In recent years, customs clearance has been considerably modernized with the introduction of digital solutions. In many countries, digital portals have replaced the physical dispatch of paper documents, simplifying procedures for e-commerce and private individuals. But what about international trade?
Passar: customs modernization in Switzerland
In Switzerland, the Federal Office of Customs and Border Protection has launched the Passar project, a digital platform designed to make cross-border trade smoother and more efficient.
Since the launch of Passar 1 in mid-2023, significant progress has been made in automating procedures. However, a number of challenges remain:
– Technical instability and frequent error messages.
– Accelerated deployment, leaving little room for gradual adoption by users.
In view of these factors, the launch of Passar 2, which will focus on imports, has been postponed until early 2026. This delay will enable us to improve the technical aspects, train users better and adopt a more serene approach to the software.
International trade and digitalization: a road strewn with pitfalls
On an international scale, the digitization of customs clearance is still hampered by the lack of compatibility between systems. Each country and company uses different formats and software, making coordination difficult.
In fact, although “paperless” is often promoted, the majority of customs documents are still in the form of PDF files, requiring manual input by declarants.
A promising future, but still under construction
The digitization of customs is essential to meet the growing demands of global trade. Switzerland, with initiatives such as Passar, is leading the way, but there are still technical and human challenges to overcome.
At ATM Global Logistics, we are keeping a close eye on these developments to support our customers in a world in constant transformation. Whether it’s navigating customs complexities or adopting technological best practices, our expertise is at your service.
