Paperless Customs Clearance: digitalization serving international trade

In a context where digital transformation is a strategic lever for smoother trade flows, Paperless Customs Clearance is emerging as an essential evolution.

This shift aims to simplify customs procedures by replacing paper documents with dematerialized versions, resulting in significant time savings and reduced administrative costs.
 

Why Digitize Customs Clearance?

In international trade, customs clearance is a critical step in the movement of goods. Traditionally, shipments require the printing and physical transmission of multiple copies of the commercial invoice, a key document used to identify goods and calculate duties and taxes.

With the Paperless Customs Clearance approach, these documents can now be sent in digital format, optimizing:

• Customs processing times
• The risk of human error and document loss
• The environmental footprint of printed paperwork

Partial or Full Digitalization: A Key Challenge

It is essential to distinguish between the two levels of digitalization:

• Partial digitalization: the transmission of a scanned image of the invoice (e.g., PDF)
• Full digitalization: data transmitted via standardized interfacing fields, enabling full automation of customs processing

A move toward full digitalization is now strongly encouraged, as it ensures better compliance with customs requirements and streamlines freight flow management. In the long run, failure to digitalize could lead to significant additional costs.
 

Integrating Paperless Documents with Carriers

Many carriers have already adopted paperless solutions, allowing for the instant transmission of data to customs authorities and logistics partners.

However, full digitalization is not yet universally applicable, due to regulatory or technical limitations at the export (origin) and/or import (destination) stages. These constraints vary based on the carrier, the required document formats, and the legal frameworks of the countries involved.

At the European level, the European Union is preparing the eFTI (Electronic Freight Transport Information) regulation, which will come into full effect as of July 9th, 2027. This initiative aims to establish a standardized framework for the transmission of transport data via certified digital platforms, enabling broader adoption of paperless freight management.
 

TDI, a Digital Transition Facilitator

As regulations evolve and digitalization becomes a necessity, companies are increasingly required to adapt their document management systems to ensure a smooth and efficient transition toward full dematerialization.

TDI supports this transformation by standardizing data flows and integrating various processes provided by carriers. This includes consolidating critical information to enable adaptable and compliant customs clearance.

With a solution designed to streamline exchanges, TDI helps reduce human error and ensures a high level of traceability, paving the way for a more efficient and secure supply chain.