Author: Jon Bass I Head of Business Development and Partnerships

Wouldn’t it be refreshing to live in a world where managing your customs clearances in-house was as effortless as sending an email? At Azarc, that world is a reality, now.

We’re so confident you’ll love our automated customs clearance solution, that we’re inviting you to process your first 50 transactions for FREE. No more endless paperwork, no more compliance headaches – just seamless, streamlined processes at your fingertips.

Like many stakeholders, operators, and businesses working across global supply chains today, importers are facing unprecedented challenges as they navigate the customs clearance space day in, day out.
Even with ongoing efforts to make digitization accessible and inclusive across global trade corridors, supply chains still operate at a complex level. This is why – as we’re all very aware – ensuring timely deliveries, meeting compliance requirements, and minimizing costs feels like an uphill battle 99% of the time.

For importers, customs processes are undergoing rapid advancements, but keeping up with these changes is another challenge in itself. Especially, when these processes aren’t managed under one roof.

For the team here at Azarc, this is where harnessing the power of AI has led to the development of an innovative solution – Rune. Designed to empower importers to bring their customs clearance process back in-house and take back control, Rune is proven to increase visibility and significantly decrease overheads, by making customs declarations as easy as sending an email.

We get it, we’ve been there; navigating customs clearance can often feel like walking through a minefield of regulations, paperwork, and potential delays. Automation through AI can and will help simplify this process dramatically.

Here are some of the key benefits:

• Faster document management – AI-powered Optical Character Recognition (OCR) can process critical documents like invoices and packing lists, extracting all necessary information and compiling it for customs declarations in just one step. This not only saves time but also significantly reduces the chances of human error. Azarc has even developed its own OCR software, giving importers one less process to outsource.
• Compliance and risk management – With ever-changing local and international regulations, staying compliant can be a major challenge. AI systems can automate compliance checks, ensuring shipments meet all necessary regulations. In addition, machine learning algorithms can flag high-risk shipments, streamlining low-risk consignments and reducing delays as well as adapting to suit shifting requirements.
• Seamless data integration – AI doesn’t just improve individual tasks—it can integrate with legacy systems in real-time. This allows for instant updates and smoother communication, giving you back control of your processes while providing access to the analysis of large datasets and identifying trends that can further optimize your processes.

Importers can and should look to AI solutions to improve customs clearance, of course – making the process faster, less error-prone, and more efficient – but for us, the real benefit comes in AI freeing up your team members to focus on higher-value tasks rather than repetitive ones.

For many importers, the key lies in automating the most tedious and error-prone parts of customs clearance, such as document management, data input, and compliance checks, so that skilled employees can focus on tasks that add more value to your business.

One of the lesser-discussed benefits of AI – but one of the most important in our eyes – is how it can improve your team’s work environment. By automating repetitive tasks, AI not only increases job satisfaction but also helps retain key staff members, who might otherwise leave for the opportunity of more stimulating work. In today’s competitive logistics landscape, retaining skilled employees is a consideration you can’t ignore.

The future of customs clearance is digital. There is no question about that. Get ahead of the curve, choose to adopt an AI solution early, and bring your operations back in-house. Position yourself to navigate customs with ease, gain a competitive advantage, and drive long-term success in an increasingly complex market.

Find out how the team at Azarc can help you take control of your customs clearances, we’ll even give you your first 50 transactions for FREE to prove it.