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AI to boost customs declaration efficiency

[ May 20, 2025   //   ]

Customs Support Group is rolling out an AI solution that it says will deliver efficiency savings of up to 50% on declaration documentation preparation.

CSG has trialled its Customs SmartAssist solution in the UK and is now rolling it out across 14 European markets, and has set a target of a million declarations processed using the technology in 2025.

The solution uses AI, machine learning and optical character recognition (OCR) to process documents accurately in various formats and qualities – including handwritten information or low-resolution copies and mobile phone photos. It automatically extracts all relevant information and instantaneously translates it.

After the first round of testing in the UK, CSG says the efficiency of documentation processing improved by more than 30%, even for complex goods declarations. As the module is self-learning, the aim is to achieve an overall increase in efficiency of up to 50% by the end of the year.

CSG chief executive, John Wegman, said: “CSG already processes every second customs declaration digitally – out of four million annually. With the Europe-wide rollout of AI-based document processing, this share will grow even further, setting a new benchmark for the industry.

“Customs clearance remains one of the most paper-intensive industries, further challenged by strict regulations and complex compliance requirements. Even a basic declaration involves handling at least four to five multipage documents, while more complex cases can require more than ten.

“Transferring, consolidating, and processing information from various documents consumes valuable time and is prone to omissions or errors, which can lead to delays in customs clearance, non-compliance risks or even fines.

“AI-powered document processing eliminates manual data entry, freeing our customs experts to focus on higher-value tasks such as reviewing customs declarations, resolving complex issues, and delivering personalised client support.”

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