Operations questions
Import operations FAQ: documents, ETA changes, landed cost and AI review
These answers describe the operating boundaries used by Tyllus for US-bound import coordination. They explain workflow behavior and source responsibility without replacing a carrier, freight forwarder, customs broker, accountant, or legal adviser.
By Ayhan Karaca, Co-Founder · Updated: August 26, 2026
What does import operations software coordinate?
It keeps the shipment's milestones, partner requests, document evidence, tracking sources, costs, exceptions, and next actions visible in one operating context. It should clarify ownership across company boundaries; it does not perform the licensed or contractual work of those partners.
Does container tracking replace the carrier or forwarder?
No. Tracking can bring available movement updates and ETA into the workflow, but coverage and freshness depend on identifiers, carriers, and routes. When an update is unavailable, use a source-confirmed status instead of inventing an event.
What should happen when an ETA changes?
Keep the new ETA with its source and observation time, identify the affected downstream tasks, and assign the next review. An ETA is an estimate, so the workflow should preserve changes and avoid presenting it as a guaranteed arrival.
Which documents are required for a US import?
There is no universal list for every shipment. Commercial, transport, security-filing, entry, agency, and product-specific requirements depend on the goods and transaction. Use the checklist to organize evidence, then confirm the actual requirement with current CBP guidance and qualified customs professionals.
Can AI approve shipment or customs data automatically?
AI can assist with reading supported documents, but a suggested value is not guaranteed fact. Tyllus keeps the source document and review status visible so uncertain information does not silently become an operational decision.
What belongs in landed cost?
The answer depends on the organization's accounting method and decision purpose. A workflow can collect purchase, freight, duty, fee, brokerage, and other charge records with their provenance, while the responsible finance and customs professionals determine the applicable treatment.
| Question | Accountable evidence | Decision owner | Boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Has the ETA changed? | Carrier or forwarder update and timestamp | Logistics owner | An ETA remains an estimate |
| Is a document ready to use? | Source file, review state, and accepted value | Document or customs owner | Presence alone does not prove validity or applicability |
| Is landed cost final? | Approved cost layers, currencies, allocations, and invoices | Finance with qualified customs input | Tyllus does not determine binding tax or customs treatment |
Have a workflow question these answers do not cover?
Describe the decision, owner, evidence, and external provider involved without sending confidential shipment data.