From order to customs clearance
The journey of any order starts with the sales and operations team. Once the booking is completed, the order reaches the customs department. For each order, Allard and Ties critically review all documents. They check whether the invoices are complete, verify packing lists and transport documents, check and confirm VAT and EORI numbers, and ensure all necessary invoice declarations and authorizations are in place. Furthermore, they check if the Certificates of Origin are validated by Dutch Customs.
Once everything is correct, Allard and Ties review whether the customs declarations can be submitted legally and whether the Authorization to act as direct representative has been provided and is signed by both parties.
For every shipment leaving or entering the EU, customs requirements must be met. Allard explains: "Every country has different requirements, and you need to know exactly what is needed before the goods are imported or exported." It also matters what type of products are being moved and whether a standard or special import or export clearance is required.
More than digital paperwork
That is why Allard and Ties are not surprised to receive regular questions from clients and partners about customs formalities. On a daily basis, Allard and Ties are in contact with exporters, importers, and other partners to help customers understand the customs requirements for their orders.
Just like any other aspect of logistics, continuous developments also take place in the customs department. This year, the new digital customs system called Digitoll was introduced in Norway. Digitoll introduced new routines that had to be implemented by the customs department. Allard and Ties therefore updated their routines accordingly. This demonstrates their high level of customer service. "We constantly need to stay informed," explains Allard. "Our customers rely on us to help them understand what's changing and what they need to do or can expect."
Prevention over correction
Risk prevention is one of the customs team's key responsibilities. According to Allard, the consequences of a mistake are often not discovered until weeks later. For that reason, the team stays alert and carefully checks every order. As the carrier, ColliCare is responsible for ensuring that all required transport documentation is correct and available throughout the shipment process. A single missing or inaccurate detail can result in significant border delays and additional costs. The customs team therefore closely monitors every declaration, even after submission, to ensure compliance and avoid disruptions.
| "We keep track of each declaration to make sure it is processed correctly," says Allard. "A declaration is only valid for a certain period. If something goes wrong, we need to spot it quickly and take action." |  Ties and Allard |
In practice, this means monitoring export declarations, arrival notifications, customs manifests, and proof of export documents. Within the EU, goods can move freely, but orders travelling to for example Norway or the United Kingdom require additional customs formalities.
A silent applause
According to Allard, "If you hear nothing, that means the order has been delivered successfully." As the department works closely with the operations team, they are also involved in the delivery process of orders. Allard explains that their work often goes unnoticed because success means that nothing has happened: no delays, no border issues, and no unexpected surprises. This is exactly the commitment that Allard and Ties aim to deliver to all clients.
Curious about the exact services of Allard and Ties? Discover more at the customs page.