Menu
  • Locations
  • Services
  • Experts
  • Hot Topics
  • News & Knowledge
  • Career
  • About us
  • Search
  • Press
  • Events & Webinars
  • Contact
  • Language
  • Berlin
  • Cologne
  • Dusseldorf
  • Erlangen
  • Frankfurt
  • Hamburg
  • Hannover
  • Kolbermoor
  • Leipzig
  • Munich
  • Nuremberg
  • Regensburg
  • Rosenheim
  • Stuttgart
  • Tax
  • Digital
  • Financial Advisory
  • Industries
  • Legal
  • Centers of Excellence
  • AI in tax
  • plAIground
  • Pillar Two
  • Sustainability Services
  • E-Invoicing | ViDA
  • Country by Country Reporting (CbCR)
  • US tax & customs policy
  • News
  • Newsletter overview
  • Newsletter subscription
  • KI Study 2024
  • Overview
  • Culture
  • How we work
  • You&WTS
  • TALENTnetwork
  • Apply now
  • Values and Vision
  • Our Management Team
  • Our Partners
  • Our History
  • Our locations
  • Corporate Responsibilty
  • Tax Service Overview
  • Digital Tax CMS
  • Corporate Tax
  • Customs
  • Financial Services Tax
  • GreenTax & Energy
  • HR Taxes
  • Indirect Tax / VAT
  • International Tax & Permanent Establishments (ITP)
  • International Tax Desks
  • Mergers & Acquisitions Tax
  • Private Clients
  • Tax Controversy / Tax Disputes
  • Transfer Pricing
  • Digital Trends
  • Digital Partnering
  • Digital tools and solutions
  • End-to-end processes
  • AI in tax
  • SAP S/4HANA
  • International Corporate Income Tax rates (CIT rates)
  • Case Studies
  • Overview of all industries services
  • Banking/ Capital Markets
  • Insurance
  • Medium-sized enterprises
  • oneSTART
  • Real Estate
  • Overview of all legal services
  • Civil & Commercial Law
  • Climate Regulation & Energy Law
  • Corporate Law
  • Data Privacy & IT Law
  • Employment Law
  • Global Expatriate Service
  • Legal Operate
  • Litigation
  • Restructuring & Performance Management
  • Sustainability Services (ESG)
  • Partners Munich
  • Partners Berlin
  • Partners Dusseldorf
  • Partners Erlangen
  • Partners Frankfurt
  • Partners Hamburg
  • Partners Hannover
  • Partners Cologne
  • Partners Kolbermoor
  • Partners Nuremberg
  • Partners Regensburg
  • Partners Rosenheim
  • Partners Stuttgart
  • Overview of all locations
  • Location berlin
  • Location Cologne
  • Location Dusseldorf
  • Location Erlangen
  • Location Frankfurt
  • Location Hamburg
  • Location Hannover
  • Location Kolbermoor
  • Location Leipzig
  • Location Nuremberg
  • Location Regensburg
  • Location Rosenheim
  • Location Stuttgart
  • Environment
  • Society Engagement
  • Diversity
  • Kulturelles Engagement
  • HR Taxes Overview
  • Integrated Legal and Tax Advice
  • International Payroll and Shadow Payroll
  • International Assignments/ Global Mobility
  • International Employee Assignments & Project Business
  • Wage Tax
  • National payroll and travel expense accounting
  • Social Security Law & Labour Law
  • Work from Anywhere
  • HR Consulting
  • DAC 7
  • Compliance Manager
  • Comply (by Taxback International)
  • plAIground
  • VAT Health Check
  • CbCR Risk Analyser
  • WTS CbCR-2-XML
  • TPmanager
  • WTS CbCRmanager
  • Tax CMS
  • Cesop
  • GewSTmanager
  • Digital Process Automation
  • end-to-end income tax process
  • end-to-end VAT processes
  • end-to-end customs
  • end-to-end transfer pricing
  • property tax services
  • Energy management processes and systems
  • GRI 207: Tax 2019
  • digital tax CMS
  • Case Study Hartmann Gruppe
  • Case Study WTS TPcompiler
  • Case Study Calculation of transfer prices
  • Case Study CbCR Table I
  • NOW@WTS
  • Press
  • Events & Webinars
  • Contact
English
German
  • English
  • German
WTS worldwide
  • WTS Global
  • Albania
  • Algeria
  • Angola
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Bangladesh
  • Belgium
  • Benin
  • Bolivia
  • Bosnia & Herzegovina
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • Bulgaria
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cambodia
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Cape Verde
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Chile
  • China
  • Colombia
  • Congo Brazzaville
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Denmark
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Egypt
  • El Salvador
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Estonia
  • Eswatini
  • Ethiopia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Ghana
  • Gibraltar
  • Greece
  • Guatemala
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Ivory Coast
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kenya
  • Korea
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Laos
  • Latvia
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macao
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Mali
  • Malta
  • Mauritania
  • Mauritius
  • Mexico
  • Moldova
  • Mongolia
  • Montenegro
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Myanmar
  • Namibia
  • Nepal
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Pakistan
  • Panama
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Puerto Rico
  • Romania
  • Rwanda
  • São Tomé and Príncipe
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Senegal
  • Serbia
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Somalia
  • South Africa
  • South Sudan
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sudan
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Tanzania
  • Thailand
  • Togo
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • Uruguay
  • USA
  • Uzbekistan
  • Venezuela
  • Vietnam
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe
  • Services Clothing
    • Tax
      • Tax Service Overview
      • Digital Tax CMS
      • Corporate Tax
      • Customs
      • Financial Services Tax
      • GreenTax & Energy
      • HR Taxes
        • HR Taxes Overview
        • Integrated Legal and Tax Advice
        • International Payroll and Shadow Payroll
        • International Assignments/ Global Mobility
        • International Employee Assignments & Project Business
        • Wage Tax
        • National payroll and travel expense accounting
        • Social Security Law & Labour Law
        • Work from Anywhere
        • HR Consulting
      • Indirect Tax / VAT
        • DAC 7
      • International Tax & Permanent Establishments (ITP)
      • International Tax Desks
      • Mergers & Acquisitions Tax
      • Private Clients
      • Tax Controversy / Tax Disputes
      • Transfer Pricing
    • Digital
      • Digital Trends
      • Digital Partnering
      • Digital tools and solutions
        • Compliance Manager
        • Comply (by Taxback International)
        • plAIground
        • VAT Health Check
        • CbCR Risk Analyser
        • WTS CbCR-2-XML
        • TPmanager
        • WTS CbCRmanager
        • Tax CMS
        • Cesop
        • GewSTmanager
        • Digital Process Automation
      • End-to-end processes
        • end-to-end income tax process
        • end-to-end VAT processes
        • end-to-end customs
        • end-to-end transfer pricing
        • property tax services
        • Energy management processes and systems
        • GRI 207: Tax 2019
        • digital tax CMS
      • AI in tax
      • SAP S/4HANA
      • International Corporate Income Tax rates (CIT rates)
      • Case Studies
        • Case Study Hartmann Gruppe
        • Case Study WTS TPcompiler
        • Case Study Calculation of transfer prices
        • Case Study CbCR Table I
    • Financial Advisory
    • Industries
      • Overview of all industries services
      • Banking/ Capital Markets
      • Insurance
      • Medium-sized enterprises
      • oneSTART
      • Real Estate
    • Legal
      • Overview of all legal services
      • Civil & Commercial Law
      • Climate Regulation & Energy Law
      • Corporate Law
      • Data Privacy & IT Law
      • Employment Law
      • Global Expatriate Service
      • Legal Operate
      • Litigation
    • Centers of Excellence
      • Restructuring & Performance Management
      • Sustainability Services (ESG)
    Services

    Learn more about our comprehensive services in the area of tax as well as relevant legal advice and financial advisory services.

    ESG

    Our sustainability services at a glance

  • Experts
  • Hot Topics Clothing
    • AI in tax
    • plAIground
    • Pillar Two
    • Sustainability Services
    • E-Invoicing | ViDA
    • Country by Country Reporting (CbCR)
    • US tax & customs policy
    Hot Topics

    Overview of the current "hot topics" in the tax industry and how we can support with individual questions

    Ready for the game?
  • News & Knowledge Clothing
    • News
    • Newsletter overview
    • Newsletter subscription
    • KI Study 2024
    News & Knowledge

    Here you will find the latest news and specials on all aspects of taxation, digitization and financial & deal advisory.

  • Career Clothing
    • Overview
    • Culture
    • How we work
    • You&WTS
    • TALENTnetwork
    • Apply now
  • About us Clothing
    • Values and Vision
    • Our Management Team
    • Our Partners
      • Partners Munich
      • Partners Berlin
      • Partners Dusseldorf
      • Partners Erlangen
      • Partners Frankfurt
      • Partners Hamburg
      • Partners Hannover
      • Partners Cologne
      • Partners Kolbermoor
      • Partners Nuremberg
      • Partners Regensburg
      • Partners Rosenheim
      • Partners Stuttgart
    • Our History
    • Our locations
      • Overview of all locations
      • Location berlin
      • Location Cologne
      • Location Dusseldorf
      • Location Erlangen
      • Location Frankfurt
      • Location Hamburg
      • Location Hannover
      • Location Kolbermoor
      • Location Leipzig
      • Location Nuremberg
      • Location Regensburg
      • Location Rosenheim
      • Location Stuttgart
    • Corporate Responsibilty
      • Environment
      • Society Engagement
      • Diversity
        • NOW@WTS
      • Kulturelles Engagement
    About us

    WTS at a glance: What makes us special and more information about WTS

    Interested in our art tours in Munich's Werksviertel? 

  • Search
Home Services Artificial intelligence in customs

Artificial intelligence in customs

To understand the need for AI in customs, it is crucial to recognize the challenges that companies face: from complex customs and foreign trade regulations (including the manifold sanctions regulations against Russia) to changing trade agreements and the associated requirements for robust compliance. Precise and timely implementation in company processes is a very challenging task.

Complexity of customs regulations

One of the key problems in customs is the complexity of customs regulations. Each country (or group of countries such as the EU) has its own regulations and laws, which can change regularly. Companies that operate internationally must therefore ensure that they are always aware of the latest regulations and adapt their customs processes accordingly. This requires not only a comprehensive understanding of national regulations, but also the ability to react quickly to changes.

Adherence to compliance

Another aspect is the need for compliance. Companies must ensure that their customs processes comply with legal requirements in order to avoid legal consequences. This includes not only compliance with customs regulations, but also consideration of sanctions, embargoes and other international trade restrictions. The complexity of compliance requirements can pose significant challenges for companies, especially if they operate in multiple countries.

Dynamics of trade agreements

The dynamic nature of changing trade agreements poses a further challenge. Agreements between countries can change in a short period of time, affecting customs tariffs and trade regulations. Companies must be able to adapt quickly to such changes in order to remain competitive and not suffer financial disadvantages. This requires continuous monitoring of political developments and flexible adaptation of customs processes.

Artificial intelligence as a success factor

To successfully meet these challenges, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) is crucial. AI can help to automatically analyze and interpret complex customs regulations. Through machine learning, the software can be continuously updated to respond to changing regulations and trade agreements. This can make it easier for companies to meet compliance requirements and reduce the risk of errors.

Successfully overcoming these challenges requires not only technological innovation, but also a strategic and holistic approach to customs processes. Companies that invest in modern AI technologies while training their processes and employees accordingly can benefit from more efficient, cost-effective and smoother customs declaration procedures. This also leads to potential improvements in the integration of customs brokers, which results in greater overall transparency of data and customs declarations. This also increases the company's compliance.

Examples of AI applications in customs

Die Schwierigkeiten bei der Zolltarifierung und Klassifizierung von Waren durch Unternehmen ergeben sich aus technischen, kommerziellen und finanziellen Herausforderungen. Hauptursachen dafür sind die Komplexität des HS-Codes, Lücken in der Terminologie, Änderungen der HS-Codes, Abhängigkeit von Dritten, mangelnde Verfügbarkeit von Klassifizierungstools, ungeeignete Werkzeuge, mangelnde Aufsicht, schnelle Veränderungen und das Wachstumsumfeld von Artikelstammdaten im E-Commerce, Integration verschiedener Systeme und Anwendungen sowie fehlende Qualität der Stammdaten im Unternehmen.

Die KI Anwendung von Machine Learning unterstützt teil-automatisiert den Zolltarifierungsprozess basierend auf „Trainingsdaten“. Der/Die Zollexperte/Zollexpertin im Unternehmen definiert dabei entscheidende Merkmale für die Zolltarifierung von Waren, wie z.B. Funktion, Werkstoff oder Verwendung. Diese Merkmale müssen in den Produktdatenbanken vorhanden sein. Das System lernt auf Basis dieser Merkmale und schlägt Zolltarifnummern für neue Produkte vor. Wichtig hierbei ist, dass der/die Zollexperte/Zollexpertin dabei den Wortlaut der Nomenklatur (Tatbestandsmerkmale) beachten muss. Hieraus leitet sich auch ab, dass es sich um „Vorschläge“ handelt die durch Machine Learning hervorgebracht werden. Die finale Prüfung obliegt dem/der Zollexperten/Zollexpertin. Die Verantwortung zur sorgfältigen Organisation obliegt dem Unternehmen.

Ein weiterer revolutionärer Aspekt von KI im Zollbereich ist die Sprachverarbeitungstechnologie. Ein Chatbot kann bei der Bearbeitung verschiedener Zollanträge und -verfahren helfen. Es kann den Benutzern Schritt-für-Schritt-Anleitungen geben, sie durch Formulare führen und Informationen über erforderliche Dokumente und Fristen bereitstellen. Dies kann den Bearbeitungsprozess für die Benutzer vereinfachen und beschleunigen.

Weiterhin kann KI bei der Beantwortung von allgemeinen Fragen unterstützen. Ein Chatbot kann als virtueller Assistent eingesetzt werden, um häufig gestellte Fragen zu beantworten. Dies könnten Fragen zu den Zollbestimmungen, Maßnahmen, Verfahren, Dokumentenanforderungen usw. umfassen. Hierfür soll geprüfter Content bzw. die Informationsbank angewendet werden. 

Ein großes Thema ist die Unterstützung bei der Ausbildung von Mitarbeitern. Ein Chatbot kann als Schulungsinstrument eingesetzt werden. Er kann Mitarbeitern Informationen über aktuelle Zollbestimmungen, Prozesse und Verfahren geben. Er kann auch als interaktiver Simulator dienen, um verschiedene Szenarien und Entscheidungsbaummodelle zu simulieren und das Wissen und die Fähigkeiten der Benutzer zu verbessern. In diesem Fall muss der Content professionell geprüft werden.

The difficulties in customs tariff classification and classification of goods by companies arise from technical, commercial and financial challenges. The main causes are the complexity of the HS code, gaps in terminology, changes in HS codes, dependence on third parties, lack of availability of classification tools, inadequate tools, lack of supervision, rapid changes and the growth environment of article master data in e-commerce, integration of different systems and applications and lack of quality of master data in the company.

The AI application of machine learning supports the customs tariff classification process in a semi-automated manner based on "training data". The customs expert in the company defines decisive characteristics for the customs tariff classification of goods, such as function, material or use. These characteristics must be available in the product databases. The system learns on the basis of these characteristics and proposes customs tariff numbers for new products. It is important to note here that the customs expert must observe the wording of the nomenclature (constituent elements). This also means that these are "suggestions" that are generated by machine learning. The final check is the responsibility of the customs expert. The responsibility for careful organization lies with the company.

Another revolutionary aspect of AI in the customs sector is voice processing technology. A chatbot can help with the processing of various customs applications and procedures. It can give users step-by-step instructions, guide them through forms and provide information about required documents and deadlines. This can simplify and speed up the process for users.

AI can also provide support in answering general questions. A chatbot can be used as a virtual assistant to answer frequently asked questions. This could include questions about customs regulations, measures, procedures, document requirements, etc. Tested content or the information bank should be used for this. 

A major topic is support for employee training. A chatbot can be used as a training tool. It can provide employees with information on current customs regulations, processes and procedures. It can also serve as an interactive simulator to simulate different scenarios and decision tree models to improve users' knowledge and skills. In this case, the content must be professionally reviewed.

Risk management with artificial intelligence in customs

Modern AI systems are able to recognize complex patterns and can therefore help to minimize risks in connection with customs matters. This includes identifying potential breaches of customs regulations and assessing compliance risks.

AI can assist with risk assessment when importing and exporting goods. By analyzing large amounts of data, AI can identify potentially erroneous transactions and alert employees to them.

AI can analyze large amounts of data and recognize patterns to make predictions about the movement of goods or trends in customs clearance. This can help management to better plan resources and avoid bottlenecks.

Overall, the use of AI in the customs sector offers great opportunities for improved efficiency, greater accuracy and increased security. The automation of manual processes and the support of employees through AI technologies can lead to significant cost savings and faster processing of customs procedures. It is expected that AI in customs will continue to grow in importance and play an increasingly important role in the global trade world.

 

 

Our Service


If you would like to learn more about the application of AI in customs or are interested in an implementation, please contact us. Our experts are here to help you optimize your customs processes and improve your business results.

bild-sobotta-gregor
Contact
Dr. Gregor Sobotta is a lawyer and specialist lawyer for tax law, as well as a partner at WTS. He advises companies on the establishment and operation of compliance organizations. He is also the contact person for artificial intelligence in customs.  
To the profile

Other digital services that might interest you

Customs processes
Digital customs process management

Contact us today

Do you have any questions about our services or WTS? Please let us know. Please fill in our short contact form. We will get in touch with you as soon as possible.

Contact
Services
  • Tax
  • Digital
  • Financial Advisory
  • Industries
  • Legal
  • Centers of Excellence
Hot Topics
  • AI in tax
  • plAIground
  • Pillar Two
  • Sustainability Services
  • E-Invoicing | ViDA
Career
  • Apply now
  • Culture
  • How we work
  • You&WTS
  • TALENTnetwork
News & Knowledge
  • Newsletter overview
  • Newsletter subscription
Experts
  • About us
  • Values and Vision
  • Our Partners
  • Corporate Responsibilty
© 2025 WTS Imprint Company Information Disclaimer Data Protection Statement GTCs supplier information