A Powerhouse of Foreign Trade Intelligence In stark contrast, I-Power stands as a trusted, state-owned enterprise established in 2004. With over two decades of experience, we have cemented our reputation by providing authoritative, first-hand customs data and trade data to over 40,000 clients. Our client base is diverse, spanning industries from electronics and traditional manufacturing to machinery, healthcare, and the food industry.

Unlike Globalwits, I-Power views itself as a partner in your digital transformation. We understand that big data analysis is only useful if it is accessible. Therefore, we offer a streamlined, multilingual interface that acts as an all-in-one data service platform. This solution integrates client prospecting, deep data analytics, automated market research report generation, decision-maker (Keyman) searches, and a fully integrated CRM with email campaign tracking. We don’t just give you raw numbers; we give you trade insights.

(Read More: 3 Search Ways to find buyer and their Emails via Custom Data)

Data Source Comparison: Transparency is Key

The true value of any international trade data platform lies in the quality and transparency of its sources. This is where the divergence between Globalwits and I-Power becomes most apparent.

The Globalwits “Black Box”

On the interface level, Globalwits fails to clearly distinguish the specific sources of its trade data. When a user searches for import data or export data on the Globalwits platform, they can often only see the “import or export country” without any provenance. This lack of transparency raises serious concerns about the authenticity of the information.

If you are basing your trade strategy or supply chain data decisions on this information, you need to know where it comes from. Furthermore, while the Globalwits website claims coverage of 89 countries, a closer inspection reveals that many of these datasets are inactive historical records that are no longer updated. In reality, their active coverage—useful for real-time market analysis—is limited to just over 40 countries. This limited scope hampers effective global marketplace intelligence.

I-Power: The Industry Standard for Transparency

I-Power believes that trade insights must be verifiable. We provide authoritative, first-hand customs data covering 230+ countries, with complete transparency regarding the specific source database for every single trade data record.

Our big data ecosystem is aggregated from 7 distinct channels, ensuring you have the most complete picture of global buyers and global suppliers:

1. 1. Customs Data (Customs Declaration Data): These are official declaration documents detailing quantity, product names, origin and pricing. This is the gold standard for competitor analysis and pricing strategy.
   2. Bill of Lading (BOL): The official contract and receipt issued by carriers. This serves as irrefutable proof that cargo has been received or loaded, essential for verifying import data.
   3. Shipping Line Data: Route-specific data collected directly by shipping companies, covering Ocean, Vessel, and Air Transport. This is crucial for supply chain data analysis.
   4. CIS/Land Transport: Unique data focusing on overland logistics, primarily “Belt and Road” routes connecting China to Central Asia and Eastern Europe—a key area for business expansion data.
   5. Global BOL: Comprehensive bill of lading data supplied directly by major shipping lines and logistics firms, offering a macro view of international trade data.
   6. SICA BOL: Specialized data for six Central American nations (Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador), vital for niche market research reports.
   7. Mirror Data: A sophisticated, reverse-engineered database derived from counterpart records. Example: A U.S. import data record from a Japanese supplier reveals Japanese export data activity. This technique bridges the gap, allowing us to provide trade insights even if a country like Japan does not officially release specific export records.

I-Power ensures total transparency. Users can easily verify exactly which trade data sources are available for any specific country directly from the dashboard. Unlike Globalwits, we don’t hide our sources; we highlight them.

Case Studies: Globalwits vs. I-Power in Action

To truly understand the difference in quality between Globalwits and I-Power, we must look at specific examples of market analysis and data retrieval.

1. 1. Thailand Data Analysis Scenario: A user searches for HS Code “842489” (Mechanical appliances) for the period Nov 2023 – Sep 2024 to find global buyers or global suppliers in Thailand.

• • Globalwits Results: Globalwits returns only 2,151 records and identifies 221 buyers.
    • Critical Flaw: Roughly 20% of these records list “suppliers.” This suggests that Globalwits is providing misleading cross-border e-commerce data rather than authentic Thai customs declaration data. Authentic Thai customs records strictly show buyers, HS codes, and volume—they do not include supplier fields.
    • Impact: Relying on this Globalwits data could lead to a flawed trade strategy and inaccurate competitor analysis because the dataset is polluted with non-B2B transactions.
  • I-Power Results: I-Power returns 10,194 records and identifies 1,650 buyers.
    • The Advantage: We provide authentic customs declaration data and exclusive China-Thailand trade data. This allows for significantly more accurate market research reports and far more effective customer development. The difference in volume (10k vs 2k) shows the depth of our big data analysis capabilities.

1. 2. Brazil Data Consistency Scenario: A company needs ongoing trade statistics for the Brazilian market to manage supply chain data.

• • Globalwits Status: Updates on the Globalwits platform ceased in Nov 2021 for general access. To get data, they charge extra fees per HS Code (approx. RMB 3,000). This “paywalling” of basic data disrupts the flow of foreign trade intelligence.
  • I-Power Status: I-Power provides customs data and government procurement data that is updated weekly.
    • The Advantage: There is no extra cost. Our subscribers receive continuous, up-to-date import data and export data, ensuring their trade risk management strategies are based on the current reality, not historical history.

Global Data Coverage: The Scope of Intelligence

For a company engaged in precision marketing, the scope of data determines the reach of the campaign.

• Globalwits: Claims coverage of “89 countries,” but in practice, active, reliable data is available for only 40+ countries. Furthermore, Globalwits fails to clearly mark data sources, and their historical data is often limited to the last 5 years. This shallow pool of data limits the ability to perform long-term trend analysis or comprehensive market research reports.
• I-Power: We offer access to 230+ countries, with data archives dating back to 2015. Our global marketplace intelligence is unmatched. Whether you are looking for customs declaration data, Global BOL, or specific shipping line data, our platform identifies the source clearly. Furthermore, users can set up real-time subscription alerts. When new trade data enters our smart trade terminal, you know immediately—giving you a first-mover advantage in customer development.

Pricing & Value: The Cost of Doing Business

Budget allocation is a key part of any trade strategy.

• Globalwits: Despite the limitations in data quality, interface, and updates, Globalwits is quite expensive. Their entry-level pricing starts at roughly RMB 48,800/year, and this only includes access for 2 users. For a small Globalwits co limited setup, this pricing model offers low ROI.
• I-Power: We offer a cost-effective, comprehensive All-in-One System. Our package includes the core customs data and trade data, but also integrates market trend analysis tools, email contact search, email tracking, and CRM features. We provide access for multiple user accounts, making it a scalable solution for teams driving digital transformation.

Schedule a DEMO to know Customs Data

Our “Customs Data”, using AI to provide accurate customer lists for international trade business owners, to help small and medium enterprises to accelerate the efficiency of customer development and seize export opportunities. It also has the function of building B2B leads.

After finding useful company information, you can know the main contact person of this company by “Email Finder”, which is convenient for subsequent market development.If you are interested in “Customs Data”, please contact our Whatsapp to schedule an online DEMO with us.