DHL Express relies on AI to support export efficiency for Indonesian MSME products

DHL Express is utilising artificial intelligence to recognise goods through photos and compile automatic customs descriptions, thereby supporting export efficiency for MSME products through more accurate international shipping. Senior Technical Advisor of DHL Express Indonesia Ahmad Mohamad said that for many Indonesian business actors, particularly MSMEs seeking to expand overseas, fulfilling customs requirements remains one of the challenges in international shipping. “Through this AI-based goods identification feature, DHL Express helps simplify the shipping preparation process by making it easier for customers to provide accurate goods information from the outset,” Ahmad said in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday. The AI-based goods identification feature launched in Indonesia is the first in the global express delivery industry to utilise computer vision technology to analyse photos of goods uploaded by customers and instantly generate accurate goods descriptions that comply with customs requirements. The innovation simplifies one of the most complex stages in international shipping, making it easier and more practical for customers. “As more Indonesian business actors seek growth opportunities in international markets, the ability to provide accurate shipping information from the outset is becoming increasingly important,” he said. He emphasised that the launch of the feature is also part of DHL Express’s commitment to simplifying cross-border shipping through practical, customer-oriented innovation. “Until now, compiling goods descriptions that meet customs requirements has often required specialised knowledge and precise wording,” he said. By integrating AI technology into the shipping booking process, DHL Express removes that complexity, improves data quality, reduces the risk of delays, and makes international shipping easier and more reliable for customers with varying levels of experience. “Customers simply photograph the goods to be shipped using a smartphone or other internet-connected device,” he explained. The AI system then processes the image through a server-based computer vision model to identify the object and generate a structured goods description in accordance with international documentation standards and customs provisions, in just seconds. The generated description is displayed to the customer for review, editing or adjustment before the shipment is submitted. Customers also do not need to have a DHL Express account to use this feature, making the process simpler and more accessible. According to him, the implementation marks an important step in the application of AI in the logistics sector and is the first time computer vision-based goods identification technology has been integrated directly into the international express service booking flow used by customers on a large scale. As a result, business actors can reduce the time spent on documentation and focus more on serving customers and developing their businesses in international markets. “With Indonesia’s economic growth projected to reach around 5 per cent in 2026, we see continued opportunities for business actors to expand into global markets,” he said. Senior Director of IT at DHL Express Indonesia Yonata Bastian added that the feature uses technology to simplify a process that has so far relied on manual input and individual experience. According to him, for years the international express service industry has relied on shippers to declare the contents of their shipments themselves, with limited guidance on how to describe goods accurately for customs purposes. Although various aspects of customs documentation have evolved, the process of compiling goods descriptions has essentially remained manual, text-based, and dependent on the shipper’s understanding of customs authority requirements. He also said that DHL Express’s implementation is the first to integrate computer vision-based goods identification technology into the international express service booking flow used directly by customers on a large scale. “This feature is already available in more than 30 countries and markets, with implementation expansion to continue throughout 2026,” he said.