Switzerland’s customs IT landscape is in the midst of a major transformation. The long-standing e-dec platform is giving way to Passar, the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security's modernised system designed to streamline import, export and transit processes. At the same time, SAP Global Trade Services, SAP's solution for industry to manage customs processes, free trade agreements, sanctions and export controls, is moving from SAP GTS 11 to SAP GTS Edition for HANA.
From e-dec to Passar
Passar is part of the larger DaziT initiative, which aims to digitise and simplify customs procedures across Switzerland. Although its rollout has experienced delays, the system promises faster declaration times, improved data quality and better collaboration between businesses and customs authorities. By early 2026, most core functions of e-dec should be replaced by Passar, making it essential for companies to prepare for this change.
Passar 1.0 (exports) has been live since early 2024, and is mandatory for Swiss authorised consignors clearing their goods using NCTS Phase 5. As for the others, they have until the end of 2025 to upgrade, when e-dec Export will be decommissioned. As for Passar 2.0 (imports), a transition period from e-dec Import is predicted to last from Q2 2026 to Q1 2027 (one year).
The SAP GTS shift
While Swiss customs moves to Passar, SAP Global Trade Services (SAP GTS) is also at a pivotal juncture. SAP GTS 11 reaches end-of-maintenance on 31 December 2025, meaning no further updates or patches will be provided. Companies committed to SAP GTS are therefore adopting SAP GTS Edition for SAP HANA (SAP GTS e4H), either on-premise or in the cloud. This new edition aligns with a modern customs platform like Passar, offering real-time analytics, robust compliance checks and a more intuitive user experience using FIORI tiles.
Regarding Passar, major changes to the declaration procedure are confirmed by existing and published documentation from Swiss customs authority. The changes will require new process flows, new message definitions and a changed interface between SEEBURGER BIS and Passar. The interface for the message exchange with Passar will be web services.
Passar 1.0 for export in Switzerland with SAP GTS – status September 2024
Source: SAP Regulatory Change Manager
In order to be able to exchange messages with the Passar backend system via the B2B hub of Passar, the following requirements must be met:
- creation of a user account in ePortal
- registration of a business partner with a valid UID (Identification number) as well as activation
- assignment of business partner roles
- establishment of a B2B network connection between SAP GTS and Passar via the B2B Hub
- application of required tokens
It is already possible to begin onboarding to the new customs platform Passar now. More detailed information about the onboarding procedure can be found in SAP note 3337375 (CH Passar: Onboarding for the technical communication of the new customs platform Passar).
The new web service-based interface between SAP GTS and SEEBURGER BIS established for NCTS will also be used for Passar Export. The IDoc interface will no longer be used for export in Switzerland after e-dec export is closed. This requires changes to the IT infrastructure to enable web service calls in both directions between SAP GTS and SEEBURGER BIS. Note 3318211 (Customs Message Exchange: Introduction of the Web service for communication between SAP GTS and converter for customs communication) provides the enhancements needed for the interface on SAP GTS side. On the SEEBURGER side, BIS 6.7 is required.
At present, it is recommended to upgrade to Support Package 4 for SAP GTS, edition for SAP HANA 2023 to support the new interface for Passar between SAP GTS and the converter. For SAP GTS, edition for SAP HANA 2020, Support Package 6 or SAP GTS 11.0 Support Package 23 are strongly recommended. Please check the availability matrix for the latest support package at the time of implementation: SAP Product availability matrix
It is planned to deliver SAP GTS-related changes via notes if possible. Currently, SAP's planned delivery date for Passar 1.0 export is 31 July 2025.
DSAG and PwC actively support the transition
PwC is a member of the Deutschsprachige SAP Anwendergruppe e.V. (DSAG) and the new subject matter group GTS - PASSAR Schweiz - Export- und Importprozesse. This group supports all member companies in the move from e-dec to Passar. Regular online and physical meetings enable members to ask questions, be briefed on technical information about system connections, message execution and process variants, and share information from different sources to keep everybody up to date.
For more information, please contact us at PwC or reach out directly to DSAG.
Why timely action matters
Whether you plan to stay on SAP GTS 11 this year or migrate to SAP GTS Edition for HANA, providing you have not already done so, you now have a year to prepare yourself for Passar 1.0 (exports). The big decisions will revolve around the timeline of the roadmap for the evolution of the GTS platform to a HANA/ FIORI environment and its synchronisation with the upgrade from e-dec Export to Passar 1.0 (exports). These are strategic decisions with technical, human and financial requirements, and understanding these will enable you to make more optimal choices.
Conclusion
The transition from e-dec to Passar, coupled with the shift from SAP GTS 11 to SAP GTS e4H, marks a significant milestone in Swiss customs and global trade processes. Companies that take a proactive approach will position themselves for smoother declarations, stronger compliance and a future-ready trade setup. Now is the time to assess your current systems, plan your migrations and seize the opportunities brought by modern customs technology.
You can read more about this topic in our earlier blog: From risk to resilience: the transition to SAP GTS E4H 2023 and Passar
