DHL Global Forwarding launches AI-powered TradeNavigator for customs management
DHL said that TradeNavigator operates within its secure environment and under its data protection standards.
GLOBAL – DHL Global Forwarding has launched DHL TradeNavigator, an AI-powered tool that lets customers query customs declaration data using natural language and receive analytics and insights into duty spend, clearance performance, and compliance trends, the company said.
The tool builds on TradeConnect, which has integrated local customs declaration data from more than 75 countries into a single harmonized environment.
It provides customers with a consolidated view down to the declaration line-item level. DHL said pilot testing confirmed the tool’s ability to surface patterns and potential declaration inconsistencies across multiple countries in seconds.
Tariff volatility and market context
Thomson Reuters’ Global Trade Report 2026, DHL reported that 72% of businesses view tariff volatility as the most significant regulatory change, and 65% are adjusting sourcing patterns to mitigate tariff exposure.
Despite this, many organizations still rely on fragmented reports and manual processes to analyze customs data.
Greg Nichols, Senior Vice President, Global Customs at DHL Global Forwarding, said customs data remains an underutilized source of supply chain intelligence and that TradeNavigator helps convert it from a reporting burden into a decision-making asset.
He added that pilot deployments had already helped customers uncover hidden duty spend patterns, detect recurring clearance bottlenecks, and improve visibility into tariff exposure across global trade lanes.
Applications and human expertise
Customers can use the tool to identify which countries or product categories incur the highest customs duties and which have the longest clearance cycle times, and drill down to uncover root causes and optimization opportunities.
DHL said that TradeNavigator operates within its secure environment and under its data protection standards.
Moreover, the launch also follows other digital customs investments in the sector.
For instance, in August 2026, Maersk expanded its AI-powered Trade & Tariff Studio into a connected customs intelligence environment that integrates trade planning, AI-assisted pre-entry review, customs execution, and post-declaration audit support into a single workflow.
The company emphasized that the tool complements, rather than replaces, its team of more than 4,000 dedicated customs experts, who handle over 30,000 customs declarations daily.
Lastly, DHL said customs and compliance decisions remain governed by customer policy, applicable law, and the scrutiny of experienced professionals.
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