The digital route through customs
For De Haas Road Cargo, we developed a customs app that digitises and automates the entire shipping process to the United Kingdom. Drivers receive a digital boarding pass directly in the app, which removes manual data entry and phone coordination, making border crossings faster, error-free and more reliable.
80% faster
Drivers receive their GMR code directly in the app and can continue without any manual input.
100% visibility
Real-time overview of all shipments and customs statuses in the admin dashboard
The border as a bottleneck
Transporting goods to the United Kingdom meant a complex and largely manual customs process for De Haas Road Cargo. MRN and GMR numbers were received by email, retyped and coordinated by phone between drivers and the office, leading to delays, errors and unnecessary waiting times at the border. In an industry where speed is crucial and goods are time-sensitive, every miscommunication or missing code posed an immediate risk of downtime and extra costs.
“Appfront understood how critical this process is for us. They didn't just build an app, they built a solution that truly fits our daily operations.”
From bottleneck to smooth flow
Together with planners and drivers, we mapped the existing customs process step by step and identified where manual entry and miscommunication caused delays. Based on this, we iteratively developed a digital workflow. Hand-drawn sketches thus became a concrete platform in which MRN and GMR codes are processed automatically and made immediately available to drivers in the app, tested and optimised in practice.
One overview, complete control
In the app, drivers instantly see the correct journey, its current status and a digital boarding pass that can be scanned at the terminal without any extra steps. In the office, the admin dashboard provides real-time visibility of all shipments and border crossings, so planners can monitor and adjust immediately, without phone calls or manual retyping.
Our approach in 3 steps
Research & Strategy
We begin with user research and a clear strategy to determine the right direction.
Design & Prototyping
Iterative design with continuous feedback to achieve the best possible result.
Development & Launch
Agile development with weekly updates, followed by a careful launch.
The technology behind the solution
The application was developed as a scalable mobile solution for drivers, with a central web portal for administration and monitoring. The mobile app (iOS and Android) is built in React Native and communicates via a secure REST architecture with a Node.js backend. Shipments are automatically linked to MRN and GMR codes and processed in real time through integrations with UK government and Eurostar APIs. Thanks to automatic validations, role-based access and cloud deployment, the system is reliable, secure and ready for further expansion.
Framework
React Native | ReactJS | Node.js | PostgreSQL | Cloud
Conclusion
With the customs app, De Haas Road Cargo has a reliable and scalable solution for processing customs documentation for shipments to the United Kingdom. Drivers receive their GMR codes directly in the app and can have them scanned quickly at the terminal, while planners in the office have real-time visibility into the status of every shipment via the dashboard. By digitalising the process, manual handling and miscommunication have been greatly reduced. The result is faster clearance at the border, fewer errors and greater control over the entire transport process.
Let's get started
Together, we create smart digital solutions for your organisation's challenges. Not rushed, short-lived products, but thoughtful, high-quality solutions built on a foundation of UX design and technological expertise, so your organisation is ready for tomorrow.
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