MEDIACO VRAC is accelerating its customs transformation with CONEX: from SaaS to operational AI

Following the adoption of the CUSTOMS via conex™ SaaS solution in January 2023 across all its entities, the group is now rolling out the ZEN via conex™ collaborative customs platform and the ALBA artificial intelligence module for classification assistance, to address increasingly complex regulatory and operational challenges.

A foundational technological framework to support developments in customs procedures

With 21 customs declarants spread across three main sites (Marseille, Fos-sur-Mer and Le Havre) and a total of six entities, MEDIACO VRAC relies on CONEX’s solutions to manage all its operations. The move to SaaS in 2023 was a key driver in supporting the transition to Delta IEThe DELTA IE (Import/Export) procedure is the French electronic Customs Clearance system implemented by the DGDDI., by securing data flows and facilitating adaptation to new regulatory requirements.

“Choosing CONEX has enabled us to anticipate major changes in customs procedures, particularly with Delta IE. Today, we have a stable, reliable and fully operational environment,” explains Mikael Guillaumaux, Customs Lead at the MEDIACO VRAC Group.

ZEN: a practical response to the complexity of excise duties

In October 2025, MEDIACO VRAC launched a new pilot project centred on the ZEN platform, rolled out across the Mediaco Logistique Normandie division (Le Havre and Fos-sur-Mer), with a focus on excise goods movements, which account for a significant proportion of the business.

For example, 10,600 pages of documentation were processed in March 2026 for the 1,200 monthly declarations at the Fos branch alone. The automation of data entry tasks represents a significant time saving in a particularly complex regulatory environment, characterised by successive changes.

“With ZEN and CONEX’s AI-based tools, we were able to cope with a very stringent regulatory change regarding excise duties. The tool enables us to process large volumes of documentation whilst ensuring that declarations are in line with the EAD. Without this type of AI, it would have been an extremely time-consuming and complex process,” underlines Mikael Guillaumaux, Customs lead for the MEDIACO VRAC group.

Beyond boosting productivity, ZEN enables the declarant to refocus on his/her core business: regulatory analysis and risk management.

ALBA: expert support for atypical workflows

At the same time, MEDIACO VRAC relies on ALBA, the tariff classificationTariff Classification involves assigning a code to a good in order to determine the applicable Customs Duties, taxes, an... chatbot developed by CONEX, for its most unusual operations. Particularly useful for non-recurring shipments of ‘general cargo’ and ‘spot’ projects, ALBA helps to ensure accurate classifications.

‘For atypical or non-standard cases, ALBA provides us with speed and reassurance. This enables declarants to make more reliable nomenclature choices whilst saving time,’ explains Mikael Guillaumaux.

Designed as an integrated business assistant, ALBA achieves a high level of reliability thanks to its regulatory foundation, which is continuously updated.

“Tariff classification is one of the most sensitive aspects of customs clearance. An error can have significant financial, regulatory or operational consequences. With ALBA, we provide declarants with an expert assistant capable of analysing the available information, cross-referencing regulatory guidelines and proposing a well-reasoned classification within a matter of minutes,” says Cédric Pillac, Sales Deputy Managing Director at CONEX. “Initial feedback from the field shows that it is possible to reduce the time spent on classification by two-thirds, whilst achieving over 95 per cent accuracy and reducing customs risk by up to 80 per cent.”

A gradual transformation across the group

The deployment of ZEN and ALBA is being carried out in stages, with a project-based approach initially implemented at the Fos-sur-Mer site before being rolled out across the entire group.

The aim is to:
• standardise practices,
• reduce low-value-added tasks,
• and enhance the robustness of customs processes.

“Our aim is to expand these tools across all our entities to improve efficiency and quality. In particular, CONEX’s AI building blocks are becoming essential tools for tackling the growing complexity of our business,” concludes Mikael Guillaumaux.

Press release issued on June 8, 2026