Benin is taking a new step in modernising its customs administration with Webb Customs, an intelligent system designed to effectively combat fraud and enhance customs performance. This innovative tool was highlighted at the Webb Fontaine Summit, held on May 12 and 13 in Dubai, where Benin was showcased as a model.
Until 2018, foreign trade stakeholders had to navigate between several separate platforms: the Port Single Window (GUP), the Foreign Trade Operations Single Window (GUOCE), and Sydonia World. While functional, these systems created redundancies and delays. A reform in January 2018, supported by Webb Fontaine, led to the establishment of the Foreign Trade Single Window (GUCE), merging the previous systems into an integrated and unified interface. But Benin’s ambitions went beyond centralisation. This is how Webb Customs was born — a next-generation IT system tailor-made for Benin's Customs. Equipped with artificial intelligence, it allows for dynamic risk analysis, automatically detects fraud patterns, and significantly speeds up procedures.
A major technological breakthrough
Customs Webb officially replaces Sydonia World, which was previously promoted by UNCTAD. Though a pioneer in its time, Sydonia World no longer met modern demands for performance, responsiveness, and cybersecurity. The new system provides a fully digitised environment, fully automated customs procedures, advanced data management, and seamless interconnection with public administrations and private operators. Another major innovation is that customs risk management is now based on intelligent profiling of importers and goods, reducing manual processing and improving the accuracy of inspections. The software infrastructure is now fully controlled by the administration itself, ensuring complete sovereignty over data.
Tangible results
The impact is measurable. According to the public service daily La Nation, customs revenue nearly doubled in four years, rising from 355 to 722 billion CFA francs between 2020 and 2024. At the Hilla-Condji border, for instance, all formalities are completed online, with no physical contact with customs officers. With Customs Webb, Benin is shifting from administrative management to predictive anticipation. This system not only reduces costs and delays for economic operators but also positions Benin’s Customs as one of the most modern in the region. This reform is part of an ambitious government vision implemented by the Directorate General of Customs, which aims to make customs administration a pillar of economic growth, national security, and regional integration.
Originally published in CADRECO
Useful resources
🔗 Read our blog: Webb Customs in Benin
🌍 Learn about Webb Customs
🌟 Read our Benin success story
About Webb Fontaine
Established in 2002 and headquartered in Dubai, UAE, Webb Fontaine is a leading technology company specialising in Artificial Intelligence-driven solutions for global trade. With offices spanning Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, the company leverages its extensive expertise to provide governments and communities with innovative solutions that streamline trade processes and enhance efficiency.
Webb Fontaine is renowned for its pioneering technologies that help reduce trade fraud, improve Customs revenue, and expedite clearance times, supporting smoother and more profitable trading ecosystems. The company prides itself on a diverse workforce of over 700 professionals from 41 nationalities, emphasising a culture of excellence, innovation, and integrity.
The firm’s commitment to research and development is unmatched, owning the largest R&D centres in the trade sector, which are pivotal in advancing trade technology and practices. Webb Fontaine’s accolades include numerous international awards and certifications, underscoring its dedication to quality and leadership in trade facilitation.