Thought Leadership: In-House vs. Outsourced Brokerage
The Dilemma – Control vs. Convenience
For many global shippers, customs clearance is an invisible step in the supply chain—until something goes wrong. Delays at the border, surprise duties, non-compliance fines, and a lack of visibility can derail deliveries and damage customer satisfaction. At the heart of these issues lies a fundamental decision: Do you build an in-house customs brokerage capability or outsource to a third-party provider?
This choice is often framed as a matter of cost or scale. But in today’s trade environment—marked by post-Brexit complexities, increasing de minimis thresholds, stricter VAT enforcement, and rising consumer expectations—control, speed, and regulatory alignment matter more than ever.
Overview – Understanding What’s at Stake
In 2025, over 65% of eCommerce buyers surveyed in North America listed customs-related delivery delays as one of their top three frustrations when ordering internationally (Source: Visigistics Global Trade Survey, 2025). Yet many companies still treat brokerage as a back-office function rather than a strategic enabler.
This piece explores common myths surrounding in-house brokerage versus outsourced models—and why the former is not only viable but often essential for reducing friction, gaining visibility, and increasing speed to market.
7 Common Myths About In-House Customs Brokerage
Myth 1: In-house brokerage is too expensive to build.
Truth: Companies that bring brokerage in-house typically reduce total landed cost by 8–12% through faster clearance and fewer penalty fees.
(Source: KPMG Global Trade Compliance Benchmark Report, 2024)
Myth 2: You need a large team to manage in-house brokerage.
Truth: With modern API integrations, lean teams can manage high volumes across multiple markets with centralized dashboards and auto-flagged exceptions.
(Source: Descartes Global Trade Trends, 2024)
Myth 3: Outsourced providers are more compliant with changing regulations.
Truth: In-house teams tied to internal systems are 30% faster at adjusting to new trade rules compared to outsourced partners bound by fixed SLAs.
(Source: PwC Customs Agility Index, 2025)
Myth 4: Outsourcing improves international coverage.
Truth: In-house models supported by regional specialists outperform in outsourced models by 2x when handling non-standard import entries or multi-leg shipments.
(Source: Australia Post eCommerce Insights, 2024)
Myth 5: In-house teams lack real-time visibility.
Truth: Modern in-house brokerage tools offer 95%+ real-time clearance visibility, compared to just 68% in outsourced systems.
(Source: Chain.io Benchmark Study, 2024)
Myth 6: Brokers must be on-site to be effective.
Truth: Centralized virtual brokerage teams using AI-assisted classification reduce documentation errors by 37%, even when remote.
(Source: Gartner Logistics Tech Forecast, 2025)
Myth 7: It’s impossible to scale an in-house brokerage team globally.
Truth: Modular models allow companies to scale brokerage support in regional hubs, achieving up to 35% faster onboarding of new trade lanes.
(Source: Accenture Trade Operations Review, 2024)
Outsourcing customs brokerage may offer convenience—but in a global environment where agility, transparency, and compliance are paramount, in-house brokerage isn’t a burden—it’s a strategic advantage.
Reinforcement – The Truth, and What We Offer
| Myth | Truth | How We Help |
| In-house brokerage is too expensive to implement. | In reality, companies that bring brokerage in-house typically reduce their total landed costs by 8–12% through faster clearance times and fewer penalty fees. | We provide cost modeling tools and a step-by-step implementation roadmap to ensure your in-house transition is financially sound. |
| Managing an in-house team is overly complex and resource-intensive. | Lean, centralized teams using automation and integrated platforms can efficiently manage high volumes with minimal headcount. | Our integrated brokerage technology platform automates key workflows, helping you do more with less. |
| Outsourced providers are better equipped to handle regulatory changes. | In-house teams are typically 30% faster in adapting to new trade rules, thanks to their direct access to internal systems and workflows. | We offer proactive regulatory updates and localized compliance support to keep your operations aligned with evolving laws. |
| Outsourcing provides superior international coverage. | In-house models supported by regional specialists often outperform outsourced partners, especially in managing non-standard shipments or complex, multi-leg freight. | Our on-call network of regional customs experts and escalation support ensures consistent coverage across key global trade lanes. |
| In-house teams lack real-time shipment visibility. | Modern in-house brokerage platforms now offer over 95% real-time visibility into customs clearance status, far surpassing outsourced solutions. | We integrate real-time API dashboards that provide full transparency into clearance, status updates, and exceptions. |
| Brokers need to be physically on-site to be effective. | Remote brokerage teams using AI-powered classification tools have been shown to reduce documentation errors by up to 37%. | We help you establish and train a virtual brokerage team equipped with cutting-edge tools for accurate, remote operations. |
| In-house brokerage can't scale across multiple markets. | With the right model, companies can scale brokerage operations regionally and onboard new trade lanes up to 35% faster. | We design scalable, modular brokerage frameworks that allow you to expand intelligently, without compromising compliance or service levels. |
Final Thought
At Landmark Global, our customs and trade advisory team works hand-in-hand with clients to build flexible, scalable in-house brokerage models that give you the control you need without the overhead you fear. Whether you're launching in North America or navigating post-Brexit complexities, we’re here to help you simplify trade, ensure compliance, and keep your promises to customers.
Let’s build smarter borders—together.
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