Automate Customs Documentation Preparation
Every international shipment needs a commercial invoice, packing list and the correct HS (Harmonized System) code, and getting any of these wrong — a misclassified product, an undervalued invoice, a missing certificate of origin — doesn't just cause paperwork friction, it causes a shipment to sit in customs while someone sorts it out, or triggers a fine that dwarfs the cost of getting it right the first time. HS codes are also country-specific beyond the international base classification, so a code that's correct for shipping to one country can be wrong for another, and someone preparing paperwork by hand across many product SKUs and destination countries is relying on memory or a lookup table that's rarely kept fully current.
STARTING PRICE
From €299
Standard tier · Multi-step workflow with AI extraction/decisioning and 2-3 integrations.
Get a quote →Saves roughly 3-5 hrs per international shipment batch.
How the automation works
We generate customs documentation directly from order and product data, classifying each product's HS code against the destination country's current tariff schedule rather than a generic international base code, and flagging any product where the classification is genuinely ambiguous for a customs broker to confirm before the shipment goes out. Commercial invoice values are checked against the order's actual transaction value to avoid the under- or over-valuation that triggers customs scrutiny, and required supporting documents — certificates of origin, licenses for controlled goods — are checked against the destination country's requirements so a shipment doesn't leave without a document customs will ask for on arrival. The goal is paperwork that clears on the first pass, not paperwork that's merely complete.
Process flow
- 01
Export shipment created trigger
A shipment ready for international export triggers customs documentation preparation automatically from the order's product and destination data.
- 02
Classify HS code per destination ai
Each product line is classified with the HS code valid for the specific destination country's current tariff schedule, not a generic international base classification.
- 03
Flag ambiguous classifications ai
Products where classification genuinely depends on judgment calls the system can't resolve confidently are flagged for a customs broker to confirm before shipping.
- 04
Verify invoice valuation ai
Commercial invoice values are checked against the order's actual transaction value to catch under- or over-valuation before it triggers customs scrutiny.
- 05
Check required supporting documents ai
Certificates of origin, import licenses and other documents required by the destination country for that product category are checked for presence before the shipment is cleared to go.
- 06
Generate documentation set output
The complete commercial invoice, packing list and customs declaration are generated and attached to the shipment, ready for the carrier and customs broker.
Inputs
- Order and product data with dimensions and weight
- Destination country tariff schedules
- Product transaction values
- Certificate of origin and license records
Outputs
- Generated commercial invoice and packing list
- Destination-specific HS code classification per product
- Flagged ambiguous classification queue for broker review
- Missing-document alert before shipment departure
Works with
Prefer a fully custom build instead of an off-the-shelf integration? We scope both options during your free consultation — most jobs like this one work fine on standard connectors, but higher-volume or non-standard systems sometimes need bespoke API work, reflected in the complex tier.
Where this goes wrong if you get it wrong
- HS code accuracy has to be evaluated per destination country, not against a single generic international schedule — the same product can carry a different applicable code or duty rate depending on where it's being imported, and errors here cause real customs delays, denied entry, or fines, not just paperwork rejection.
- Automatically classifying every product with high confidence, including genuinely ambiguous cases, creates a false sense of accuracy — some products legitimately require a customs broker's judgment call, and the system needs to distinguish confident classifications from ones that need human confirmation rather than guessing on all of them.
- Under-valuing a commercial invoice to reduce duty exposure, even unintentionally through a stale price reference, is a compliance risk that draws customs scrutiny and potential penalties — invoice values need to be checked against actual transaction value, not a catalog price that may not reflect what was really paid.
- Missing a required supporting document — certificate of origin for a preferential trade agreement, an import license for a controlled or regulated product category — causes a shipment to be held at the border even when the HS code and invoice are otherwise correct, so document completeness needs country- and category-specific rules, not a one-size checklist.
Frequently asked questions
How does HS code classification handle new or unusual products?
Products without a confident classification match are flagged for a customs broker's review rather than assigned a best-guess code, since an incorrect classification is more costly than a short delay for confirmation.
Does this replace a customs broker?
No — it prepares accurate documentation and flags genuinely ambiguous cases for broker judgment, reducing the volume of routine paperwork a broker needs to handle manually while keeping them in the loop for the calls that need expertise.
How does it stay current with changing tariff schedules?
Destination country tariff schedules are checked against current published rates rather than a static internal table, since HS classifications and duty rates do change and a stale reference is a common source of errors.
What happens if a required document is missing?
The shipment is flagged before departure rather than discovered as a customs hold on arrival, giving time to obtain the missing document or certificate before it becomes a delay at the border.