Automation for E-Commerce

This is precisely where DAKOSY comes in with its ZODIAK GE customs software and the E-Commerce module: the software converts large volumes of data into an automated import process. The challenge in customs clearance lies in the high volume of shipments and the fragmented nature of the goods. 

The ZODIAK GE solution is well-established at major German and Swiss e-commerce hubs, including the airports of Frankfurt/Main, Cologne/Bonn, Leipzig, and Zurich. It supports the processing of e-commerce shipments and guides customers through the three customs process steps relevant to imports: ICS2, the summary declaration (SumA), and the import customs declaration. While behind the scenes it remains complex, for users it becomes a seamless digital process.

The ICS2 filing
The first step begins at the point of departure, before the goods are loaded onto the aircraft. Through ICS2 filing, customs receives advance information on expected shipments early on for security and anti-terrorism screening. In traditional air freight processes, the airline has already received the data required for the ICS2 declaration at the time of booking, along with the AWB information. With e-commerce, it's often a different scenario, explains DAKOSY Sales Manager Simon Linder: “Due to the high volume of packages, shipment data is often provided separately, for example in the form of spreadsheets. ZODIAK GE takes this data and makes it usable for the rest of the process.”

The summary declaration (SumA)
For items shipped to Germany, the second step involves submitting a summary declaration for the shipments that have actually arrived. This is based on a physical comparison: which packages are really here? The confirmed tracking numbers are fed back into the process, after which the customs declaration can be created automatically.

Frankfurt features a special provision. Under certain conditions, a shipment can be picked up immediately by the handling agent and transported to a warehouse in CargoCity. The physical inspection takes place afterward. The prerequisite here is the use of FRA-OS/Import, an application from allivate, the joint venture between Fraport and DAKOSY. FRA-OS/Import is part of the FAIR@Link IT platform and enables standardized customs and import processes at Frankfurt Airport.

The import customs declaration 
The third step is the automated import customs declaration. This marks the final stage of the customs process for e-commerce shipments. Customs uses the ZODIAK GE software to notify the shipper whether the goods can be transported onward or whether an inspection is required. 

The key to enabling the three customs process steps to run in the background via automation in ZODIAK GE is the accurate import of shipment data. “We make getting started very flexible and easy. Our modular and customizable approach is designed to help users achieve the highest possible level of automation,” Linder explains. Many customers integrate ZODIAK GE deep into their own IT landscapes and manage ICS2, summary declarations, and import processes from their in-house systems. Others use DAKOSY’s e-commerce converter. This tool imports Excel spreadsheets and prepares the data for subsequent processes.

Based on this principle, ZODIAK GE transforms heterogeneous data streams into a robust digital customs process. “For our users, this means a high degree of process reliability and speed through to the shipment level. With our automated solution, processing in a matter of seconds is a realistic possibility,” says Linder, drawing on his experience with numerous successful e-commerce projects.