Customs Support Group (CSG), provider of customs clearance and trade solutions, is introducing a new AI-powered Customs SmartAssist solution for documentation processing at all its locations in Europe to significantly enhance documentation efficiency and quality, while enabling faster movement of goods across borders.
As a specialist in customs digitalisation and automation, CSG already processes every second customs declaration digitally. With the Europe-wide rollout of AI-based document processing, this share is expected to grow even further – potentially setting a new benchmark for the industry.
The Customs SmartAssist solution uses artificial intelligence (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. The tool also takes language complexity away by automatically extracting all relevant customs-specific information and instantaneously translating it.
Designed to be self-learning, the SmartAssist solution flags any unclear data fields for CSG experts to review before submission. Once corrections are made, the AI learns from the feedback and continuously improves its ability to interpret and process similar documents accurately in the future. This minimises errors and significantly reduces processing times.
Thanks to its scalability, the SmartAssist solution can efficiently handle large volumes of documents. After the first round of testing in the United Kingdom, the efficiency of documentation processing improved by over 30 per cent even for complex goods declarations
John Wegman, CEO of Customs Support Group, confirmed: “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.”
Customs SmartAssist is already operational across CSG’s offices in the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Ireland, marking a major milestone in the company’s drive to support its customers both physically and digitally. With a presence in 14 countries across Europe, CSG aims to achieve a wider rollout network in the second half of 2025, while increasing efficiencies by up to 50%.
As the demand for digital customs services continues to increase, the company anticipates passing over one million customs declarations through the SmartAssist system this year – focusing primarily on high-volume transactions. Given the scale and geographic reach of CSG’s operations, this initiative is poised to set a new benchmark for digitalization and efficiency in the global customs industry.
“A customs declarant typically needs several hours to input and check the data,” added Wegman. “AI and automation can do this in a fraction of the time. However, the finalisation of the customs declaration remains with our experts. Once the document has been completed by the AI, it still requires the complex expertise and judgement of our customs professionals – ‘Real Intelligence’ – to review all entries, sign off the declaration, and submit it to the authorities.”
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