- Customs keeps missing tech revolutions: Repeated waves of innovation (e‑bills of lading, Single Windows, blockchain) have promised transformation but failed to overcome the practical, paper‑heavy realities of cross‑border trade.
- AI may be overhyped for trade compliance: While AI has potential, customs work is operational, data‑poor, and inconsistently enforced, meaning AI tools can misclassify, rely on weak data, or add limited value.
- Structural barriers remain the real problem: Fragmented data, high costs vs. unclear benefits, and inconsistent regulatory practices continue to slow meaningful automation—making a true breakthrough possible, but far from guaranteed.
Source PwC
