Customs Brokers

Prepare customs documentation and ensure that shipments meet all applicable laws to facilitate the import and export of goods. Determine and track duties and taxes payable and process payments on behalf of client. Sign documents under a power of attorney. Represent clients in meetings with customs officials and apply for duty refunds and tariff reclassifications. Coordinate transportation and storage of imported goods.

The occupation "Customs Brokers" has an automation risk of 58.9%, which closely aligns with a base risk of 59.8%. This relatively high risk is primarily due to the routine and procedural nature of many key job tasks. As technology advances, automated systems and artificial intelligence are increasingly able to perform tasks that follow set rules and procedures. For example, the process of preparing and processing import and export documentation in accordance with customs regulations can be standardized and digitized, allowing software to handle large volumes of paperwork quickly. Similarly, the act of clearing goods through customs and to their destinations for clients is becoming more streamlined with blockchain and automated tracking systems. The three most automatable tasks for customs brokers are: "Sign documents on behalf of clients, using powers of attorney," "Prepare and process import and export documentation according to customs regulations, laws, or procedures," and "Clear goods through customs and to their destinations for clients." These tasks are susceptible to automation because they involve formalized procedures, standardized forms, and often require minimal human judgment beyond data entry and verification. Robotic process automation (RPA) tools and digital signature platforms can perform these functions efficiently and with fewer errors, reducing the necessity for human intervention in day-to-day procedures. Conversely, the tasks that remain most resistant to automation include maintaining relationships with customs brokers in other ports, suggesting the best methods of packaging or labeling products, and preparing papers for shippers to appeal duty charges. These resistant tasks typically require interpersonal skills, nuanced understanding of client needs, and creative problem-solving—qualities that current technology struggles to replicate. Bottleneck skills such as originality, rated at 2.9% and 3.0% importance respectively, further limit the risk of complete automation. The relatively low emphasis on originality indicates that while some creative input is required, it is not central to the majority of job functions, supporting the moderately high (but not total) automation risk for this occupation.