GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 23, 2026
Communication Standards in the Supply Chain
Reliable data exchange between suppliers, freight forwarders, customs authorities, and consignees depends on all parties following the same technical formats and transmission protocols—this is precisely what communication standards in the supply chain provide.
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Source: https://www.unece.org/cefact
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Passar Hub: Everything on the new Swiss customs system
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Definition & Explanation
Reliable data exchange between suppliers, freight forwarders, customs authorities, and consignees depends on all parties following the same technical formats and transmission protocols—this is precisely what communication standards in the supply chain provide. They define the structure and content of shipment notifications, transport documents, electronic invoices, and customs declarations so that systems can interact automatically without manual rekeying. Established standards include EDIFACT and its message subsets—such as IFTMIN for transport orders and CUSCAR for customs declarations—alongside XML-based formats, GS1 data standards, and UN/CEFACT recommendations. Where standards are absent or incompatible, media breaks, data errors, and customs delays follow predictably. For cross-border shipments involving multiple service providers, adherence to common standards is a prerequisite for end-to-end process automation, not merely a best practice.
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Passar Hub: Everything on the new Swiss customs system
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