Leveraging smart data will revolutionize customs processes says Nisarg Mehta, co-founder of logistics platform Raft.
Automating Customs operations will cut workflow times from days to minutes, Mehta told delegates at the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) annual conference in New Orleans.
Smart data and AI will save days of manual processing, freeing up Customs brokers and agents to focus on customer support, compliance, and customer service, according to Mehta, chief technology officer of Raft.
He told more than 600 delegates that challenges faced by Customs brokers, including repetitive tasks such as data entry, document processing, and risk assessment, can be alleviated through automation.
He emphasized the opportunities provided by AI through processing unstructured data from sources such as commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, emails, and spreadsheets.
“By streamlining and scaling daily operational processes, forwarders save time, money, and in some cases, avoid fines due to delays or lack of compliance with regulatory requirements,” said Mehta.
“Automating time-consuming operational pain points for Customs brokers will free them up to focus on their core business, which will ultimately help to provide a better service for their clients.
“It is important to stress that we are not looking to replace employees with automation, but ease their workflows so they can focus on what is more important in their day-to-day operations.”
Said Megan Montgomery, Executive Vice President, NCBFAA: “With the brokerage industry getting more complex every day, real-world transformative solutions like Raft are vital to the future success of our industry.”
The Raft team will be on hand to discuss their platform at Retail Supply Chain Logistics Expo, Las Vegas, on the 3rd and 4th May at Booth 6047.
