Sector
Global Logistics
Location
Europe
CHALLENGE
Compliance Gaps
in Global Freight Operations
A global logistics provider specializing in cross-border freight and customs clearance faced a critical problem: Its customs compliance process was undocumented and inconsistent across regions.
The process involved multiple stakeholders—customs brokers, freight forwarders, and local compliance teams—each operating with their own interpretations of the rules. For example:
In Germany, a specific tariff code was required for chemical shipments.
In France, the same shipment needed additional safety documentation.
In Poland, a manual inspection was mandatory for certain high-value goods.
The Head of Global Compliance was the only person who understood the full end-to-end process. When she was unavailable, shipments got stuck at borders, leading to delays, fines, and frustrated clients.
The conversation contains the process.
The current workflow loses it.
SOLUTION
AI-Assisted Compliance
Mapping with patchley
The company used patchley to document the customs clearance process without disrupting workflows. Here’s how:
A
Structured Input
Uploaded past email chains, meeting notes, and regulatory documents—patchley analyzed and structured them into a cohesive process model.
B
Smart Prompts
When input was unclear, patchley asked the right follow-up questions, like "Is this coordination a formal step, or an informal check?"
C
Template Generation
Auto-generated a BPMN 2.0 model of the customs clearance workflow, including country-variations, a checklist for teams, and a client-facing process overview.
By the end of the process, the team had a fully traceable compliance framework, ready for audits and real-time adjustments.
RESULT
From Chaos to Compliance
with zero errors and full traceability
patchley transformed undocumented, error-prone customs processes into a structured, audit-ready system, ensuring 90% fewer compliance errors and 40% faster shipments.
Compliance Errors: Reduced by 90%
New hire onboarding: Cut from 3 months to 2 weeks
Shipment delays: Decreased by 40% due to standardized processes
"Before patchley, our customs process was like a black box—even for me. Now, it’s crystal clear, and my team can handle it without me holding their hand."
— Head of Global Compliance
patchley UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
www.patchley.com
info@patchley.com
© patchley 2026, patchley UG (haftungsbeschränkt)