Sell trade data to AI? Start with what your customs platforms keep

The records themselves are usually yours: 7 of the 15 platforms we read say the customer owns its data, among them E2open, Avalara, Oracle and Flexport. What changes the picture is the use they keep. Avalara's terms say it "may create, generate, and use Aggregate Data for any lawful purpose", and 8 of the 15 platforms reserve some aggregated or anonymised use. (Trade compliance software data terms: every row, with its source)

2 of the 15 say they may. Flexport's software terms reserve the right to use user content "(in de-identified or aggregated form)" to train and develop its artificial intelligence, and AEB's terms let it analyse customer data to improve its services, products and underlying algorithms. The other 13 say nothing on AI at all. (Trade compliance software data terms: every row, with its source)

Partly, in the US. Section 1431 of Title 19 makes an importer's and shipper's name and address on a vessel manifest available for public disclosure unless the importer has made a biennial certification claiming confidential treatment. The entry files, classifications, values and invoices an importer keeps are not on the manifest. In the UK, the 2005 Act bars HMRC officials from disclosing what they hold. (Trade compliance software data terms: every row, with its source)

In the US, 19 CFR 163.4 sets five years from the date of entry for records the regulations require. In the UK, GOV.UK's guidance says four years for goods declared to HMRC, and HMRC's records notice ends the period three years after the year a declaration was accepted where goods went into free circulation with duty other than nil charged. Licensing copies of the records does not lift either duty. (Trade compliance software data terms: every row, with its source)

Some platforms promise it. Avalara returns customer data on a request made up to 60 days after termination, Oracle makes content available for a retrieval period, and AEB gives access in a download format on request. Zonos says personal data is deleted when the service ends, and 11 of the 15 say nothing about export. (Trade compliance software data terms: every row, with its source)

A few organisations take it from the businesses that hold it: Xeneta builds its freight benchmarks from its customers' contracts, and Altana's network includes records customers contribute. Others, such as Descartes Datamyne and TradeInt, build their data from bills of lading and customs sources. Our buyer board quotes each one. (Trade compliance software data terms: every row, with its source)