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Conex launches first integrated classification chatbot

[ March 25, 2026   //   ]

Conex has launched a its chatbot specialising in tariff classification which it says is the first to be integrated into customs clearance software.

The customs clearance software specialist says that ALBA can be natively integrated into declarants’ work tools and achieves a 95% accuracy rate in classifications, which is then validated by human experts.

Conex notes that with the widespread use of consumer AI tools, professionals are tempted to use general-purpose solutions to classify their goods. However, in an environment as regulated as customs this runs a significant risk of inspections, blocked goods, disputes and financial adjustments.

ALBA was designed to meet the demand for immediacy without sacrificing regulatory rigour. It offers a conversational interface, similar to consumer tools, but behind it lies formalised business expertise and a continuously updated regulatory database that feeds into every response.

Declarants can call upon ALBA at any time, directly from their workstations and offers a natural dialogue combining text, photos, and documents. The assistant analyses information, asks questions to refine understanding, cross-references regulatory sources and proposes the most relevant classification.

However, control and responsibility for the final decision remain with the declarant at all times.

Conex chief executive Bertrand Gruson said: “With ALBA, we are accelerating this movement by integrating the most advanced technologies with in-depth customs expertise. It is this combination — state-of-the-art technology and business expertise — that makes the difference for our customers in an increasingly demanding environment.”

The company’s founder, Alban Gruson, created the first electronic version of the notoriously bulky customs tariff, 30 years ago, up to then then only available on paper or microfiche. This marked the birth of the first Customs Encyclopaedia SelecTarif, recently renamed Tariff via Conex and today deployed in six European countries.

However, he had a broader vision an ‘expert system’ capable of guiding declarants through the tariff classification process, but the technological limitations of the time prevented this from happening. However, 30 years later, ALBA has made this a reality, says Conex.

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