If you’ve ever booked a customs shipment, you likely already know what a headache it can be. Email chains that seem endless, back-and-forths about missing documents, and way too many follow-ups just to get a single job confirmed. It’s a stressful, admin-heavy process that eats up time and leaves plenty of room for errors.
In many cases, a single booking can generate anywhere from 5 to 18 emails, just to get one job over the line. Multiply that across dozens of shipments a week, and it’s clear the system isn’t working. What should be a simple handoff becomes a chaotic mix of emails, PDFs, manual inputs, and crossed wires.
And while plenty of platforms claim to streamline the process, the reality is that most of them ask too much from the user. Complex forms, logins, and multiple steps create more resistance than relief. It’s really like wonder many customers still default to email as they’re trying to avoid yet another system that slows them down.
That’s exactly the problem our Drop & Book system was built to solve.
The simplicity customs have been waiting for
Drop & Book strips the process down to just the essentials. With only 3 to 5 key fields to fill in, plus a simple document upload, you can create a job number and initiate the entire booking in under 40 seconds.
Here’s how it works:
- Fill in just a few core fields (reference, origin, destination).
- Upload your commercial invoice and any necessary customs information.
- Instantly generate a job number.
- All documents are automatically distributed to the right stakeholders.
That’s it. There’s no inbox overload, no chasing paperwork, and no wondering if someone received the latest version.
Drop & Book makes it possible to complete an entire customs job from start to finish, faster than you can boil a kettle and make yourself a cuppa! It’s designed to be intuitive enough for anyone to use, no matter their technical experience. In fact, most users pick it up in under two minutes.
Take a look at our Drop & Book walkthrough.
Why Drop & Book is much more than just another tool
What makes Drop & Book truly transformative isn’t just the speed or simplicity. It’s the way it connects the entire supply chain.
Rather than keeping booking responsibilities siloed with one person or company, Drop & Book allows clients to create their own customs ecosystem. That means importers, exporters, freight forwarders, and carriers can all participate in the process, each with controlled access and clear visibility.
Here’s what that looks like in action:
- Exporters can complete both the export and import legs of a shipment in one smooth flow, handing off data to their partners with zero duplication.
- Freight teams can book on behalf of their customers without needing to chase multiple emails.
- Carriers and brokers can instantly receive documents, job references, and updates in real time.
This results in a streamlined, permissioned environment where everyone sees exactly what they need and nothing they don’t. After seeing Drop & Book in action, many customers realise just how much time and stress they’ve been wasting. The moment someone understands they can go from document upload to job creation in under a minute (and eliminate 10+ emails per booking) they’re ready to make the switch.
It’s not just about saving time. It’s about reducing errors, simplifying compliance, and making life easier for everyone involved. What used to be a 15-email headache now becomes a quick, traceable action, with full visibility and no confusion.
And the best part is you don’t need a background in customs to use it! Drop & Book is built for everyone, from logistics pros to office admins. No training sessions, no user manuals. You just open the tool, fill it in, and get moving.
Final thoughts
If your customs booking process still involves more than three emails, it’s probably costing you more time and money than you realise. Now’s the moment to rethink the way it’s done with Drop & Book. It’s so much more than just a tool, just a tool, it’s a shift in how customs is handled, moving from reactive and scattered to proactive and connected.
Want to find out more about Drop & Book or have questions about how we can help with your logistics? Talk to our friendly team, we’re more than happy to answer all of your questions.