Case studies:Jiahe

Jiahe is a leading importer of exotic food products in Finland. They have grown rapidly with the boom in growth of modern Asian restaurants and growing general interest to Asian pop culture. They import from several European and non-EU countries directly to their central warehouse, from where the products are further transported to the retail stores

– A fast-growing Finnish food trading company faced mounting challenges in complying with Intrastat reporting requirements. As transaction volumes increased across multiple countries, the existing manual processes for compiling Intrastat reports became insufficient.

The Challenge

The client’s internal teams were struggling to manage the high volume of documents necessary for accurate and timely Intrastat reporting. Without a clear process, key documents often went missing or were delayed, leading to:

Frequent errors in reports

Missed submission deadlines

Repeated correction requests from Customs

Increased compliance costs and resource strain

These issues not only posed a regulatory risk but also impacted the client’s operational efficiency and credibility with Customs authorities.

Solution

Our approach focused on creating structure, transparency, and automation within the client’s Intrastat compliance process.

– Streamlined Document Management

We designed a simple and transparent document workflowthat clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and checkpoints for each step in the process. This ensured all relevant trade documentation was collected, validated, and stored in real time.

– Data Quality System Development

We introduced a tailored data quality control systemthat automatically flagged missing, inconsistent, or duplicate entries before data reached the reporting stage. This reduced need for manual corrections and improved reporting accuracy significantly.

– Seamless Technology Integration

At the core of the solution was our in-house developed software, built specifically for customs compliance. Fully integrated with the Customs Intrastat portal, the system enabled:

Real-time report submission and updates

Automated validationto prevent errors before submission

End-to-end traceabilityfor audit readiness

By aligning process, people, and technology, we ensured the client could scale their operations without compromising on compliance.

Results

Within the year after implementation, the client achieved:

100% on-time submissions

Zero correction requests from Customs

Significant reduction in compliance-related costs

Improved internal visibility and accountability

Less than 2% (annualized) error rate

This project highlights how expert consulting combined with purpose-built technology can transform a reactive compliance process into a strategic advantage.