The Pocket Customs Broker is an autonomous compliance agent that democratizes access to global markets by instantly converting product data into audit-ready trade intelligence.
It leverages computer vision and GRI logic to eliminate the technical barriers of tariff classification and landed cost calculation for SMEs and e-commerce platforms.
What is Pocket Customs Broker?
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Visual Recognition Classification. Unlike traditional lookup tools that rely on keywords, the Pocket Customs Broker utilizes multimodal AI to analyze product images and technical schematics. It extracts critical attributes - such as material composition, essential character, and function - to assign the correct 10-digit Harmonized System (HS) code with precision that rivals human experts. Upload a product photo, a spec sheet, or even a supplier URL, and the agent returns a defensible classification within seconds rather than the hours required for manual research through 5,000+ page tariff schedules.
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True Landed Cost Engine. It moves beyond simple duty estimation by integrating real-time freight indices, local port fees, and complex tax structures (VAT, GST, MPL). It calculates the exact bottom-line cost of importing a specific SKU to a specific warehouse door, enabling merchants to set prices that protect their margins before a single unit is ordered. The engine factors in fuel surcharges, harbor maintenance fees, anti-dumping duties, and currency conversion to produce a complete cost picture that eliminates the back-of-napkin estimations that erode profitability.
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Regulatory Defense Documentation. The agent does not just provide a code; it generates an audit-ready 'Defense Memo' that cites the specific General Rules of Interpretation (GRI), section notes, and historical binding rulings used to reach the classification decision. This provides a documented 'Reasonable Care' defense in the event of a customs audit, transforming compliance from a liability into a defensible position.
Replaces:
- Manual searching through 5,000+ page tariff schedules and explanatory notes.
- Reliance on supplier-provided HS codes which are frequently incorrect or outdated.
- Spreadsheet-based cost estimations that miss hidden fees like harbor maintenance or anti-dumping duties.
- Expensive per-hour consultations with trade attorneys for routine product feasibility checks.
- Retrospective internal audits to correct data entry errors from manual re-keying.
Ready to see Pocket Customs Broker in action?
Why Pocket Customs Broker?
- Defensible Compliance. The agent generates a Defense Memo for every classification, citing the specific GRI rules, section notes, and historical binding rulings used to reach the decision. This provides a Reasonable Care defense in the event of a customs audit, protecting importers from penalties of up to $10,000 per misclassified shipment.
- Instant Feasibility Analysis. It transforms market research from a multi-week project into a real-time task. Importers can assess the viability of sourcing a new product from Vietnam versus India in seconds by instantly comparing the total landed cost impact of different tariff regimes, trade agreements, and shipping corridors.
- Green Lane Acceleration. Consistently accurate filings help importers achieve 'Green Lane' status with customs authorities. By reducing data discrepancies, the agent minimizes the risk of inspections and holds, reducing border dwell time by up to 30% and accelerating final delivery to the end customer.
- Regulatory Horizon Scanning. The agent continuously monitors global changes in trade policy, such as new Section 301 tariffs or EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) rules. It proactively re-classifies inventory and alerts owners to margin impacts before regulations take effect, preventing surprise cost increases.
How It Works
Workflow Automation
How Pocket Customs Broker integrates with your systems
Receives product data, parses descriptions and specs, uses AI to assign the correct HS code, calculates landed cost with duties and fees, and updates the product master.
- Ingest and Analyze. The user uploads a product URL, image, or PDF datasheet. The AI uses computer vision to identify the item and Natural Language Processing to parse specifications, extracting material composition, function, and essential character.
- Logic Application. The agent applies the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI) hierarchically. It determines if the item is a composite good, identifies its essential character, and navigates exclusions to find the correct heading.
- Classification and Verification. It assigns the 6-digit WCO code and the specific national suffix (up to 11 digits). It cross-references this against a database of denied parties and restricted goods to ensure legality.
- Cost Calculation. The system queries real-time freight and tax APIs to build a complete landed cost stack, outputting a finalized report with the recommended code, duty rate, and total unit cost.
Get Started
Stop guessing your margins and risking penalties. Deploy the Pocket Customs Broker today to turn compliance from a bottleneck into your competitive advantage.
See how Pocket Customs Broker works for your business
Core Capabilities
Visual Attribute Extraction
Analyzes product images to identify material composition and function for precise tariff code assignment.
GRI Logic Engine
Applies official General Rules of Interpretation to ensure legally defensible and audit-ready classifications.
Landed Cost Calculator
Computes duties, taxes, freight, and hidden port fees to forecast exact profit margins per unit.
Regulatory Defense Memo
Generates immutable audit trails citing legal rulings and section notes to justify every classification decision.
Who It's For
Cross-Border E-commerce
Instantly calculating and collecting accurate duties at checkout to prevent customer surprise fees and returns.
SME Importers
Rapidly assessing the profitability of potential new products without incurring sunk costs on legal consultants.
Customs Brokerages
Automating the classification of high-volume, low-complexity items to free up human experts for strategic advisory.
Value Outcomes
Eliminate Penalty Risk
85% error reduction
Drastically reduces misclassification errors that lead to fines of up to $10,000 per shipment.
Accelerate Product Launch
95% faster cycle
Shortens the time to classify entire product catalogs from weeks to minutes, enabling faster go-to-market.
Operational Cost Savings
80% cost reduction
Reduces the direct labor cost of document processing and classification by automating manual data entry.
Supply Chain Velocity
30% faster clearance
Minimizes customs holds and inspections through consistent data accuracy, speeding up final delivery.
Strategic Value for Decision Makers
For the CFO
**Stop Margin Leakage.** The Pocket Customs Broker gives us the true cost of every SKU before we issue a Purchase Order. We stop bleeding profit on miscalculated duties and ensure that our pricing models reflect the actual landed reality.
For the COO
**Scalable Compliance.** We can triple our SKU count without tripling our compliance headcount. This agent handles the volume spikes of Q4 seamlessly, ensuring we never miss a shipment deadline due to administrative backlog.
For the Owner
**Democratize Global Trade.** This tool allows us to source like a multinational. We can enter complex markets with confidence, knowing that our compliance infrastructure is as robust as the biggest players in the industry.
Why Export Arena
Pocket Customs Broker is not a standalone tool - it's part of Export Arena's AI & Automation Department as a Service. Pre-trained on global trade nuances, from HS codes to geopolitical risk, it delivers strategic insights tailored to C-suite decision-making. We provide resilience as a service.
See how Pocket Customs Broker works for your business
