Connecting the port ecosystem with the Inbound Release Platform at NXTPort
New customs regulations require importing companies to increase transparency and digitization. In the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the Inbound Release Platform offers the perfect solution.
2026 was set to be an important year for companies importing goods into the European Union. All parties involved will now be required to use a new notification system. The challenge is to ensure a smooth flow of cargo within this new legal framework. To simplify the process, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and its subsidiary NxtPortOpens a new window , in collaboration with The Way Forward and Belgian customs, developed the Inbound Release Platform.
Centralization and transparency
Geert Lambrechts Senior Project Manager at NxtPort explains: “The Inbound Release Platform (IRP) collects and centralizes the legally required information for goods imports into the EU. Data sharing is invaluable because a correct declaration involves multiple data elements. The IRP allows the parties involved to share all necessary details with the next partner in the logistics chain. Shipping agents, terminals, logistics providers, and customs services are all part of that ecosystem.”
The collaboration between various actors took both time and persuasion. “Each party had their own declaration processes. And they were all convinced that this method was best suited to their activities. We gained the necessary support by involving all stakeholders and establishing a standard that suited all activities.”
The issue of data confidentiality was another challenge. “Of course, we ensure that sensitive data does not leave the platform. In addition to these security measures, there was also the competitive aspect to consider. Companies within the same market segment are connected to the IRP. Naturally, they do not want to share insights into their business operations with each other. We organized various workshops to address these concerns.”
Future-proof development
NxtPort enlisted Codit for the technological implementation of the Inbound Release Platform. Three principles guided the development: scalability, cloud first and security by design. With a growing number of companies using the platform, the potential addition of export activities and changing port activities due to geopolitical volatility, Codit chose an approach designed to handle these shifts.
Codit opted for an architecture that is both modular and monolithic. This makes it possible to split the platform into more fine-grained microservices while keeping all functionality part of one coherent whole. The cloud was a logical choice, providing direct access to innovations introduced by hyperscalers.
Security is essential in the context of port trade. The platform follows the Zero Trust principle and blocks more than 14,000 unauthorized requests every day. The entire platform is also encrypted to provide maximum control.
Codit applies continuous refactoring, continuously improving existing code without fundamentally changing the codebase. Combined with a disciplined DevOps approach, this supports consistency and speed and enables innovations to be integrated quickly.
The platform has already processed hundreds of thousands of transaction messages. This data can also provide additional insights, for example to predict where and when a ship will dock.
Engagement by core users
Geert Lambrechts from NxtPort emphasizes the importance of active involvement by core users. “Once the required functionalities were defined, we started developing and implementing the happy flow approach. This involves outlining the simplest steps, exactly as the process runs when everything goes smoothly. We presented this flow to the core users each time, and they immediately identified areas for improvement. This enabled us to make rapid changes.”
Today, 90% of terminals, 80% of shipping agents, and numerous service providers are already connected to the IRP.