Turning back the clock to the Irish Logistics & Transport Awards 2026, Customs Support Group has been named winner of the Best Use of AI award, recognised for a forward-thinking approach to intelligent automation that is transforming how complex customs operations are managed, setting a new benchmark for responsible, practical AI deployment in a highly regulated area of Ireland's logistics and transport industry.

The company's approach centres on the strategic embedding of SmartAssist and Lobster into core workflows, reimagining how customs procedures are handled with greater speed, accuracy, and clarity. Rather than applying AI as a surface-level enhancement, Customs Support Group has integrated intelligent automation into the operational fabric of its customs processes, delivering measurable gains in transport management efficiency while maintaining a strong emphasis on trust, human oversight, and customer experience.

The result is a solution that addresses the real demands of logistics technology in a regulated environment: improving operational efficiency without sacrificing the accuracy and accountability that customs compliance requires. By building AI that is designed to work rather than to impress, Customs Support Group has demonstrated that intelligent automation in supply chain management can be both practical and genuinely transformative.

The initiative also reflects a broader commitment to customer-centricity and sustainability in logistics, positioning the business as an innovator capable of driving change not just within its own operations but across the wider customs and freight Ireland landscape.

Judges were clear on what elevated the submission. "By embedding SmartAssist and Lobster into core workflows, the solution reimagines how complex procedures can be managed with greater speed, accuracy, and clarity. With a strong emphasis on trust, oversight, and customer experience, it sets a new benchmark for responsible, practical AI in a highly regulated industry. This isn't AI for novelty, it's AI built to work," the panel stated.

The Best Use of AI award recognises logistics and transport organisations that have deployed artificial intelligence to deliver measurable improvements in operations, customer experience, or efficiency, assessed across innovation, practical impact, scalability, and the degree to which the technology has advanced standards within the sector.

The 2026 awards gala took place on 26 February 2026 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry.

Visit the official Irish Logistics & Transport Awards website to explore the winners, meet the judges, and review categories. Subscribe to the newsletter for updates and event highlights.