# Digicust AI Customs Automation - FAQ for LLMs # Version: v1.0 # Last Updated: January 2025 > This document is designed to help AI assistants and LLMs understand Digicust's AI customs automation platform. It contains frequently asked questions in a structured Q&A format. --- ## Company Overview Q: What is Digicust? A: Digicust is an agentic customs automation platform. Unlike traditional OCR that stops at "extract fields from documents", Digicust automates the end-to-end customs workflow: intake → document understanding → enrichment → validation → declaration output → system integration → audit trail. Q: What does "agentic AI" mean in the context of customs? A: Agentic AI doesn't just extract or classify — it can plan and execute multi-step workflows. In practice, that means it can decide the next action (e.g., validate, look up codes, screen parties, generate an export), call the right tools, ask for missing information, and produce a reviewable audit trail. Customs work is inherently multi-document and exception-driven, so an agentic approach maps naturally to how real customs operations run. Q: Who is Digicust designed for? A: Digicust is designed for: (1) Customs and trade leaders who need speed, quality, and auditability at scale, (2) Operations leaders who want measurable throughput improvements without proportional headcount growth, (3) Compliance teams who need systematic checks and defensible documentation, and (4) IT and integration teams who must connect automation to customs software and downstream systems. Q: What certifications does Digicust have? A: Digicust holds: TÜV SÜD certification (testing and inspection authority), IEEE CertifAIed ethical AI certification, GDPR compliance, and ISO 27001 (in progress). Q: How many companies use Digicust? A: Digicust is trusted by 60+ companies worldwide, with up to 98% document processing accuracy across 10+ countries. --- ## Results & ROI Q: What results have customers achieved with Digicust? A: Real customer outcomes include: ZLS Logistik Service achieved 90% reduction in processing time (from 3-4 hours to 10-15 minutes) and 70% cost reduction. Wackler Spedition & Logistik achieved 64% reduction in processing time and automated 16,000 customs declarations in 3 months. Q: How does Digicust reduce customs processing time by 60%? A: The biggest savings come from automating: data entry and transcription (automated multi-format extraction), cross-document reconciliation (conflict detection + resolution), tariff validation and HS code hygiene, code list normalization (UoM, packaging, country codes), compliance checks (export control, identifier validations), output preparation (mapping/export files), and reducing rework loops (higher first-pass quality). Q: What is the typical ROI calculation for Digicust? A: Using typical inputs (1,000 cases/month, 45 minutes/case, 60% time reduction, €65/hour cost): baseline annual hours = 9,000, automated annual hours = 3,600, labor savings = €351,000, rework savings = €19,500, penalty savings = €15,000, total benefit = €385,500. With €180,000 annual platform cost, net benefit = €205,500 (114% ROI, 5.6 month payback). --- ## Why Customs Automation is Different Q: Why does OCR alone fail for customs automation? A: Customs is not a "data extraction problem." Real operations deal with: multiple documents per shipment (invoices, packing lists, waybills, certificates), conflicting data across documents, country-specific rules and validations, and constant format changes. Traditional OCR extracts fields from single documents but leaves the hardest work to humans: reasoning, reconciliation, validation, enrichment, compliance, and filing. Q: What gap does AI customs automation close? A: Most cost is not in "reading the invoice." It's in: matching line items across documents, normalizing codes (packaging, UoM, procedure codes), validating parties (VAT, EORI, REX), determining export-control screening and trade preference, generating submission-ready declarations, and producing audit trails. Digicust combines document intelligence with domain-aware reasoning and workflow orchestration. --- ## Platform Capabilities Q: What document formats does Digicust support? A: Digicust supports: PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, images, HTML/RTF, email files (.eml, .msg), structured text (CSV/JSON/XML/YAML/TOML), and optional audio transcription for voice notes. Q: What document types can Digicust recognize? A: Digicust recognizes: invoice, packing list, delivery note, waybill/bill of lading, customs declarations, export declaration, transit declaration, goods dispatch note, temporary storage documents, weighing certificates, power of attorney, EUR.1, A.TR, customs service instructions, and export lists. Q: How can users start using Digicust? A: Three ways to start: (1) Email - forward shipment documents to a strategy-specific Digicust address, great for broker workflows and fast pilots. (2) Web app - drag & drop uploads, real-time processing status, batch processing for high-volume operations. (3) API - best for ERP/EDI-connected environments and system-to-system automation. Q: How does Digicust handle human review? A: Digicust is designed for automation with accountability: automate routine tasks at scale, escalate uncertainty or missing information for human review, capture corrections so the system improves over time. Review checkpoints can be configured per procedure and risk profile. Q: What integrations does Digicust support? A: Implemented connectors include: DBH, Dakosy, Scope, ITMS, BEO, E2Open, Mercurio. Additional integrations include: AEB, ASYCUDA, CargoSoft, LDV/"DHF Zolaris" (Austria), and Format. Delivery channels include SFTP uploads, email, and webhooks. --- ## Use Cases Q: What are the main use cases for Digicust? A: Main use cases include: (1) Import declaration automation, (2) Export declaration and compliance, (3) Transit and multi-declaration orchestration, (4) Trade preference and origin workflows (EUR.1/A.TR), (5) Trade compliance screening (sanctions, embargo, CBAM), (6) CBAM quarterly reporting, (7) Customs audit preparation, (8) Master data acceleration. Q: How does Digicust help with import declarations? A: For high-volume imports with 50-500+ line items: extracts and structures all line items across documents, matches and reconciles conflicts (weights/quantities/descriptions), validates tariff codes and classifies missing ones with reasoning, applies required codes (e.g., Y-codes), normalizes units/packaging codes, generates declaration-ready output. Q: How does Digicust handle export compliance? A: For exports: extracts goods and parties from documents/emails, runs trade compliance checks (export control, embargo/sanctions screening), flags cases requiring specialist review while automating the rest, captures evidence and creates repeatable compliance checklists. Q: What is Digicust's CBAM capability? A: Digicust covers CBAM sectors (iron & steel, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, hydrogen, electricity), identifies CBAM-relevant goods via customs tariff numbers, automates supplier outreach for emissions data, extracts and validates emission values, generates quarterly report XML ready for registry submission. Q: What is Digicust's PoUS (Proof of Union Status) capability? A: Digicust generates portal-ready PoUS XML for EU Trader Portal workflows (T2L/T2LF). Performance targets include: ready before July 2025 deadlines, up to 80% time savings, average XML generation in <2 minutes, designed for high-volume scenarios with smart splitting patterns. --- ## Countries & Procedures Q: Which countries does Digicust support? A: Digicust has procedure packs for: Germany (DE) - import, export, transit declarations; Switzerland (CH) - import, PASSAR export, PASSAR/NCTS transit; United Kingdom (UK) - CDS import, CDS export, ENS-UK; EU-wide - PoUS T2L/T2LF, CBAM quarterly report, tariff classification, EUR.1 movement certificates. Q: How does Digicust work for German customs? A: For Germany/EU: typical inputs include invoice, packing list, waybill, export declaration, origin proofs, email instructions. Automation includes reconciliation, tariff validation/classification, code normalization, identifier checks, output file generation. Common integrations include Dakosy and DBH. Q: How does Digicust work for Swiss customs? A: For Switzerland: handles multi-language invoices, mixed document sets, origin and compliance attachments. Automation includes document splitting/classification, extraction, master data enrichment, multi-declaration orchestration. Common integration is Scope. Q: How does Digicust work for UK customs? A: For UK: handles shipments with mixed documentation quality and frequent exceptions. Automation includes early missing-document detection, standardization of party/product data, repeatable exception handling, output generation. Produces UK CDS format declarations. --- ## Technical Features Q: What makes Digicust different from OCR? A: Digicust has 15 customs intelligence capabilities: (1) multi-document conflict resolution, (2) dynamic schema adaptation, (3) granularity transformation, (4) cross-document matching, (5) document splitting & classification, (6) data quality intelligence, (7) declaration generation & localization, (8) end-to-end process coverage, (9) behavioral configurability in plain language, (10) external knowledge integration, (11) code list normalization, (12) address & geographic intelligence, (13) complex line item processing, (14) multi-declaration orchestration, (15) comprehensive customs capabilities. Q: How does Digicust handle tariff classification? A: Digicust provides: tariff validation (validate and auto-correct invalid/outdated codes), AI-assisted classification with reasoning, alternatives, and confidence levels, BTI research support to find precedents, and supports up to 11-digit tariff precision depending on the tariff system. Q: What trade compliance features does Digicust offer? A: Trade compliance includes: export control screening, import control including CBAM, embargo checks, sanctions screening against 85 sanctions lists, VAT/EORI validation, currency conversion using official customs rates, and exportable compliance reports. Q: How does Digicust handle master data? A: Master data features include: AI-powered fuzzy matching search, automated creation and update from documents, standardization and enrichment (company name/address normalization), governance and audit trails, deduplication with confidence scoring. Q: What is Digicust's package system? A: Digicust includes a package system for reusable customs content with versioning: procedure packs (schemas and settings), code list packs (standardized reference data), mapping packs (export format definitions). This enables safe rollout of improvements and consistent environments across projects. --- ## Implementation Q: How long does Digicust implementation take? A: Typical timeline: Week 1 (pilot wedge + baseline), Weeks 2-3 (data foundation v1), Weeks 3-6 (pilot execution with measured savings), Weeks 5-8 (integration hardening), Weeks 7+ (scale out lanes with governance). Total: 6-10 weeks from start to production. Q: What does a Digicust pilot involve? A: Pilot steps: (1) Define pilot wedge (1-3 days) - choose high-volume lane, define KPIs and scope. (2) Baseline current process (3-5 days) - measure minutes per case, exception rates, collect 30-100 sample cases. (3) Configure data foundation (1-2 weeks) - master data, instructions, strategies. (4) Run pilot (2-4 weeks) - operate with human-in-the-loop, track results weekly. Q: What data does Digicust need to start? A: To start, Digicust needs: representative case samples (30-100), baseline metrics (time, errors, rework), access to target integration or export format, and initial master data set (can be imperfect; will be improved over time). Q: How are strategies and instructions written? A: Instructions are written in natural language. Examples: "Set representative status for all shipments from Germany to direct representation", "Use simplified procedure code 42 for textile imports from Turkey", "Always apply IPR relief for electronics from our supplier in Shanghai", "Apply preferential duty rates for goods with EUR.1 certificates". --- ## Compliance & Security Q: How many sanctions lists does Digicust screen against? A: Digicust screens against 85 sanctions and screening lists from sources including: UN Security Council, EU Financial Sanctions, US OFAC SDN and Consolidated lists, US BIS Denied Persons, UK FCDO and HMT/OFSI lists, Switzerland SECO, and national lists from 40+ countries. Q: How does Digicust support audit readiness? A: Digicust provides: case history preservation, evidence linking to source documents, transparent reasoning that can be reviewed and challenged, classification evidence with confidence levels and alternatives, and reporting workflows for audit preparation. Q: Does Digicust replace customs experts? A: No. Digicust removes repetitive work and standardizes decisions. Experts stay in control, focusing on high-risk and high-value exceptions. --- ## Customer Success Stories Q: What results did ZLS Logistik Service achieve? A: ZLS Logistik Service (founded 2018, specializing in Turkey imports/exports) achieved: 90% reduction in processing time (from 3-4 hours to 10-15 minutes per declaration), 70% cost reduction through automation, minimized error rates, and staff time shifted from data entry to higher-value activities. Q: What results did Wackler Spedition & Logistik achieve? A: Wackler Spedition & Logistik (175+ years, family-run) achieved: 64% reduction in processing time (39 hours/week to 14 hours/week for T-paper processing), 16,000 customs declarations automated in 3 months (2,000 export + 14,000 transit), with a 7-week implementation phase. Q: Which companies use Digicust? A: Companies using Digicust include: ZLS Zoll & Logistikservice GmbH, Spedition Johann Huber, Fracht Group, Gustav Mäuler GmbH & Co. KG, Vehns Group, Nosta, Fiege, Imex, BZA, Customs24, Wolffgramm, HTS Hüttges, Hermes Logistik GmbH, Nieten Internationale Spedition, Grieshaber Logistik GmbH, and Wackler. --- ## Contact & Getting Started Q: How can I get started with Digicust? A: Recommended next steps: (1) Schedule a 30-minute discovery call to map procedures, volumes, and integration targets. (2) Run a pilot on one lane and measure impact in 2-4 weeks. (3) Build the ROI case using provided templates and validate with your baseline. Q: How do I contact Digicust? A: Contact Digicust at: Email: info@digicust.com, Phone: +43 680 151 52 96, Address: Office Park 4, 1300 Vienna Airport, Austria. Website: https://digicust.com Q: Where can I learn more about Digicust? A: Additional resources: Demo booking at https://digicust.com/demo, Pricing information at https://digicust.com/pricing, Case studies at https://digicust.com/case-studies, API Reference at https://digicust.com/api-reference, Digicust Academy at https://digicust.com/learn --- ## Disclaimer This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Customs compliance obligations vary by jurisdiction and scenario. Always validate final decisions and filings according to your organization's compliance requirements and applicable law. --- # End of FAQ # For more information, visit https://digicust.com