HMRC’s international operations depend on constant data exchange with both EU Member State Authorities and EU Central Services. Prior to Vivansa’s involvement, each application requiring CCN connectivity needed to implement its own CCN/CSI interface — a costly process requiring specialised knowledge of the complex, proprietary C-language CSI API. This approach created several critical issues: First, the technical complexity of the CSI interface required scarce specialist skills that were difficult to recruit and retain. Second, the decentralised approach to connectivity created redundancy and inefficiency across systems. Third, as new applications needed to connect to the CCN, HMRC faced increasing costs and implementation timelines. Fourth, the lack of standardization complicated maintenance and upgrades across the application landscape.

HMRC recognised the need for a central shared point for systems connectivity to the CCN network — an “EU Gateway” component that would provide a layer of separation between internal systems and the external CCN interface. This architecture would allow HMRC’s internal systems to be built independently from the implementation details of external integration, significantly reducing complexity and resource requirements.

Leveraging our extensive experience with similar connectivity challenges, Vivansa was selected to adapt our existing CCN/CSI connector technology to meet HMRC’s specific requirements. Our mission was to design, implement, and support a robust, high-performance integration solution that would become the backbone of HMRC’s European data exchange operations.

Working in close partnership with ASPIRE (the consortium of Capgemini, Fujitsu, Accenture, and BT responsible for HMRC’s IT services), Vivansa undertook an 18-month implementation project. Our team of IT analysts, SOA developers, and solution architects employed a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) approach using Java and Oracle WebLogic to create a standardised gateway interface.

The resulting solution — lxr.CCN — provided a software connector that abstracted the complexity of the CCN/CSI protocol, offering HMRC applications a simpler, standardized way to exchange data through the trans-European network. After successful implementation and integration into HMRC’s EU Gateway, Vivansa was further entrusted with providing second-level support and maintenance for the lxr.CCN product — a testament to the critical importance of this connector in HMRC’s IT landscape and their confidence in Vivansa’s expertise.

The successful implementation of the EU Gateway powered by Vivansa’s lxr.CCN connector has delivered remarkable results for HMRC. Initially rolled out on January 1, 2010, to support the Excise Movement Control System (EMCS), the gateway’s use expanded over time to support other critical EU applications including the Import Control System (ICS), EU VAT, Mini One Stop Shop (MOSS), and ITR (UK EOS).

Today, the EU Gateway processes hundreds of millions of messages annually with exceptional reliability. The centralised approach has significantly reduced development and maintenance costs while enabling faster deployment of new applications requiring CCN connectivity. Most recently, Vivansa successfully supported HMRC in migrating the EU Gateway from GB CCN to XI CCN to address the requirements introduced by Brexit — demonstrating the solution’s flexibility in adapting to major regulatory changes.

What makes this success story particularly noteworthy is the extraordinary longevity of the solution. Now in its fourteenth year of production operation, the lxr.CCN connector continues to evolve to meet changing requirements. As an illustration of this, the solution has recently been upgraded to support the NJCSI stack, reflecting both the enduring value of the original architecture and the strength of the ongoing partnership between Vivansa and HMRC. Indeed, the collaboration between the two organizations has never been stronger than during these past two years, showcasing a remarkable example of successful long-term technology partnership in the Customs domain.

The project’s enduring success has validated Vivansa’s approach to building reusable, industry-focused solutions on top of their semantic web platform. By carefully balancing specific customer needs with broader industry requirements, Vivansa has created a foundation for addressing similar challenges across multiple organisations while maintaining the flexibility to accommodate unique operational requirements.