For customs brokers
Check the importer’s paperwork before you file the entry.
FlowDocs compares the commercial invoice with the packing list for each shipment on order reference, consignee, packages and gross weight, and confirms the bill of lading or air waybill is attached. You see every conflict, with the value from each document, before you prepare the entry.
Why invoice and packing list mismatches matter before you file.
A conflict between the importer’s documents is easier to settle with the importer before filing than with CBP after it. Once an entry is filed, CBP can ask for more information on a CBP Form 28 (Request for Information), and can propose or take action on the entry, such as a change to classification or value, on a CBP Form 29 (Notice of Action).
FlowDocs does not predict CBP requests. It finds the conflicts in the paperwork you already have, so you can ask the importer about them while the entry is still yours to prepare. CBP’s forms are listed on its forms page.
Commercial invoice and packing list conflicts FlowDocs catches before entry.
Four fields are compared between the commercial invoice and the packing list. Text must match exactly, ignoring only case and spacing, and gross weight must be in kilograms on both documents and within 5 kg. Order reference and gross weight are reviewed by a person before they are compared.
| Field | Invoice reads | Packing list reads | FlowDocs returns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order reference | PO 7731 | PO-7731 | Mismatch: punctuation is not treated as equal |
| Consignee | Atlas Imports LLC | Atlas Imports LLC c/o Harbor Logistics | Mismatch: both names shown for you to judge |
| Packages | 64 | 64 | Match |
| Gross weight | 2,410.00 kg | 2,380.00 kg | Mismatch: differs by more than 5 kg |
| Gross weight, in tonnes | 2,410.00 kg | 2.41 t | Cannot compare: not in kilograms on both |
Does FlowDocs check 19 CFR 141.86 invoice requirements?
Not yet. 19 CFR 141.86 lists what a commercial invoice for a US import must show, including the port of entry, the parties to the sale, a detailed description of the merchandise, quantities, the purchase price of each item and its currency, and the country of origin. FlowDocs does not check an invoice against that list today. It compares the invoice with the packing list.
What FlowDocs does not do for customs brokers yet.
- Check an invoice against 19 CFR 141.86
- Classify goods or verify HS codes
- Check line items, unit prices or invoice arithmetic
- Compare bill of lading or air waybill values: the transport document is checked for presence only
- File entries, or connect to ACE or your entry software
Questions customs brokers ask.
What does FlowDocs check?
FlowDocs checks the commercial invoice against the packing list on four fields — order reference, consignee, packages and gross weight — and confirms that the commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading or air waybill are all in the shipment pack.
What happens when a value cannot be read clearly?
The field comes back Cannot compare, with the reason — for example, a gross weight with no kilogram unit. FlowDocs does not guess, and it never reports a reading problem as a mismatch in your paperwork.
Does a person review the results?
Yes. Order reference and gross weight are critical fields, and every value FlowDocs reads for them is reviewed by a person before it is compared.
Does FlowDocs check US Customs invoice requirements?
Not yet. FlowDocs compares the commercial invoice with the packing list. It does not check an invoice against what 19 CFR 141.86 requires for a US import, such as the country of origin and the purchase price of each item.
Does it check line items, invoice totals or HS codes?
No. It compares header fields between the commercial invoice and the packing list. It does not compare line items, check invoice arithmetic, classify goods or verify HS codes.
Do I need CargoWise or a TMS integration?
No. You upload the documents; FlowDocs needs no access to CargoWise, a TMS or an ERP, and writes nothing into them.
Is my data safe?
Documents are stored in Frankfurt and processed on servers in Germany, are not used to train AI models, and stay until you delete them; deleted documents are purged after 60 days.
How does the free check work?
Send 3 recent shipment packs. We run each one through FlowDocs, review every result by hand, and email you the report within 24 hours. It is free and needs no account.
Check 3 shipment packs free.
Send the commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading or air waybill for 3 recent shipments. We review every result by hand and email you the report within 24 hours. No CargoWise, TMS or ERP access is required.
You can delete or paste over the names, values and routes first — FlowDocs still reads whatever is left. Use a tool that removes the text rather than a black box drawn on top: a drawn box hides it from you, not from a parser.