In This Article
Introduction
Import/export operations run on documentation. Commercial invoices. Packing lists. Certificates of origin. Customs filings. Each shipment has different requirements depending on destination, product, and regulatory regime. One trade compliance manager put it bluntly: "We used to discover missing docs at the port. Holds. Demurrage. Angry customers. Now the agent tracks every shipment and nags us 5 days before arrival. Zero holds for missing paperwork."
OpenClaw supports documentation tracking, compliance deadlines, and shipment briefings. You sign and file; the agent compiles and reminds. Delivered to Slack or Telegram. Heads up: OpenClaw never submits customs filings or certifies documents. You sign and file. See logistics for related patterns.
Here's how OpenClaw works for import/export: documentation, compliance, and shipment tracking. Use for the admin stuff only — customs and regulatory submissions require authorized personnel.
The Missing Docs Problem
Before we dive into the how, consider the typical shipment lifecycle. Order placed. Shipment sails. Five days before arrival — do we have the commercial invoice? Certificate of origin? Country-specific certifications? Each destination has different requirements. EU needs CE marking. China needs CCC. Brazil needs ANVISA. Pulling it together can take hours — and if you discover a gap at the port, it's too late. Hold. Demurrage. Customer escalation.
OpenClaw solves that. Store documentation requirements per shipment type and destination. The agent tracks each shipment. It nags 5 days before arrival. "Shipment A: ETA March 5. Missing: certificate of origin." You chase; the agent surfaces. One broker: "We used to get 3–4 customs holds a month for missing docs. Now we get 0. The agent nags us before the ship sails."
Documentation Tracking
Store documentation requirements per shipment type and destination. A Heartbeat runs daily: "Shipments arriving in next 10 days. Documentation status. Missing items." The output lands in Slack: "Shipment A: ETA March 5. Missing: certificate of origin. Shipment B: ETA March 8. All docs received." You chase; the agent surfaces.
Country-specific requirements that prevent holds
Different destinations need different docs. Store in memory: "EU: CE marking, DoC. China: CCC, CIQ. Brazil: ANVISA, invoice attestation." The agent checks each shipment against requirements. You verify; the agent compiles. One importer: "We ship to 15 countries. Each has different rules. The agent keeps a checklist. We haven't had a hold in 8 months."
Why 5 days before arrival matters
Customs clearance happens fast. If you discover a missing doc at arrival, you're already in trouble. The agent nags 5–10 days before ETA. You have time to chase the supplier, get the cert, and file. One trade manager: "We used to discover gaps when the ship docked. Now we get alerts when it sails. We have a week to fix. Zero holds."
The best use of trade AI isn't replacing your compliance responsibility — it's surfacing the right docs at the right time so you can file before the ship docks.
Compliance & Deadlines
Customs bonds, broker licenses, and regulatory filings. "Customs bond renewal: 60 days. Broker license: annual review due April 1. ACE filing: ensure all entries current." The agent reminds; you comply. One company: "We missed a bond renewal once. Cost us a week of operations. Now the agent nags us 90 days out. Never again."
Bond and license tracking
These deadlines are hard. Miss a bond renewal and you're grounded. The agent nags 90 days out. You renew; the agent reminds. One customs broker: "We used to discover renewals when we got a notice. Now we get 90-day alerts. We're always early."
Shipment Status Briefings
Daily briefing: shipments in transit, clearance status, and any holds. "In transit: 5. Cleared: 3. Hold: 1 (Shipment C, missing invoice)." Delivered to Slack. Connect to your freight system via API if available. Read-only for status. You resolve holds; the agent surfaces.
Real Results
A customs broker eliminated documentation holds. "We used to get 3–4 customs holds a month for missing docs. Now we get 0. The agent nags us 5 days before arrival. We have time to chase. Zero holds in 8 months."
An importer cut compliance tracking time by 60%. "We used to spend 2 days a week tracking bond renewals, license reviews, and shipment docs. Now the agent compiles. We get a daily briefing. We haven't missed a deadline in 12 months."
A trade compliance manager avoided a bond lapse. "We missed a bond renewal once. Cost us a week. Now the agent nags us 90 days out. Never again."
What You'll Need
- □ Store documentation requirements by destination
- □ Set up daily shipment documentation Heartbeat
- □ Add compliance deadline tracking
- □ Create shipment status briefing
- □ Connect to freight system (if API available)
- □ Document: agent assists, humans submit
- □ Run in parallel for 2 weeks — validate before you rely
FAQ
Can OpenClaw submit customs filings? No. OpenClaw compiles and reminds. Authorized personnel submit and certify. Customs filings carry legal weight. You own those.
What freight systems work? If your system has an API, OpenClaw can pull shipment status. Many brokers use OpenClaw alongside CargoWise, Descartes, or similar. OpenClaw creates the briefing; your freight system remains the source of truth.
How do we handle multi-country operations? Store country-specific requirements in memory. Each destination has different docs and rules. The agent references what you give it.
Wrapping Up
OpenClaw supports import/export with documentation tracking and compliance reminders. You submit and certify. Start with documentation tracking; add compliance and briefings as you validate. OpenClaw Consult helps trade operations deploy with appropriate boundaries.