API Transit FAQ Answers to your questions smooth operations to the French overseas territories and internationally.

API Transit is a digital solution that automates customs formalities for companies that ship or receive goods.

The platform lets you prepare, check and transmit the data required for customs declarations from information already available in your e-commerce, ERP, WMS or TMS tools.

The aim: simplify customs operations, reduce duplicate data entry and speed up shipment processing.

API Transit is aimed in particular at:

• e-commerce sellers;
• companies that ship goods regularly;
• logistics providers and 3PLs;
• freight forwarders and customs professionals;
• marketplaces;
• publishers of ERP, WMS or TMS software;
• companies managing flows between mainland France, the French overseas territories and international destinations.

No.

API Transit was designed to handle both the needs of an SME carrying out a few operations and those of an operator that has to automate large volumes of declarations.

The terms of use can be adapted to the volume and the level of integration sought.

Exchanges of goods between mainland France and certain overseas territories are subject to specific tax and customs rules.

Depending on the flow and the destination, specific declarations and information may therefore be required.

API Transit helps companies automate these processes.

Yes.

Managing flows between mainland France and the departments and territories subject to specific formalities is one of API Transit's main use cases.

API Transit can integrate the tax rules applicable to goods imported into the territories concerned by the octroi de mer.

The solution can in particular use the nature of the goods, their tariff classification, their value and their destination to determine the elements required for tax and customs processing.

Yes.

When the necessary information is available, API Transit can simulate or estimate the duties and taxes associated with an operation before it is shipped.

This feature in particular improves the information provided to the customer and makes it possible to anticipate the total cost of a delivery.

Yes. E-commerce is one of API Transit's main use cases.

The information from an order can be used to prepare the data required for customs formalities without asking the operator to re-enter the whole order manually.

Yes.

API Transit is designed to communicate with e-commerce stores and third-party information systems.

Depending on your environment, the integration can be carried out via API or using a suitable connector.

API Transit can be integrated with the leading e-commerce platforms, directly or through connectors.

Our team can review your technical environment to determine the most appropriate integration method.

Yes.

API Transit is designed as an infrastructure that can be connected to existing systems.

Your ERP, WMS, TMS or business application can automatically transmit the information required for customs processing.

Yes.

API Transit has an API that allows customs functions to be integrated directly into software, an e-commerce site or a logistics system.

Users can thus keep their usual working environment.

Not necessarily.

In an automated integration, the information can be sent directly by your computer system.

API Transit can then process operations in the background.

This depends on the type of operation.

The information commonly required includes in particular:

• the sender;
• the recipient;
• the description of the goods;
• their value;
• their quantity;
• their origin;
• their tariff classification;
• the transport information;
• the associated commercial documents.

API Transit can retrieve some of this information directly from your systems.

Yes.

API automation makes it possible to process large volumes without manually repeating the same operations for each order.

The customs code is used to classify a good within the nomenclature used by customs authorities.

This classification helps determine the duties, taxes, regulatory measures and any documents that may apply.

API Transit can assist the user in identifying and checking tariff information from the data available on the product.

When the situation requires specific analysis or a decision, human validation may still be required.

A description such as “accessory”, “part”, “sample” or “electronic product” may be insufficient to correctly determine the customs treatment.

The more accurate the information about the product, the more reliable the automated processing can be.

The documents required depend on the goods, the destination and the type of operation.

They may in particular include:

• a commercial invoice;
• a pro forma invoice in certain situations;
• transport documents;
• proof of origin;
• licences or authorisations;
• specific documents for certain categories of goods.

API Transit centralises the information required to process the operation.

For a sale, the commercial invoice is generally an essential document, in particular to establish the nature and value of the goods.

Other documents may be required depending on the operation.

A pro forma invoice can be used for certain operations that do not correspond to a standard commercial sale, subject to the rules applicable to the operation concerned.

Lithium batteries are subject to specific transport rules and may require additional information or documents.

Whether a shipment is possible depends in particular on the type of battery, its power, its packaging and the mode of transport used.

API Transit can identify and process certain regulatory information associated with goods.

However, certain categories of products require specific authorisations, certificates or checks that remain the responsibility of the operators concerned.

The system can flag that information or a document required to process the operation is missing.

The aim is to identify anomalies before the declaration is submitted or the goods are shipped, where possible.

No.

API Transit is a solution for processing and automating customs operations.

Physical transport is still carried out by your carrier or your logistics provider.

Yes.

The solution is designed to fit into an environment using several carriers and logistics providers.

This makes it possible to separate customs processing from the choice of carrier.

Yes.

A logistics provider, freight forwarder or e-commerce operator can integrate API Transit into its own system in order to automate its customers' operations.

Contact us to study the possibilities of B2B or white-label integration.

Pricing depends in particular on the volume of operations, the features used and the desired level of integration.

Models combining a subscription and pay-per-use pricing can be offered.

Yes.

A company can start with a limited volume and then increase its usage as the number of shipments grows.

Automation mainly reduces duplicate data entry, manual operations and certain sources of errors.

The actual saving depends on the volume, the complexity of the operations and the process currently used by the company.

API Transit implements mechanisms designed to protect the commercial and customs data processed by the platform.

Access to the services is controlled and exchanges between systems are secured.

The information and documents associated with operations can be archived to make them easier to consult, to trace them and to comply with the applicable retention obligations.

No.

API Transit automates and secures customs processes, but certain complex situations may require the intervention of a specialist or a decision by the authorities.

Implementation generally starts with an analysis of your flows:

origin → destination → goods → volumes → carriers → IT system.

We then determine the most suitable usage mode: interface, API, e-commerce connector or integration with your logistics system.

It depends on your information system and the level of automation desired.

Standard use is naturally faster to implement than a full integration with an ERP, WMS, TMS or e-commerce platform.

Testing and integration phases can be set up in order to validate the flows and the operations before going into production.

Yes. This is precisely one of the use cases for which automation becomes particularly interesting.

The more shipments requiring customs processing there are, the greater the operational gains from eliminating duplicate data entry and integrating with the ordering system.