News • 10.12.2025
Not Asterix – Lamberikx!
Our man for Switzerland
A chat with Björn Lamberikx, Project manager DAKOSY GE
The best path to a state-of-the-art customs systems is through dialogue:
The Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) has set up the “FOCBS Passar Software Development Working Group” to facilitate periodic discussions, bringing together all the key players involved in the modernization of Swiss customs. A group of representatives of FOCBS, software providers such as DAKOSY, and specialists from the freight forwarding, logistics, and transport sectors meet every six to ten weeks. The focus is on the progress of implementation of Passar, the technical requirements for interfaces and data formats, practical questions about day-to-day business operations, and the coordination of transition and emergency processes for the changeover from e-dec to Passar.
Björn Lamberikx is a good name to remember when it comes to customs issues in Switzerland. The 37-year-old has been DAKOSY's man on-site for nearly two years.
As a project manager and customs consultant for Switzerland, the Dutchman has his ear to the ground. He has made Austria his home since 2019, when he met his wife while on vacation there. The proximity to his customs clients in neighboring Switzerland is a significant advantage. The current hot topic at his meetings: new client projects in connection with the Passar customs system. Having changed careers along the way, Lamberikx brings expertise in IT, digitalization, project management, customs, and logistics.
Four questions for Björn Lamberikx
How is the transition from the e-dec customs system to Passar going?
This large-scale project is an enormous challenge for everyone involved. Operational processes and IT departments will have to undergo a complete overhaul. In addition to the new IT structure with many additional digitalization options, there are also extensive changes to customs regulations.
From an IT perspective, not only do different information fields need to be filled in, but customs processes must also be efficiently geared toward the future. We are able to achieve this by integrating Passar's new procedures into existing in-house processes. Our projects also include ensuring data quality and further optimization.
How well prepared are freight forwarders?
I find our partners to be very well informed. This facilitates high-quality and useful discussions regarding expectations from customs and the requirements for implementation. The steering committee initiated by FOCBS, with its various working groups, contributes to productive exchange with the business community. Larger companies are forming project teams for the transition. Smaller companies without the necessary resources are more dependent on us as their software service provider.
What would you recommend?
My best tip is to get involved with the FOCBS steering committee. There, companies receive first-hand information, updates, and process changes.
From an IT perspective, I also recommend testing early on and not waiting until the project is 100 percent implemented. Experience shows: those who test in advance are better prepared.
To what extent is Swiss customs breaking new ground with its "agile" development approach?
Agile software development in the field of public administration is new and fits well with the way the economy works. We welcome this practical approach, which quickly produces a basic product that can be further developed. The challenge here is that the strategic resources need to be planned very carefully. Companies need to be increasingly flexible in order to keep up with the agile working methods of customs authorities.
