First Experiences with the Goods Traffic System “Passar”

On June 1, 2023, the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG) launched the first version of the new goods traffic system “Passar”. The launch followed years of intensive preparation. We take a look behind the scenes and show how the days around the introduction of the new system went.

Quelle: Forum Z. (Federal Office for Customs and Border Security)
Autoren: Alain Dulio, Yanis Gogniat, Eva Künzi und Nicolas Rion

May 26, 2023: 6 Days Before the Launch. In Stabio with Ines Gallotti

This Friday serves as a kind of dress rehearsal. We accompany Ines Gallotti, one of the Passar ambassadors, who is overseeing the introduction of the new goods traffic system at various local customs levels. “This is an important responsibility. Our role as a bridge between the system and the employees is crucial,” she explains. On this day in Stabio, six days before the launch of Passar 1.0, Ines Gallotti is in high demand. Some employees have already gotten used to the new systems. One of them even worked all day with the new system after the demonstration by Ines Gallotti, even though Passar was not yet officially operational. Others are still a bit uncertain or have questions. These are discussed together. There is still a whole week left. Furthermore, Passar will be gradually put into operation.

What was the biggest challenge? “Training the approximately seventy employees at Customs Mendrisio while the daily business continued uninterrupted.” Initially, Passar ambassador Gallotti and her deputy Roberto Borrello acquired the necessary knowledge in several workshops in Bern. They then organized several half-day courses on-site in Stabio for their colleagues. Information sessions were also offered to the customs’ business partners, who were also preparing for the transition to the new system. “The time and energy investment was considerable, but it allows us to look forward to June 1 with confidence,” conclude Ines and Roberto with a smile.

June 1, 2023: The Day of the Launch. In Rheinfelden with Andrea Werder

Early in the morning at the border. We meet Andrea Werder, head of the group and Passar ambassador at Customs Aargau, at 4:30 at the customs office in Rheinfelden. The first trucks are already lined up at the border crossing, ready to be let through at exactly 5 o’clock. A final briefing with the employees in the high booths and the supervisors, who also did not want to miss the opportunity to be present during the first minutes of Passar. And the first reports are already being recorded. Even though the new system has been extensively tested, a certain relief is felt when the reports can be entered into Passar without errors.

As the sun slowly climbs over the horizon at 6:00 and the first rush is over, Andrea Werder happily notes: “Everything seems to be working as planned. For the employees, not much changes, and the drivers shouldn’t notice the transition – except when they use the Activ app, then they can cross the border much faster.”

Later in the morning, a conference call follows with the other departments of Customs Aargau, and in the afternoon, a quick visit to the border crossing Stein/Bad Säckingen. Everywhere we find: The launch day was a complete success. The goods traffic flows smoothly, and Andrea Werder can treat herself to a well-deserved cool down at the end of the day.

June 8, 2023: After a Week of Operation. In Vallorbe with Sylvain Maudamey

A week after the start, the goods traffic is running as usual. One might think that the customs employee has been working with Passar forever when watching him in the high booth in Vallorbe: EETS:OK on the LSVA monitor, the pulsating blue arrow of the Activ app on the driver’s smartphone, a confirming glance in Passar: “Everything is fine, thank you.” The truck barely stopped. Just like the next two vehicles, which are loaded with straw and gravel. They also use a digital solution from customs: the Periodic App.

The next driver, however, stops his vehicle, rummages around in the passenger seat, and finally hands the employee four sheets of paper. “So, what do we have here?” After flipping through the documents, the customs employee briefly stands up to check the license plate, sits back down, enters a transport report in Passar, and activates it manually: scan, click, scan, scan, click, click. When he returns the papers to the driver, he adds a flyer: “Next time phone and Activ, ok?”

“We have increased from 100 uses of the Activ app to 1000 per week in just under two months,” says Sylvain Maudamey happily. “That already accounts for more than 50% of the transits.” Beyond the information campaign, word-of-mouth is also working. “I love this energy,” Sylvain Maudamey continues, Passar ambassador at Customs Vaud. “A new system is being introduced, and we learn every day how we can work better with it.”

An example? “After they scanned their transit documents in Activ and parked their truck, some drivers walked across the border to have a coffee. During this time, the reports were activated. The Activ app then showed a stop when they wanted to continue with their truck. Within just ten minutes, we were able to adjust the geofence zones for activation to avoid this problem.”

June 14, 2023: Looking Ahead. In Zollikofen with Dominik Meier

What’s next? “June 1 was the start of the phased introduction of Passar. The first hurdle has been overcome, now we focus on the next ones.” Dominik Meier stands in front of the long planning board. For the 20th time, he is leading the large, two-day PI Planning as Product Manager and Co-Program Manager DaziT. For months, the specialists, architects, developers, and testers have been working towards this date. On their faces, one can see a mix of joy, pride, and relief. But there is no time to rest on laurels: Development work must continue at full speed.

“The very last elements for October 1 are in development. At the same time, we are already working on Passar 2.0,” explains Meier during the break. The new goods traffic system and most of the subsystems, such as the ePortal, master data management, or document management, are now productive. “We are now further developing these, expanding functionalities, and will reintroduce them in phases in coordination with the economy, just as before,” summarizes Meier.

Photo: © BAZG / Caption: Andrea Werder, head of the group and Passar ambassador at Customs Aargau, early in the morning at the customs office in Rheinfelden/AG