527: Automate Global Freight, with Cervo AI

Troy Shen of Cervo AI talks about what they do; simplifying customs, compliance & tariffs; people & tech; & how Cervo is changing the narrative for startups.      IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS: [03.28] An introduction to Troy, his background, and how the U.S.-China trade war – and the power and fragility of global trade – ultimately inspired him to build Cervo AI. "My Dad came to the US with $50 in his pocket, and the American Dream." [06.21] Why logisticians are tired of being burned by tech start-ups, the impact on trust across the industry, and what sets Cervo apart. "With every wave of innovation, there are many companies that over-promise and only a few that actually deliver on those promises." "Ultimately, building a world-class solution in this industry isn't achieved by just being good at the technology or just having the domain expertise. It really requires a combination of tech expertise and an obsession with the problem space." [08.00] The range of business ecosystems across the industry, from digital-first to manual and paper-based. [09.48] An overview of Cervo AI – who they are, what they do, and how they help their customers. [10.30] The ideal customer for Cervo AI. [12.25] What the current customs landscape means for forwarders and brokers and, from tariffs to compliance, the biggest challenges making an impact right now. "It's a crazy time in the customs world. Entries that used to take minutes can now take hours or even days because of the constantly-changing complexity… And this introduces more compliance risk, which creates further downstream cost for both customs brokers and forwarders." [14.19] How Cervo AI are helping to give control back to their customers in this complex, changeable landscape. "Teams can process three to four times more entries on the customs side or they can save about 30 minutes per shipment on the operations side." [17.16] The balance between people and technology as AI replaces manual work, what the human side of logistics is going to look like, and the Japanese principle that guides the team at Cervo. [19.39] The problem with change management, and Troy's advice for leaders looking to drive change and build AI-enhanced operations that actually make an impact. "AI isn't the right fit for every company today. But the biggest barrier is rarely the technology. It's often the internal alignment within the organization." [23.16] A case study detailing how Cervo AI helped a key customer achieve over 80% reduction in manual processing time with over 95% accuracy and position for a longer-term transformation, and why AI is a service enhancer, not a detractor. [25.27] What the integration and onboarding process looks like with Cervo AI, for both technology and operations. "It's about being a partner, not just a vendor." [27.44] Cervo's predictions and focus areas for 2026.   RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED:   Head over to Cervo AI's website now to find out more and discover how they could help you too. You can also connect with Cervo AI and keep up to date with the latest over on LinkedIn, or you can connect with Troy on LinkedIn. Check out our other podcasts HERE.