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Classifying goods

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Get started with Classify

Learn how Classify works and how to get started.

PATENT PENDING

Available in Dashboard or via API, Zonos Classify, patent pending, is an AI-based automated classification solution that uses algorithms and statistical models to learn and improve over time.

How it works 

Classify is an automated Harmonized System (HS) code classification tool that uses the power of AI to provide accurate and efficient results. It is powered by a state-of-the-art multimodal AI system that uses advanced algorithms and statistical models to constantly learn and improve over time.

With the integration of billions of training records, a proprietary cutting-edge multimodal AI system, and architectural improvements for hyper-fast organization-specific refinement, Classify is designed to quickly provide accurate results.

Classify's AI is based on a generative pre-trained language model that uses deep learning to produce text similar to that written by humans. Classify uses this respective machine learning model coupled with a Zonos fine-tuned model, which includes over half a million manually classified labels, resulting in out of the box accuracy rates of over 90%.

This approach allows Classify to deliver high caliber results, ensuring you confidence in its results to generate accurate landed cost calculations, stay compliant, and ensure smooth customs clearances.

Classify’s robust technology uses the following artificial intelligence (AI) and human expertise capabilities while following the WCO’s general rules of interpretation (GRIs) to generate HS codes:

  • Machine learning is powered by a cutting-edge multimodal AI system that uses algorithms and statistical models to learn and enhance results.
  • Natural language processing (NLP) breaks down compound words, parts of speech accented more than others, and nouns preceded by adjectives; boosts the last noun in the phrase, etc.
  • Advanced image recognition utilizes item image URL data.
  • Normalization removes diacritics, manages punctuation, and splits combined words.
  • Typo tolerance allows for results with misspellings.
  • Language translation auto-detects the input language.
  • Store-level customization allows merchants to set restrictions and categorize their products at the category and subcategory levels to increase accuracy.

Note: Classify currently only supports country import codes and does not support export codes such as the United States Census Bureau's Schedule B codes.

Get started 

If you have access to Dashboard, you can test Classify with 1,000 free classifications using as little as a product description. If you're a Zonos Platform user, you get 10,000 classificaitons per year in Dashboard. If you don’t have access to Dashboard or if you’ve already used your 1,000 or 10,000 (depending on your tier) classifications and would like to upgrade, contact Zonos.

Using just a product name, Classify will provide the corresponding HS (Harmonized System) code. However, the more product details you provide, the more accurate your result will be. Learn about best practices for Classify input fields.

By default, Classify returns a universal (6-digit) HS code if a destination country is not provided in the request. Universal codes are used by all WCO member countries; however, we recommend using country-specific codes for improved restricted item management, reduced tax rates, preferential duty rates, and a more accurate and smooth customs clearance experience. To request a country-specific (8+ digit) classification, provide a destination country in your request. Learn more about the differences between universal and country-specific HS codes.

Request a classification

To request a classification in Dashboard or via API, follow the steps and mutation below.

Dashboard
API

To request a universal (6-digit) code, leave the destination country empty. To request a country-specific (8+ digit code), provide a destination country.

  1. Go to Dashboard -> Products -> Classify.
  2. Describe your item.
  3. Optional—Add additional product detail fields, such as an image, category, material, provided HS code, and additional details.
  4. OptionalSelect your destination country.
  5. Click Classify.
  6. Review your classification response, including the HS code, tariff schedule description, and confidence score.

To request a bulk classification in Dashboard, follow these steps.

HS codes 

Classify uses the World Customs Organization (WCO) Harmonized Schedule (HS) codes and tariff schedule descriptions to match product input fields with HS codes.

Depending on whether or not a destination country is provided, Classify will return a universal or country-specific HS code and schedule descriptions for each HS code level. For example, if you request a country-specific HS code, Classify will return the WCO tariff schedule description for the chapter, heading, subheading, and tariff level codes.

Schedule Description for Taiwan HS Code 3004.31.00003
LevelCodeDescription
Chapter30Pharmaceutical products
Heading3004Medicaments (excluding goods of heading 30.02, 30.05 or 30.06) consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses (including those in the form of transdermal administration systems) or in forms or packings for retail sale.
Subheading3004.31Other, containing hormones or other products of heading 29.37: Containing insulin
Tariff3004.31.00003Containing insulin: other medicaments, containing insulin: other medicaments, containing insulin

Display names 

The WCO descriptions outlined above can oftentimes be wordy, technical, and even misleading. For example, the WCO schedule description for chapter 84 is "Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof" whereas the Zonos cleansed display name for this chapter is simplified and clarified to "Tools, machinery, computers, and data processing units".

To make it easier for Classify users to understand and utilize HS code descriptions, Zonos has manually added cleansed display names, which are provided in your Classify response depending on your Classify tier.

These display names are a more simplified and user-friendly option to the standard WCO tariff schedule descriptions. They are designed to be easier to read and understand, making them a valuable tool for businesses that utilize HS code descriptions regularly.

Display names are included in all Classify responses, Dashboard or API, for Classify Advanced and Premium users.

Input fields 

While only a description is required to generate a classification, the more info you provide the more accurate your classification will be. Correctly formatting and inputting product information is critical for precise classifications. Below is a comprehensive explanation of each input field accepted by Classify. By understanding these input fields, you can maximize their usage and generate highly accurate classifications.

Input field descriptions

  • Product ID (optional) - Your product ID or any number that can be used to uniquely identify each product. If a product ID is not provided, Classify will assign product IDs starting with 1
  • Name (required) - The name of the product
  • Description (optional) - An in-depth, long-form description of the product
  • Image URL (optional) - Link to an image of the product. Note: Make sure you use a link to the actual image URL and not the product page URL
  • Category (optional) - General product category, e.g. Clothing & Accessories, Pet Supplies, Office Products
  • Subcategory (optional) - A subdivision of the main category, e.g. Baby Clothes, Pet Beds, Adhesives & Tape
  • Material (optional) - What the product is made from, e.g. plastic, wood, steel
  • Country of Origin (optional) - The two-letter abbreviation (ISO code) for the country of manufacture or production of the product
  • Provided HS Code (optional) - Include an existing HS code in your classification request to guide your request. Depending on your preference and the origin of your provided HS code, Classify can validate the HS code and check its coherency against the item's description details
  • Destination country (optional) - Identifies which country the product will be classified to. The destination country must be displayed with each country’s two-letter abbreviation (ISO code) and not the actual country name, e.g. AU, not Australia. Including this field will power Classify to return an 8+ digit country-specific HS code instead of the universal 6-digit code. Learn more about the differences between universal and country-specific HS codes.

Note: If you're uploading your bulk request CSV in Dashboard, the destination country will not be part of the template rather you will select your destination countries after you upload your bulk request CSV.

Language support 

Classify supports 136 languages, including 50 languages supported natively, covering over 95% of active internet users. If the classification input is in one of these 50 languages, there is no need for translation. However, you can specify the source language code for the other non-native languages, and Zonos will handle translation before classification.

There are no additional costs for languages needing translation.

Supported languages

Native support (50)
Translation support (83)
Language in EnglishLocal spellingISO 639-1
AfrikaansAfrikaansAF
ArabicالعربيةAR
AzerbaijaniAzərbaycancaAZ
BengaliবাংলাBN
BulgarianБългарскиBG
Cantonese廣東話N/A
CatalanCatalàCA
Chinese中文ZH
CroatianHrvatskiHR
CzechČeštinaCS
DanishDanskDA
DutchNederlandsNL
Egyptian ArabicمصرىN/A
EnglishEnglishEN
EsperantoEsperantoEO
EstonianEestiET
FinnishSuomiFE
FrenchFrançaisFR
GermanDeutschDE
GreekΕλληνικάEL
HebrewעִברִיתHE
Hindiहिन्दीHI
HungarianMagyarHU
IndonesianBahasa IndonesiaID
ItalianItalianoIT
Japanese日本語JA
Korean한국어KO
LatinLatinaLA
LithuanianLietuviųLT
MalayBahasa MelayuMS
MalayalamമലയാളംML
MarathiमराठीMR
NorwegianNorskNO
PersianفارسیFA
PolishPolskiPL
PortuguesePortuguêsPT
RomanianRomânăRO
RussianРусскийRU
SerbianСрпскиSR
Serbo-CroatianСрпскохрватскиSH
SlovakSlovenčinaSK
SlovenianSlovenščinaSL
SpanishEspañolES
SwedishSvenskaSV
Tamilதமிழ்TA
ThaiไทยTH
TurkishTürkçeTR
UkrainianУкраїнськаUK
UrduاُردُوUR
VietnameseTiếng ViệtVI

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