The smart robot used by Guangzhou Customs at Nansha Port. [Photo/dayoo.com]

Supervision reform integrating artificial reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) has been carried out in the Nansha area of the Guangdong Pilot Free Trade Zone to make customs clearance smart and convenient, announced Guangzhou Customs on Dec 12. 

Technological innovations have also been made in the whole industrial chain, covering areas spanning cross-border e-commerce, passenger clearance, as well as inspection and quarantine. Starting from this year, Guangzhou Customs has applied AR and AI to mix intensive information with real scenes, using machines to replace humans in simplifying and improving the supervision process.

Robots can start to prepare for the inspections of cargo by doing work like data collection and comparison while customs dispatch is carried out simultaneously, reducing the time for both companies to wait for inspection to be completed and for customs officers to carry out inspections. 

Since the operation of these robots, the second phase of the wharfs at Nansha Port has seen an increase in customs inspection volume from 300 containers to 500 containers per day (12 hours).

New technologies, such as 5G technology, have provided support for handling professional situations, allowing customs staff members to finish inspection of cargo like chemical products with the help of experts through a remote coordinated system