Freight and cargo containers

03/28/2025

Customs Case Study: Global Retail Importer

GEODIS helped a major US retail importer streamline 40,000 annual customs declarations, enhancing speed to market while reducing demurrage and penalty costs.

In today's competitive retail environment, efficient customs processes are essential for maintaining business momentum and controlling costs. A global retail company came to GEODIS looking for ways to improve its customs processes. This included boosting its customs declaration efficiency, reducing costs, and getting more visibility into its import operations. Our customs expertise and technology solutions helped them transform their import processes, leading to enhanced speed to market and significant cost savings.

Key takeaways

 

  • Streamlined customs processes for a high-volume retailer handling 40,000 annual declarations
  • Created cost savings through tiered pricing and consolidated entries
  • Implemented real-time visibility through EDI/API connectivity
  • Reduced demurrage and penalty costs while optimizing duties and taxes

Facts about our retail client

 

  • Major global retailer based in the United States
  • Handles approximately 40,000 customs declarations annually
  • Imports primarily through East Coast ports in the U.S.
  • Specializes in general merchandise retail products

 

Challenges for our retail client

Our client faced several customs and import obstacles that were impacting their supply chain efficiency and bottom line:

 

  • Cost inefficiency: Limited opportunities for savings and lack of consolidated entries
  • Expertise gaps: Need for specialists experienced in general merchandise imports
  • Process limitations: Inefficient process control and unresponsive brokerage partners
  • Manual operations: Lack of automated processes for customs compliance
  • Compliance concerns: Required higher customs compliance standards and greater operational clarity

 

These challenges were causing delays in product availability, increasing import costs, and creating unnecessary administrative overheads for their teams.

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Customs solution and approach

We created a comprehensive customs brokerage solution tailored to our client's high-volume retail import needs. Our approach dealt with each challenge using our specialized capabilities and expertise. We provided our client with:

 

  • Strategic pricing models: Introduced tiered pricing based on volume to create immediate cost savings
  • Specialized expertise: Deployed our team's deep knowledge in general merchandise imports
  • Centralized Control Tower: Established a single point of contact for all customs activities
  • Digital connectivity: Implemented EDI/API connectivity for real-time visibility and automated reporting
  • Knowledge transfer: Offered trade services and training opportunities to enhance internal capabilities

 

Our solution combined technology, expertise, and strategic pricing to transform our client's customs operations.

 

Retail client results

Our customs brokerage solution delivered immediate and ongoing value for our retail client. Our comprehensive approach led to:

 

  • Enhanced visibility: Real-time access to customs statuses and milestones, with full clearance documentation
  • Financial optimization: Significant duties and tax optimization across their import operations
  • Accelerated market access: Improved speed to market for imported products
  • Operational efficiency: Increased transparency of shipment flow and customs milestones
  • Cost reduction: Substantial avoidance and reduction of demurrage and penalty costs
  • Budget improvements: Realized meaningful cost savings across their large volume of imports

 

The centralized approach and digital connectivity created a more streamlined, transparent customs process that supported the client's business growth while controlling their costs.

How GEODIS can help

GEODIS is one of the biggest customs brokerage and trade service providers in the U.S. and worldwide. Here's what you can expect when you partner with us:

 

  • Expert customs clearance services with deep industry and regulatory knowledge
  • Digital customs solutions providing real-time visibility and documentation
  • Strategic duty optimization and trade advisory services
  • Centralized control towers for comprehensive customs management
  • Specialization in high-volume retail and general merchandise imports
  • Customized pricing models based on your specific business needs
  • Trade compliance training and knowledge transfer opportunities

 

Choose GEODIS as your customs broker to streamline your operations and reduce import costs. Contact GEODIS to learn how we can optimize your customs processes.

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