Centralise European customs with our Control Tower.

Our end-to-end customs management service consolidates your data, delivers full visibility, and makes it easy to orchestrate and harmonise your customs activities across borders.


Why use Gaston Schul’s Control Tower?

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A single point of contact

We eliminate the need for communication with multiple countries and contacts

Proactive alerts

Get notified of customs issues immediately to prevent delays

Centralised customs controls

Manage and orchestrate your global customs activities from one location

Consolidated customs reporting

Understand your performance across every region.

Customs clearance automation

Leverage technology to optimise clearance times and costs

Standardised customs processes

Procedures are personalised to your unique business needs

Future-proof your customs with smart technology and expert support.

With an independent customs service provider who understands digital transformation, customs management becomes truly data-driven. Gaston Schul's Customs Control Tower provides European coverage, consolidates your data, and connects your systems through digital interfaces - giving you full visibility. Standardised processes and customs experts as your "human interface" provide operational security and form the foundation for a future-proof customs solution.

One solution for all your customs needs.

Whether you operate in one region or multiple countries, our Control Tower simplifies global customs management. Scalable and dedicated to your business, it gives you certainty now and in the future.

The Control Tower works for any business that operates across multiple countries or sites:

  • Large, cross-border operators who need efficiency and visibility
  • Importers and exporters clearing goods in multiple locations

Key features for coordination, visibility, compliance, and control.
  • Coordinated customs processes managed through a single point of contact (SPOC)
  • Defined workflows with clear escalation paths
  • Smooth data exchange with your systems in any format, including EDI, API, CSV, and XML
  • Automatic validation and enrichment of all customs data
  • Ongoing visibility of customs status, milestones, and workflows
  • Performance monitoring against agreed KPIs and SLAs
  • Dashboards and reports tailored to your organisation
  • Monitoring of declarations against agreed rules and controls
  • Consistent trade reporting for all countries
  • Sharing of declarations and release messages according to your SLA
  • Centralised invoicing across all countries
  • Regular reviews to improve processes and reduce risk


Measurable results you can count on.
  • Compliance you can measure - defined SLA metrics on accuracy
  • Cost control through consolidated invoices
  • Continuous visibility with unified dashboards
  • Clear KPIs on performance, including timeliness
  • Less complexity, less manual handling
  • Faster issue resolution through early alerts - fewer delays
  • Better data quality leading to fewer errors in declarations
  • More predictable operational performance
  • Protection of reputation by reducing customs risks
  • Scalability as volumes, markets, or partners change
  • Future ready and compliant as customs rules and digital requirements evolve

Localised Knowledge on a Global Scale

We don’t need a physical presence to help you orchestrate customs activities in a foreign market. Use our end-to-end global customs management service, the Control Tower, to monitor and control operations from anywhere in the world.

Book a free assessment and discovery workshop with us

Your full-service customs provider

Consultancy & Advisory

Strengthen and improve your customs processes with our expert advice and services. We’ll help you seize new trading opportunities, transform your supply chain and guarantee compliance is at the forefront of every decision.

Digital Solutions

Transform your data with Gaston Schul’s Customs Data Exchange. We can build EDI and API-powered real-time data transfers that reduce errors, accelerate declarations and improve the efficiency of your supply chain.

Academy

The Gaston Schul Academy is a collection of customised training programmes based on our 175 years of practical experience. Our customised and in-depth programmes help everyone, from beginners to experts, to learn more about international trade.

Compliance FAQs

Can I include different customs procedures in the Customs Control Tower?

Yes, the Customs Control Tower can accommodate for different customs procedures.

How will the Control Tower ensure that all customs processes are compliant with local regulations?

As an AEO-certified provider of customs services, we operate with reliable, measurable delivery standards and highly qualified staff. Gaston Schul maintains dedicated compliance teams in each country where we support our customers. Combined with our data-validation tools, these measures ensure consistent quality, accuracy, and full compliance throughout all customs processes.

How can a Control Tower approach improve customs compliance and visibility?

The Customs Control Tower ensures consistent compliance with AEO standards and EUR customs regulations, supported by a full digital audit trail. This leads to a reduced compliance risk, faster internal audits, and demonstrable adherence to corporate and legal standards.

Cost Control FAQs

Can I receive consolidated invoices for multiple regions?

Yes, we can consolidate invoices over any desired timescale and/or group geographical regions together to make for a cleaner administrative process.

How can the Control Tower provide financial transparency and governance?

Gain a single, data-driven customs partnership that delivers clarity, cost control, and predictable outcomes through shared dashboards, quarterly reviews, and transparent governance.

Can the Control Tower provide invoicing reports and Finance dashboards?

Gaston Schul unifies every declaration, broker, and customs flow through the Customs Control Tower platform, giving Finance one version of the truth for duties, SLAs and spend across Europe. Transparent dashboards restore control and confidence in landed-cost forecasting.

Digitisation & Automation FAQs

Does the Control Tower offer automated solutions?

Yes, we have standard models of integration and an IT team that can create bespoke solutions should you need them.

What data do I need to provide in which format for the CCT to work?

We offer full flexibility in data capture and can work with any data format our customers provide. In addition, Gaston Schul utilizes advanced tools for data enrichment.

Will automated data flows lead to faster clearances and less delays due to early exception alerts?

Yes, automation with the Customs Control Tower enables near-real-time exception handling with API-based touchless processing. Incident-tracking pilots show up to 40% faster resolution times once full Control Tower integration is active.

What IT requirements are there for the CCT?

There are no specific requirements. In case of Smart Layer Intake (EDI/API/AI) interfaces need to be created for system alignments.

Solution Design FAQs

Do I need to discuss my requirements with different departments or countries?

No, you will receive a dedicated Account Manager and Customer Service Representative who will support you with all operational matters and new queries.

Can I integrate 3rd-party brokers into my Customs Control Tower?

Yes, our teams can orchestrate both, declarations produced inhouse as well as from 3rd party customs brokers.

Can I request ad hoc clearances in new trade lanes?

Yes. We understand that best serving your customers often involves the odd shipment into new regions, and we offer support with ad hoc clearances to our existing customers.

Which countries can be included and orchestrated in the Customs Control Tower??

We can provide European coverage. Further coverage requirements can be discussed.

What is the timeline to set-up a Customs Control Tower for my business?

The timeline to set up a Customs Control Tower depends on several factors, including the number of countries involved, your declaration volumes, and the complexity of the required system interfaces. On average, a full implementation typically takes between 3 to 4 months.

How does the Customs Control Tower prevent delays in the supply chain?

The Customs Control Tower increases predictability through standardized, streamlined processes across all countries and shipments. By creating full visibility and consistent handling, it prevents unexpected issues and keeps goods moving. This reduces the perception of customs as a roadblock at the start or end of the supply chain.

How can I centralize customs operations across all countries and brokers?

By centralizing all customs activities within one coordinated model, you create a single source of truth for brokers, local teams, and clients. A unified Customs Control Tower provides shared workflows, standardized procedures, and flow visibility, ensuring everyone follows the same processes. This eliminates fragmented communication, reduces errors, and keeps everyone aligned.

Visibility FAQs

Will I have visibility over my various customs flows?

We offer various visibility tools, ranging from manually populated status sheets to digital dashboards.

What can be included in the reporting?

All declaration data can be included in the reporting. Further enrichments are possible and can be discussed with the Customs Control Tower team.

Can the Control Tower offer a dashboard for visibility of my customs activities and their performance?

Yes. The Control Tower provides business-intelligence dashboards that give you clear visibility of your customs activities and their performance. These dashboards display agreed KPIs—such as throughput times, error rates, and financial metrics—and are made directly accessible to you. This ensures full transparency of customs costs, duties and service levels.