Augmented Reality Aids Logistics: Augmenting workers' abilities during customs inspections

Random goods inspections are a critical component of customs operations, ensuring that imported and exported goods comply with relevant regulations. Currently, these inspections rely on manual efforts by operators, making them susceptible to delays and increased costs, often attributed to "human errors." This paper shifts the narrative from "human errors" to "human factors", emphasizing the role of cognitive and operational challenges in inspection tasks. We introduce “Virtual Storage Assistant”, a wearable Augmented Reality tool designed to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of customs inspections. By leveraging Augmented Reality, the proposed system aims to bridge the gap between: (1) the required performance standards for the inspection process, and (2) the specific cognitive abilities and skills of customs workers, thereby streamlining operations and reducing associated inefficiencies.