Articles under "#AI" category

WCO 2026 Technology Conference Hackathon: turning innovation into practice

The 2026 WCO Technology Conference and Exhibition featured a hackathon during which participants were invited to imagine solutions that would make it easier to enhance risk management on the importation of small parcels generated by online sales.

Thirty-eight participants divided into five...

Design and development began quickly, with early decisions focused on data ingestion, how to structure the processing pipeline, and how to combine rules-based controls with analytics where appropriate. By the end of Day 1, each team had a working plan and an initial build underway.

Day 2 w...

Must read: How will the State think with the assistance of ChatGPT?

Blockchain, artificial intelligence and big data: how Korea Customs Service leverages technology to supervise e-commerce

Korea Customs Service (KCS) has introduced a range of measures since early 2010 to respond to a growing number of imports and exports generated by online sales and purchases by both businesses and individuals, given the strong upward trend in cross-border e-commerce.

KCS previously describ...

At the moment, assessing risk presents some constraints, given the low quality of data available. One way to strengthen the risk management system would be to obtain the data, including the va...

Bahamas Customs takes huge leap forward on recouping lost and evaded revenue

In 2020, Bahamas Customs began seeking solutions to help iden...

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The technology selected by Bahamas is deployed as a service under a subscription license. Called the “Risk Assessment Screening Service (RASS)”, the solution uses a combination of deduc...

Automatic detection tools help with identifying the illicit trade in ivory

Back in June 2016, we wrote in the pages of this very magazine that “automatic detection tools, commonly known by the acronym ATR, which means automatic th...

Non-intrusive inspection (NII) systems are helpful; however, any system is only as effective as the human who operates it. Operators must be well-trained, sufficient in number and accustomed to the many different shapes and forms of wildlife items.

Automated detection: Dutch Customs shares its experience

In our “Pushing Boundaries” vision, we described our “dot” on the horizon, a helpful focal point when dealing with challenges we are, and will be, confronted with. The most prominent one is how to cope with a rising number of declarations and, consequently, a growing need for inspections....

One objective was to develop an automated support system for image analysts. Participants worked in their respective areas of competence to deliver the various components required to create such a system. Some work...

Automating image analysis: China Customs implements new model for the development and deployment of algorithms

The General Administration of China Customs (hereinafter GACC) has been using large-scale non-intrusive inspection (NII) equipment to control containers and vehicles since 1991, which makes it among the first Customs administrations in the world to leverage such a technology. In 2014, faced with ...

These impressive results are the fruit of intensive efforts and of efficient collaboration between the GACC and the regional offices.

In the early stages, GACC conducted algorithm trai...

High-performance analytical tools to revolutionize Customs control

There are many suppliers of analytical tools that Customs can call on to enhance its risk assessment capabilities. Some propose to use selectivity models and specialized databases to analyse the transactions that Customs has to ensure are compliant.

It is advisable, however, to carry out a...

Although we had the infrastructure and technical expertise to provide this service, we still needed three key elements:

• access to comprehensive data in real time on companies, individual goods, routes and vessels;
• algorithms that could perform multidimensional modelling; and...

The AI revolution is underway, and this is good news for Customs

Customs authorities are showing a growing interest in adopting artificial intelligence (AI), the broad category of science that entails simulating human thinking capability and behaviour. As stated in a joint paper published by the World Customs Organization, (WCO) and the World Trade Organizatio...

For seaborne containers, such automatic detection offers opportunities in transforming Customs inspection into a streamlined en-route process, significantly increasing inspection rates with...

How Brazil transformed Customs control through artificial intelligence and other technologies

The landscape formed by IT Customs systems in Brazil has undergone significant transformation in recent years, redefining how the Customs Administration manages and mitigates risks. Through the innovative use of artificial intelligence, including machine learni...

Together, these solutions swiftly propelled the modernization of Brazil’s Customs control procedures, marking a pivotal step forward in enhancing efficiency and effectiveness. These tools have all evolved to become essential in shaping the way Brazil handles Customs operations.

ANIITA an...

Helping well-intentioned users

SISAM was designed to detect errors in classification codes, not to assist well-intentioned importers and exporters in classifying goods. For that purpose, a new system called CLASSIF

Issue: WCO News 90 October 2019

Dubai Customs uses artificial intelligence to boost productivity

Improving workplace productivity and helping people get their jobs done efficiently is critical for Customs administrations that have to deal with an increase in the number of cross-border movements, be it cargo or people.

With a forecasted growth in trade and travel being driven by EXPO 2...

The system acts like a tiny coach sitting on a manager’s shoulder throughout the day. And every now and then, the coach whispers something like, “this person did something great recently,” or “this process could be improved.”

The Productivity Engine produces a productivity score ...

Issue: WCO News 96 October 2021

Dubai Customs launches an app to help with goods classification

Trade operators required to classify their goods in the Unified Customs Tariff of countries belonging to the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) now have a helpful application (app) at their disposal. The app, called Al Munasiq (The Harmonizer), enables the...

Based on machine learning, which is the development of algorithms that learn from experience, the app compares the photo/picture received with those in its library. The Google Cloud Vision API was used to integrate vision detection features within the application, including image labelling. The o...

Issue: WCO News 105 – Issue 3 / 2024

Leveraging big data: China Customs’ journey towards data-driven smart risk management

In 2022, the WCO and its Members identified “Technology and Innovation” as one of the three focus areas of the WCO Strategic Plan 2022-2025. For the past few years, China Customs has been implementing the concept of “Smart Customs, Smart Borders and Smart Connectivity”, which established ...

Constructing a unified database

China Customs has comprehensively collected multi-source data and formed a data lake with over 15,000 data tables and more than 260 billion data entries in a local centralized manner.

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The principle of the model construction is as follows:

• a database was created from internal and external Customs data, including Customs declaration forms, manifests, enterprise reports, logistics documents, inspection reports, anti-smuggling filing, audit and inspection results, fun...

Issue: WCO News 91 February 2020

How digitalization combined with artificial intelligence can increase sustainability in global supply chain operations

Increasing the efficiency of transportation is key to reducing the impact of trade operations on the environment. To achieve significant results, Customs, border agencies, traders and logistics operators must digitalize their processes and share relevant data. Howe...

Working with industry leaders such as DHL, DPD, Cosco and Kuehne + Nagel, as well as with Customs administrations and other public authorities, MJC² has developed new AI-driven algorithms and optimization solutions, which address areas such as real-time logistics planning, manufacturin...

Issue: WCO News 94 February 2021

Improving Strategic Trade Detection and Classification through Machine Learning

Ensuring the enforcement of a national strategic trade control (STC) system is a key requirement for all Customs administrations. Strategic goods comprise weapons of mass destruction (WMD), conventional weapons, and the materials, technology and equipment that may be used in their development or ...

In the United States, for example, the Department of Commerce uses identifiers called export control classification numbers (ECCNs) to categorize items that are subject to export control regulations. These ECCNs predominantly contain strategic goods. US Customs and Border Protection uses the Harm...

Issue: WCO News 97 – Issue 1 / 2022

What impact is technology having on efforts to improve HS classification efficiency and accuracy?

One of the main topics of discussion during the 2019 WCO Conference on the Future Direction of the Harmonized System (HS) was HS complexity. Concern was expressed about the difficulty of HS classification especially for small and medium-sized enterprises that are being granted the opportunity to ...

Keyword search tools

The most ubiquitous of the technologies used to power classification assistance tools use keyword search operators. You’ll find these tools in one form or another in Customs management systems, elec...

Issue: WCO News 100 – Issue 1 / 2023

Armenia Customs strengthen anti-counterfeiting enforcement thanks to high-performance analytical tools

This article gives a snapshot of the evolution of risk management within Armenia Customs. It looks in particular into the analytical tools developed to strengthen anti-counterfeiting enforcement.

The implementation of a risk management tool to manage ...

Flexibility and continuous improvements

The tool built is flexible and undergoes continuous development and expansion. Like other automated systems, it collects, organizes and categorizes data from various IT systems on t...

At the Georgian Cyber Security and IT Innovation Conference held in 2019, the IPR module developed by the State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Armenia won the prize for “Best Online Information Resource”. During the event, the State Revenue Committee was also awarded “The Best IT Mana...

Issue: WCO News 102 – Issue 3 / 2023

Transforming trade: how Dubai Customs is harnessing AI for enhanced trade facilitation and border control

In a world where international trade is the lifeblood of economies, ensuring the smooth flow of goods across borders while maintaining rigorous controls is a challenging balancing act. Dubai, one of the world’s busiest trade hubs, is meeting this challenge he...

Cross Border E-commerce platform

The Government, guided by its strategic vision to establish Dubai as a global e-commerce hub and reduce the cost associated with e-commerce operations, is committed to ach...

Issue: WCO News 97 – Issue 1 / 2022

Digital Vetting: using multi-dimensional data and AI-driven selectivity models to enhance enforcement

Harnessing the Data Revolution

Global digitalization is leading to an exponential increase in the volume and production of data, which, in turn, is matched by a growing demand for data from all parts of society. This phen...

Examples

The following example shows an import transaction analysis using one-dimensional data:

Transaction: Consignment X is sent to importer Y by shipper Z with a value of $m and a weight of N.<...

Issue: WCO News 108 – Issue 3 / 2025

Artificial intelligence and machine learning-driven codification of entities and goods descriptions: transforming risk management in Indian Customs

Indian Customs has made significant strides in building systemic and real-time targeting capabilities through the development of an integrated risk management system powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning. One of the cornerstones of this system is ...

Assigning unique codes to overseas suppliers

To address this issue, it was decided to assign a unique identifier to suppliers based on their business names and addresses as submitted in the import declaration. An unsuperv...

Supply chain network analytics

Entity codification enables Customs authorities to analyse the relationships among key actors in the supply chain – including suppliers, importers, Customs brokers and ports of import – ...

Issue: WCO News 109 – Issue 1 / 2026

Artificial intelligence-based X-ray image analytics solution: India’s experience and key takeaways

The Integrated Risk Management System of Indian Customs comprises various artificial intelligence- and machine learning-based models. One of these models aims to enhance the capability of analysing images generated by non-intrusive inspection (NII) equipment. T...

The ABCs of AI integration in NII

Indian Customs started working in this field in 2022, with a team combining risk analysts and developers established at the National Customs Targeting Centre (NCTC) to design a centralize...

Issue: WCO News 102 – Issue 3 / 2023

How Indian Customs leverages data analytics for efficient risk management

Selecting cargo for inspections and examinations using basic methods has limitations, so, to enhance their enforcement capability, Customs administrations need a paradigm shift in the way they deal with targeting. They need to leverage data science, an interdiscipl...

The architecture’s robustness is underpinned by its ability to combine multiple advanced data science components with human intelligence. It enables Indian Customs to integrate multiple data sources, generate meaningful insights and utilize targets derived from both data science and human exper...

Issue: WCO News 104 – Issue 2 / 2024

Leveraging AI for Proactive Customs Compliance: Giving Shipments a Voice

The recent changes in trade compliance has created a need for better tools that allow enterprises to abide by international laws and regulations. Artificial intelligence has become one of the most important pieces of this puzzle. Used for broad tasks such as mapping supply chains down to classify...

These are insufficient tools being used to solve complex problems. A value chain encompasses the entire lifecycle of a product, from the raw materials to the assembly, to the sales and shipping – and it includes aspects of finance, logistics, marketing and legal. Compliance profess...

Issue: WCO News 106 – Issue 1 / 2025

Bulgaria deploys new data management systems to enhance its monitoring and inspection capacities

Bulgaria is located on the trade route between Asia and the European Union (EU), and its land crossing points situated along its south-east border with Turkey are some of the busiest of the EU. Illicit trade at these points of entry takes many forms, including the ...

BIRIS will be integrated into the other information systems managed by the administration as well as into monitoring devices such weighbridges, video cameras capturing vehicle registration numbers, and video surveillance cameras.

Central...

Issue: WCO News 91 February 2020

How Machine Learning Can Automate the Determination of the Valuation of Goods

Machine learning, i.e. the process of teaching a computer system how to make accurate predictions when fed data, can help Customs administrations to identify revenue fraud or other illegal activities. In this article, TTEK, a technology solutions firm, explains how...

At the time of writing, there are 164 countries that are members of the WTO; the most recent addition being Afghanistan in July 2016. In addition, several other countries have chosen voluntarily to adopt the Agreement as the basis for determining Customs value. To meet the terms of their internat...

Issue: WCO News 102 – Issue 3 / 2023

Leveraging AI for Customs classification purposes

There are many discussions about the efficiency of classification assistance tools. In this article, we argue that an AI-based tool, if well-built and properly used, can support classification experts, enabling them to focus their attention on unusual and difficult...

Firms that use AI extensively throughout their operations perform at a higher level than those that do not, and they seem to be aware of it, with 73% of businesses stating that AI is critical to their success.[1] However, even though nearly three out of four o...

Issue: WCO News 106 – Issue 1 / 2025

German Customs puts AI front and centre

German Customs has been successfully implementing innovative tools to address the challenges of managing international trade efficiently, developing solutions that are not only creative but also practically applicable in daily Customs operations. This article highl...

A Customs App Factory to develop applications within a short time frame

Another innovation is the Customs App Factory launched in 2024 to enable the dynamic and rapid development of apps for citizens, bus...

Issue: WCO News 86

Brazil’s new integrated risk management solutions

In 1993, the Department of Federal Revenue of Brazil (RFB), which has under its umbrella both the Customs service and the internal revenue service, launched Brazil’s Integrated International Trade System (Siscomex) as part of its efforts to implement computer-based procedures and controls. The ...

Machine learning

The artificial intelligence (AI) tool is called SISAM, a Portuguese acronym for “Customs Selection System through Machine Learning” in English. This computerized tool has been in use since August 2014...

Issue: WCO News 105 – Issue 3 / 2024

How Muon Tomography can fit into the Customs data ecosystem

Threats to the security and general well-being of people all over the world are increasing. Given the internationalization of today’s supply chains, countering many of these threats requires governments to rigorously control trade operations at import, export and transit. One recurring issue is...

About Muon Tomography

Issue: WCO News 106 – Issue 1 / 2025

How AI and IIoT change the game for X-ray systems maintenance

Choosing the right maintenance strategy is crucial for the efficiency, safety and longevity of non-intrusive inspection (NII) systems.

Today, equipment manufacturers and their service providers usually offer their customers the following maintenance models:

• Preventive Maint...

  Transforming maintenance through AI and IIoT

  Today, another maintenance strategy called condition-based maintenance (CBM) is used to replace preventive maintenance for cri...

Issue: WCO News 107 – Issue 2 / 2025

AI does not meet your expectations? A few guidance steps to avoid disappointment and frustration

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly embedded in Customs operations, it is reshaping the way Customs professionals work, improving efficiency, compliance and decision-making. However, as organizations introduce AI-driven solutions, they face a critical challenge: users often hold ...

This mindset is something our product and customer success teams at Customaite experience firsthand. Over the past few years, we have implemented AI solutions to automate the declaration processes in Customs teams across various organizations. Time and time again, we see that, if even the smalles...

Issue: WCO News 102 – Issue 3 / 2023

The invisible paper chain in today’s Customs document flow and how to break it using Artificial Intelligence

As in other sectors, the logistics sector has benefited from digitization in recent years, allowing a smoother flow of goods across the globe. These advancements have promised, and to some extent also delivered, efficiency and convenience. However, a more ‘inconv...

A peculiar workflow that’s difficult to correct

While interacting with Customs brokers or Customs department staff within a company, I often observed this peculiar workflow: it involves the printing of information that was digitally available at som...

On the horizon is Intelligent Document Processing (IDP), a paradigm that takes AI a step further. Here, Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms, including Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, come into play, elevating the understanding of context and meaning within documents to a new l...