The companies Taxer , Moco AI , as well as Aduanapp and Experta , which worked as a team, participated in the First competition for non-human tariff classification providers , that is, those who use technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to carry out this process.
At the event, organized by the Association of Customs Agents of Metropolitan Customs (AAADAM) , these companies presented their tariff classification platforms and analyzed a USB multi-connector, a bull horn bracelet, a notebook with watercolors and a brush, smart glasses and a textile-based adhesive tape.
In the classification, the teams had a contrasting participation , with successes and errors, so they considered that it is necessary to retrain the AI with better prompts (which is an instruction, question or a text that is used to interact with Artificial Intelligence systems), which must also include the appropriate legislation, to reach a correct conclusion .
In the case of Aduanapp, its platform performs each classification in seven to 13 seconds , allows adjustments according to specific policies and offers risk rules based on the merchandise. Among other features, it has an accuracy of up to 95% in tariff classification , and follows the structure of the Harmonized System of Designation and Coding of Merchandise, also aligning itself with the Tariff of the General Law of Import and Export Taxes .
Meanwhile, Taxer is a tariff compliance manager that streamlines the workflow of professionals dedicated to tariff classification. Its platform allows for savings of up to 56% in workflow times using AI, and also has a search engine, a chat, and an image identifier, among other tools.
In turn, the Moco AI platform can detect damage to vehicles and trucks ; it also offers video analysis that makes it easier to find people and the number of elements in a scene.
Although there was no single ranking or winning platform, each of them demonstrated specific strengths and their representatives took the feedback they received from customs agents in a positive way, including improving the prompts to have a more appropriate response in the tariff classification.
In an interview with T21 , Antonio Pascal , president of AAADAM, said that the intention of this exercise is to make these tools available to various customs agents so that they can make the right decisions .
Another goal was to dispel the myth that Artificial Intelligence will take away the jobs of those who work in this sector. “It won’t happen today, it will take many years for that to happen,” he said.
Pascal Calvillo pointed out that it is possible that tariff classification tools that use AI will not be used by even 10% of customs agents, hence the importance of this event.
Regarding the improvement of this type of tools, he considered that “the secret” is in the questions , “but even in normal intelligence, if you ask the right questions you get to the tariff fraction faster.” He added that surely in 20 years, participants will have the best platforms on the market.
Customs system failures caused delays
Regarding the recent failures that paralyzed some customs offices in Mexico, the president of AAADAM indicated that this situation caused several delays , which could have occurred due to the simultaneous deletion of several electronic signatures , which affected many importers.
He said the failures were due to an issue with the Tax Administration Service (SAT) , although he clarified that there is no explanation as to why they happened.
“I understand that today there is no justification, reason or reason for why it happened, but I think that they have to control their information platforms very well so that this type of thing does not happen. In my time as a customs agent, this had never happened to us before. I think that there was an error or something that happened,” he also stressed in an interview with T21.
Pascal Calvillo said that this situation caused delays, although they were able to be resolved, since they were delays of hours, which did not lead to a situation that would further worsen the processes at customs, especially in those with more traffic, such as in Nuevo Laredo.
“I represent about 100 customs agents where I feel that this issue did not arise because they are part of the Metropolitan Customs Association, but there is a lot of traffic in many customs offices and perhaps in Laredo or in other parts of the Mexican Republic there could have been some problem due to the crossing of perishable goods,” concluded Antonio Pascal.
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