According to recent UNCTAD reports, world trade reached a record $33 trillion in 2024, with an increase of 3.7% ($1.2 trillion) over the previous year. Phenomenal, isn't it? In an era of accelerated globalization, efficient management of customs procedures has become vital to the international development of a company. These procedures determine the fluidity of trade, regulatory compliance and, ultimately, the competitiveness of economic players.

The problem? Traditional customs declarations are often synonymous with administrative complexity, costly errors and unpredictable delays. To overcome these obstacles, automated customs declarations have become an indispensable solution.

What does automation really entail? What concrete benefits does it offer? How are technologies such as Artificial Intelligence transforming customs clearance? What return on investment can we expect in 2025?

Customs clearance refers to all the administrative and fiscal formalities involved in the legal import and export of goods. From a technical point of view, it is a process comprising several crucial stages:

• Declaring goods to customs authorities
• Calculation and payment of customs duties and taxes
• Verification of compliance with trade regulations
• Obtaining the necessary authorizations

To grasp the stakes, imagine a huge bureaucratic jigsaw puzzle where each piece has to fit together perfectly to allow goods to pass through. One mistake, and the whole process can be delayed.

The major challenges of manual customs clearance

This inefficiency is not insignificant: in 2023, EU national customs authorities adjusted over 431 million euros in unpaid customs duties, illustrating the scale of errors and non-compliance in manual processes:

• Increasing regulatory complexity: Customs rules are constantly evolving, making it extremely difficult for companies to keep up with them.
• Excessive paperwork: Manual declarations require multiple documents (commercial invoices, certificates of origin, transport documents), multiplying the risk of errors.
• Frequent human errors: Manual data entry is particularly prone to errors, which are responsible for customs delays.
• Lack of transparency: Without automated systems, tracking the progress of formalities becomes complex and time-consuming.

Customs declaration automation involves digitizing and optimizing the entire customs clearance process using advanced technologies. It radically transforms the traditional approach, replacing manual intervention with intelligent digital processes.

Key technologies at the heart of the customs revolution

In 2025, the World Customs Organization has identified several key technological areas for modernizing customs procedures:

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

AI and machine learning are the foundation of modern customs automation. These technologies enable:

• Intelligent data extraction: automatic recognition of information on commercial documents
• Automated tariff classification: Precise determination of applicable customs codes
• Predictive risk analysis: Identification of high-risk transactions requiring in-depth monitoring
• Continuous process optimization: Continuous improvement through machine learning

By 2025, AI technologies will achieve accuracy rates in excess of 97% for document retrieval, as confirmed by a Harvard Business Review case study of a health insurance company

Blockchain and distributed ledger technology

Blockchain can be an alternative for managing traceability and securing customs data:

• End-to-end traceability: uninterrupted tracking of goods from origin to destination
• Data immutability: guaranteeing the integrity of exchanged information
• Smart contracts: Automating payments and property transfers
• Certification of origin: reliable verification of product origin

Although there have been failures with projects such as TradeLens, other companies are trying to democratize this technology. This is the case of carrier ONE, which has teamed up with GSBN for an eBL project. 

Internet of Things (IoT)

IoT transforms the physical tracking of goods:

• Real-time geolocation: Precise tracking of goods throughout their journey
• Intelligent sensors: Automatic detection of tampering or fraud attempts
• Automated border controls: smooth, secure passage thanks to automatic identification

Docloop: AI for document fluidity

Docloop stands out as a document exchange interoperability platform boosted by AI. This innovative solution revolutionizes customs procedures by enabling :

• Intelligent document categorization: Automatic identification of customs document type
• Precise extraction of critical data: automated capture of essential information with over 98% accuracy
• Seamless integration with existing systems: Compatibility with TMS, ERP and official customs platforms

The automation process in practice

To get a concrete idea of how modern customs automation works, let's take a look at the main stages in the process:

1. Intelligent document capture

The first step is to scan and capture all documents related to the import-export operation. Modern systems allow :

• Automatic e-mail monitoring: Detection and extraction of relevant attachments
• Intelligent scanning: Transforming paper documents into usable data
• Multi-source import: Integration of documents from different channels (portals, EDI, APIs)

By 2025, this stage will be completed in a matter of seconds, compared with several minutes for manual processing.

2. Automated classification and extraction

The AI then analyzes the documents to :

• Identify the type of document: invoice, certificate of origin, bill of lading, etc.
• Extract relevant data: Values, weights, tariff codes, country of origin, etc.
• Structuring information: Organizing data according to reporting requirements.

3. Data validation and enrichment

The system then proceeds to :

• Consistency checking: Detecting inconsistencies between different documents
• Automatic enrichment: missing data added via reference databases
• Tariff classification suggestion: Proposal of optimal customs codes

4. Declaration generation and submission

Finally, the :

• Prepares customs declarations: Formatting according to regulatory requirements
• Checks conformity: Final check before submission
• Submit electronically: Secure transmission to customs authorities

Automated declarations are processed on average 4.3 times faster than manual declarations.

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Reducing customs clearance times

Automating customs declarations can significantly reduce processing times thanks to advanced technologies such as AI and centralized systems. For example:

On a global scale, UNCTAD's ASYCUDA system has enabled some countries to reduce processing times for sea freight from several weeks to just a few days.

In Europe, the CCI (Centralised Clearance for Import) system simplifies and accelerates the process by enabling companies to submit their declarations in a fully digitalized environment. This reduces administrative interactions and improves delivery predictability.

Error reduction

Technologies such as AI and automation improve the accuracy of customs declarations by eliminating the human errors associated with manual data entry. According to the WCO and UNCTAD: Automation reduces the risk of errors by digitizing and simplifying processes.

Modern systems like ASYCUDA ensure greater compliance by automatically integrating regulatory changes and detecting document inconsistencies before submission.

Financial savings

Customs automation generates substantial savings by reducing administrative costs and optimizing processes.

Strategic impact on company competitiveness

In addition to operational gains, customs automation is profoundly transforming companies' ability to expand into international markets:

Accelerating international development

By simplifying customs procedures, automation significantly reduces barriers to entry into new markets. Companies equipped with advanced solutions develop their international presence 2.7 times faster than their competitors using traditional methods.

Refocusing on high value-added activities

Teams freed from tedious administrative tasks can concentrate on strategic missions:

• Deepen customer relationships: Improving customer satisfaction and loyalty
• Develop innovative new projects: Accelerating growth
• Acquiring new strategic skills: Increasing expertise

This reallocation of human resources generates a virtuous circle of innovation and growth.

Excellence in compliance and risk management

Automation redefines the approach to customs compliance:

Automated regulatory watch

Modern systems automatically incorporate regulatory changes, guaranteeing ongoing compliance without manual effort.

Continuous auditing and preventive detection

Unlike traditional periodic audits, automation enables continuous monitoring of customs operations, proactively identifying :

• Documentary inconsistencies: Before submission to the authorities
• The risk of misclassification: Avoiding adjustments
• Optimization opportunities: Reducing costs legally

This preventive approach transforms customs risk management from a reactive to a proactive posture.

Despite its obvious benefits, customs automation presents certain challenges that need to be anticipated:

Change management and acceptance

The digital transformation of customs processes can be met with resistance. To facilitate adoption :

• Involve teams right from the assessment phase: Employees must be actors of change
• Train progressively: A tailored training program reduces anxiety about new technologies
• Communicate concrete benefits: The focus should be on improving working conditions, not cutting jobs.

Data security and confidentiality

Automation brings with it major cybersecurity challenges:

• End-to-end encryption: Protecting sensitive data
• Multifactor authentication: Secure access
• Regular audits: Proactive vulnerability checks

Interoperability and technical integration

The major technical challenge remains interoperability between the various systems:

• Compatibility with existing ERP systems: Standardized interfaces
• Open APIs: Facilitating data exchange
• Modular solutions: Gradual implementation as needs dictate

Modern platforms like Docloop adopt an open architecture that facilitates integration with companies' existing technological ecosystems.

Generative Artificial Intelligence

Generative AI represents the next frontier in customs automation. In 2025, these technologies will already enable :

• Automatic generation of customs arguments: Intelligent drafting of justifications for complex cases
• Advanced predictive analysis: Identifying future regulatory developments and their impact
• Simulation of optimization scenarios: virtual testing of different customs strategies

Seamless integration into the global value chain

Customs automation is gradually becoming part of a holistic vision of the supply chain:

• Synchronization with logistics systems: Streamlining end-to-end operations
• Integration with international trade platforms: Simplifying B2B transactions
• Connection to international payment systems: Facilitating customs settlements

This seamless integration reduces friction and improves visibility throughout the international supply chain.

Democratization for SMEs

While large companies were the first to adopt customs automation, 2025 marks a turning point in the accessibility of these technologies:

• Affordable cloud solutions: lower initial investment
• Pay-per-use models: Adapting to SME volumes
• Simplified interfaces: Intuitive to use without technical expertise

This democratization enables SMEs to compete with large groups on international markets, by accessing the same levels of customs efficiency.

The automation of customs declarations is indeed a strategic lever for companies engaged in international trade, as the original article points out. The benefits in terms of shorter lead times, fewer errors and substantial cost savings are confirmed by various authoritative sources.

However, the global economic context in 2025 presents specific challenges that require a nuanced approach. Growing uncertainty in world trade, geopolitical tensions and changing supply chains call for flexible, adaptable automation solutions.

Companies should consider customs automation not only as a tool for operational efficiency, but also as a means of rapidly adapting to changes in the international trade landscape. In an environment of growing trade imbalances and reconfigured trade policies, the ability to efficiently process customs formalities is becoming a crucial competitive advantage. Where does your company stand in this transformation?