The app felt outdated and made U.S.–Canada export filing hard to complete. We modernized the product and reduced the back-office work behind each export.
Fewer export steps
Faster export completion
New users in the first month
Overview
AutoExports is a mobile-first web application used to process vehicle exports across the U.S.–Canada border.
It’s operated by Livingston International and powered by SmartBorder technology. We’ve worked with this ecosystem since 2016, supporting M&A-related system integrations, modernizations, and updates.
Partnership started, still active today.
Kaizen engineers and designers currently working.
Active logistics projects
CONTEXT
To export a vehicle from the U.S., users need to complete an AES filing and obtain an Internal Transaction Number (ITN). That filing allows U.S. Customs to verify the vehicle can legally leave the country.
For many users, this is a one-time process. They are not brokers, they are not familiar with export requirements, and they need to get it right before the vehicle can move forward.
People exporting a vehicle for the first time who needed step-by-step guidance.
Repeat users who needed a faster, more predictable way to complete filings.
The team reviewing submissions, checking documents, handling exceptions, and keeping exports moving.
Challenges
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project Goal
The goal was to modernize and rebrand the legacy app so users could complete export filings with clearer guidance, fewer manual steps, and less back-office support.
That meant simplifying the workflow, automating compliance steps, digitizing document handling, and making the app feel easier to use and trust.
Our Approach
We mapped how users completed an export, where they got stuck, and where the back-office team had to step in. That helped us see which steps created confusion, which tasks could be automated, and what needed to be clearer in the product.
AES filing, ITN generation, and customs documentation were too dependent on manual steps. We redesigned the flow so key compliance actions happened inside the product, making the process easier to complete and easier to operate.
We moved document handling into the app so users could complete required steps without relying on printing, scanning, or offline back-and-forth. That reduced manual review, sped up completion, and made the process easier to track.
We cut the process from six steps to three and made each next action clearer. We also added SMS, email, and in-app updates so users could see where their export stood without relying on manual follow-ups.
We redesigned the brand and design system based on UX research, from colors and logo to interface patterns, so the app felt clearer, more modern, and easier to use. We also rebuilt the platform with .NET on the backend, Angular on the frontend, and Stripe payments, allowing users to complete the full export process inside the app.
Impact
The process went from six steps to three, making each export easier to complete.
Less printing, less waiting, and fewer manual handoffs helped exports move faster.
A clearer, easier process helped more people choose AutoExports for their vehicle exports.
Testimonial
Business System Analyst at Livingston International
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