Unveiled at WCO 2026 in Abu Dhabi, Webb Fontaine Zerø replaces legacy code with a ground-up LLM architecture designed for a volatile trade landscape.
At the World Customs Organization Technology Conference & Exhibition, the dialogue surrounding border management shifted from digitalization to a total reset. Webb Fontaine officially launched Webb Fontaine Zerø, a next-generation Customs platform built entirely on large language models (LLMs) and integrated AI.
Held under the theme Customs Agility in a Complex World, the event served as the stage for Webb Fontaine to declare the end of the legacy system era. Webb Fontaine Zerø isn’t an upgrade; it is a fundamental reconstruction of how trade data is processed, analyzed, and secured.
The naming of the new platform reflects a ground-zero approach. Traditional Customs systems, many based on the ASYCUDA framework, which was architected decades ago, rely on static rules and manual updates.
Key Innovations of Webb Fontaine Zerø:
- LLM-Core Integration: AI isn’t just a plugin for risk management; it is embedded in every layer of the operating system, allowing the platform to read and adapt to new trade laws in real-time.
- Autonomous Risk Management: Leveraging advanced data analytics to move beyond basic profiling into predictive threat detection.
- Agile Regulatory Adaptation: The system evolves as fast as tariff rates change, eliminating the months of manual recoding previously required for national updates.
During the conference, Webb Fontaine experts highlighted how Zerø addresses the most pressing challenges for the 1,500+ delegates in attendance:
- Revenue Security: AI-powered valuation and classification tools ensure that duties are calculated with extreme precision, reducing fraud and leakage.
- Seamless Digital Ecosystems: The platform creates an interconnected web between Customs, port authorities, and the private sector, significantly reducing clearance times.
- Predictive Border Security: By analyzing global supply chain data, the system identifies anomalies before cargo even reaches the point of entry.
“AI is no longer a future roadmap on a PowerPoint slide. It is already at work. With Webb Fontaine Zerø, we rebuilt our core platforms from the ground up. It is a fresh start for an AI-driven era.” — Alioune Ciss, CEO of Webb Fontaine.
Webb Fontaine’s Chairperson, Jean Gurunlian, often cited as the architect of the original ASYCUDA system, issued a stark reminder at the event: legacy systems are no longer fit for purpose. The success of Zerø is already being mirrored in successful transformations in markets like Benin, where AI-powered platforms are currently processing over 100,000 declarations with unprecedented speed.
As a Corporate Sponsor for the second consecutive year, Webb Fontaine’s launch of Zerø reinforces its role as the primary architect of the Intelligent Border.
