Customs iX returns to Multimodal with a platform that closes the gap between classifying a product and clearing it through customs.
Last year's debut carried a clear message: AI had arrived in customs compliance. Twelve months on, the platform has moved the conversation on considerably. The question for 2026 is no longer whether AI belongs in customs; it's how far it can go.
"Last year we introduced people to what AI-powered compliance could look like," says Ben Tongue, co-founder and CTO of Customs iX.
"This year we're showing them what a fully automated declaration workflow looks like in practice, from the moment you describe a product to the moment it clears customs."
At the heart of the platform’s 2026 proposition is Classify, its AI-powered classification module. Accurate HS code classification has long been one of the most labour-intensive and error-prone elements of customs processing. Misclassifications carry real consequences: incorrect duty payments, potential fines, and in serious cases, loss of Authorised Economic Operator status.
Classify allows brokers and trade teams to upload product data via Excel or CSV, after which the AI cross-references EU BTIs and UK ATRs to suggest the most appropriate HS codes, complete with confidence scores, duty rates, preferential treatments, and applicable free trade agreements. Every decision comes with a traceable source and auditable reasoning, so compliance teams can see exactly why a classification was made.
Critically, the system learns. With each submission, the AI refines its understanding of a business’s specific product catalogue, meaning accuracy improves over time without additional manual input. Thousands of SKUs that would previously have taken weeks to work through can now be processed in hours.
The headline addition for 2026 is Declaration Generation, a new feature launching at Multimodal that takes Customs iX from classification through to a completed CDS declaration without manual rekeying. Classification has traditionally been a separate exercise from declaration, two processes, two systems, often two different teams. Declaration Generation collapses that gap entirely.
Declaration Generation reads a shipment's documents and customer profile, then generates a complete declaration ready for submission to HMRC's Customs Declaration Service (CDS). The system also assigns AI-generated confidence scores to each declaration, determining whether submissions are routed for automated processing through CDS or flagged for human review, giving brokers control over where they place their trust in the system.
"The efficiency gains here are substantial," says Alexei Piltiaev, co-founder of Customs iX.
"Brokers are under constant pressure to do more with less. When classification and declaration sit in the same intelligent system, you eliminate huge amounts of duplication and the errors that come with it. That's where the real operational value is."
The platform’s auditing capability ensures compliance doesn’t end once a declaration is submitted. An ongoing post-entry monitoring tool continuously checks for changes in classification rulings, newly issued ATRs and BTIs, and evolving regulatory requirements. Where a client’s existing classifications may need to be revised, the system flags this proactively, identifying both potential duty savings and cases where additional duty may be owed.
This kind of continuous compliance monitoring has historically been the preserve of large customs consultancies with dedicated audit teams. Customs iX makes it available to any business using the platform, regardless of size.
Customs iX integrates directly with the tools brokers already use, including ASM and CargoWise, meaning the platform slots into existing workflows rather than demanding wholesale change. CSV bulk upload functionality allows multiple entries to be submitted quickly, further reducing manual processing time.
The platform is ISO/IEC 27001 certified, BIFA-affiliated, and built on Microsoft Azure and OpenAI infrastructure, credentials that matter increasingly to enterprise clients and regulated industries seeking assurance on data security and system reliability.
The business itself has grown considerably since its Multimodal 2025 debut, and Customs iX is now trusted by ASDA, Liberty, Farsound, TaylorMade Golf, and JPGL Customs. What began as Ben Tongue’s response to the chaos he witnessed across UK and Australian logistics has evolved into a fully-fledged platform with co-founder Alexei Piltiaev, who came aboard as an investor before taking a central operational role.
“Multimodal was where we really started to grow,” reflects Piltiaev.
“We met the right people, had the right conversations. We’re coming back this year with a much more complete product and a much clearer story about what end-to-end automation in customs actually looks like.”
Customs iX will be at Multimodal 2026, stand 2036, NEC Birmingham, from 30 June to 2 July. Live demonstrations of the full platform, including Classify, Declaration Generation, and the auditing tool, will be available throughout the show.
