AI Customs Platform Launches in Indonesia — HAKOVO Accelerates ASEAN Trade Digitalization

Today we refer to the February 20 article from The Maritime Press titled “AI Trade and Customs Platform Launched in Indonesia — HAKOVO Partners with Deltamas Industrial Estate.”

We will focus on trade digitalization across ASEAN and the latest developments in HAKOVO’s AI-driven customs solutions.

Watch the Video Here

HAKOVO Deploys AI Customs System in Deltamas

Singapore-based startup HAKOVO, which promotes the digitalization of trade and customs operations, has partnered with Indonesia’s Deltamas Industrial Estate.

Deltamas, jointly developed by Sinarmas Group and Japan’s Sojitz, is a major industrial hub in eastern Jakarta, hosting approximately 180 companies including automotive manufacturers, food producers, and data centers.

Starting around May this year, HAKOVO plans to roll out its AI-driven digital trade customs and logistics management platform to companies within the estate.

The platform enables:

• AI-OCR digitization of trade documents
• High-accuracy HS code classification
• Real-time detection of restricted or prohibited items (LARTAS)

It is also integrated with Japan’s trade platform TradeWaltz, allowing seamless acquisition of export data from Japan and automatic submission to Indonesia’s customs system.

Why Focus on Customs?

According to a November 29, 2023 interview in The Maritime Daily with HAKOVO CEO Akahodani, the company originally operated a digital forwarding business.

However, the CEO encountered a core industry issue:
cargo frequently stops at customs across Asia.

Without digital transformation at the customs stage, full supply chain digitalization cannot be achieved.

ASEAN customs procedures are highly complex and not unified like those in the EU.

For example:

• ASEAN: 8-digit HS codes
• Japan: 10 digits
• China: up to 13 digits

Misalignment between declarations and customs interpretation can lead to unexpected tariffs or long cargo delays.

The Strength of “Smartariff”

HAKOVO’s AI solution Smartariff goes beyond a simple regulatory database.

It leverages machine learning on product names, IDs, and trade history, enabling automatic HS code assignment even when product descriptions vary slightly.

Combined with rule-based quantity and regulation checks, it forms a hybrid system.

Additionally, it proposes applicable FTA preferences, allowing companies to achieve both cost optimization and regulatory compliance.

• AI-driven HS classification
• Rule-based regulatory validation
• FTA optimization support

AI Learning Ecosystem and Regional Expansion

HAKOVO has already partnered with JFE Shoji Steel Indonesia and completed integration with Indonesia’s national single window via Pelindo.

By deploying the system across an ecosystem of 180 companies in Deltamas, diverse live customs data will accumulate daily, accelerating machine learning accuracy.

Once its foothold strengthens in Indonesia and the Philippines, expansion to Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia becomes feasible.

In the long term, connections to Europe and the United States are also envisioned.

This suggests a future where ASEAN-origin digital customs technology supports global supply chain resilience.