Supply Chain Digitalization and EU Digital Customs Reform : The Affect of Customs Data Hub on Logistics Actors Coordination

Sammanfattning

Background International supply chain is increasingly shaped by regulatory digitalization, as customs authorities modernize fragmented national systems into integrated digital infrastructures. By centralizing data submission and enabling EU-wide risk analysis, the reform is expected to streamline customs procedures and reduce administrative duplication. However, its practical implications for logistics actors — the intermediaries responsible for coordinating goods, documentation, and compliance across supply chains — remain empirically underexplored. In particular, it is unclear whether centralizing data governance reduces operational burdens or redistributes them across supply chain actors in ways that existing literature does not fully account for. Purpose This research seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of how the EU Customs Data Hub will influence the operational workload of EU logistics actors. By assessing changes in daily operations and compliance requirements, evaluating the need for technological upgrades and training, examining the evolving role of intermediaries, and identifying necessary strategic adjustments, the study aims to highlight both the opportunities and challenges posed by the new customs framework. The findings are intended to support logistics entities in preparing for and adapting to the EU Customs Data Hub's transformative effects. Method The study adopts a qualitative, exploratory research design grounded in a relativist ontology and social constructionist epistemology. Empirical data were collected through seven semi-structured interviews conducted with logistics professionals between March and April 2026, representing a range of supply chain roles including freight forwarding, customs coordination, supply chain management, and procurement. Data were analyzed using theory-informed thematic analysis, applying Information Processing Theory, Transaction Cost Economics, and Dynamic Capabilities theory as interpretive lenses to structure coding and develop analytical themes. Conclusion The findings suggest that the EU Customs Data Hub is not only a technical customs reform, but also a broader change in supply chain coordination and information governance. While the reform may improve efficiency and transparency at the EU level, it is also expected to increase data validation, coordination, and compliance responsibilities for logistics actors. The study concludes that the impact of the reform depends not only on the technology itself, but also on the ability of firms to adapt their systems, processes, and capabilities to a more centralized and data-driven customs environment.