About AEB
AEB is a global provider of software for customs clearance, supply chain logistics, and trade compliance. We offer solutions for managing international trade, customs, and export controls, helping businesses to streamline their processes, ensure compliance with regulations, and optimize their supply chain operations.
AEB is proud to be a leader in customs automation. In 2023, AEB’s data center processed just over 100 million customs declarations. Most of these declarations were routed directly to customs authority systems, but over 3 million of these declarations were processed via our Customs Broker Integration software which allows customers to digitally connect to customs brokers. These brokers then submit the declarations to the national customs authority. Wherever possible, this process is fully automated.
The Challenge
With the introduction of the new border between the UK and EU in 2021 due to Brexit, demand for customs services was expected to be very high in the UK itself and in neighbouring countries such as the Republic of Ireland, France, Netherlands and Belgium. Anticipating this, AEB developed the Customs Broker Integration solution to cater for those companies that don’t have the knowledge, experience, or resources to submit their own customs declarations and would need the services of a customs broker.
Given the extreme shortage of qualified and experienced customs brokers in the lead-up to Brexit, AEB decided that digitising and automating the process of interacting with customs brokers would be the only way forward. Not only this, but digitalisation of the process brings additional benefits to customers: greater transparency, lower costs, and reduced error rates.
Why ChannelPorts?
With this in mind, AEB decided to not only develop a software solution but also a full-service offering to customers based on partnerships with experienced, reputable, and reliable customs brokers that had embraced digitalisation and could handle large volumes of declarations.
Very quickly, ChannelPorts emerged as the one UK broker bringing all these features to the table.
ChannelPorts’ full commitment to the potential of automation and digital solutions in customs is a key element to the partnership with AEB. But, alongside this, their detailed knowledge of UK customs processes – especially for the crucial cross-Channel trade lane – means that they are the obvious choice as a partner.
Paul Wells, Managing Director at ChannelPorts, reaffirms their commitment to digitalisation: “We’re trying to nudge exporters and importers to further embrace software and electronic processes so they can accomplish more with the same staffing levels – and offer more attractive prices, of course. Many tie up all their workers doing customs tasks that computers can do alone. These people could instead be processing new orders or doing other things. So there is tremendous economic potential in more efficient customs clearance.”
The Benefits for AEB
Working with ChannelPorts means AEB can offer its customers flexible broker services that adapt quickly to fluctuating volumes and cover a wide range of requirements. Mark Brannan, Head of Broker Integration at AEB, says: “I’m really impressed by how adaptable ChannelPorts are. They’ve been able to support all kinds of AEB clients and their detailed understanding of UK customs processes is unparalleled. They’re really a great partner to work with!”
Over the last few years, ChannelPorts has provided services to AEB customers to clear all types of goods from fresh flowers, car seats, and biscuits through to cold rolled steel, fashion, and Christmas decorations.
Since entering into the partnership, ChannelPorts has made over 200,000 UK customs declarations for AEB customers – a testament to the level of automation we’ve been able to achieve together.
“I’m really impressed by how adaptable ChannelPorts are. They’ve been able to support all kinds of AEB clients and their detailed understanding of UK customs processes is unparalleled. They’re really a great partner to work with!”
Mark Brannan, Head of Broker Integration at AEB