Customs compliance and increased digital maturity in ecuadorian foreign trade operators, 2021-2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51247/pdlc.v7iEspecial1.793Palavras-chave:
customs compliance, digital maturity, foreign trade operators, digital transformation, ECUAPASSResumo
This research evaluated the level of digital maturity of customs compliance among Ecuadorian Foreign Trade Operators (FTOs) during the period 2021-2025, using a mixed-methods (quantitative-qualitative) approach, with a descriptive-propositive design and a non-experimental cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of 54 FTOs (29 Agents and 25 Couriers). Non-probabilistic sampling was used, covering the cities of Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca. Two questionnaires were used: one based on the Digital Maturity Model (DMM) using Jaleta's (2023) six determinants, with 18 Likert-scale items, and the other called the Digital Transformation Maturity Model (DTMM), with 17 questions. Five interviews were also conducted with compliance representatives in Cuenca. In the MMD, an overall average of 2.89/5.00 (α=0.964) was calculated, with “Digital Strategy” being the highest component (M=3.12) and “Digital Culture” the lowest (M=2.66). The DTMM found that 55.6% of those evaluated are at the “In Progress” level and 33.3% at the “Emerging” level. Significant differences were found between Customs Agents (M=3.21) and Couriers (M=2.65; t(52)=3.831, p=0.000). Strong and statistically significant correlations were also found in the evaluated dimensions. The interviews confirmed a dependence on the ECUAPASS platform, organizational resistance to change, and budgetary limitations as the main barriers. Guidelines are proposed for a digital maturity model of the Ecuadorian customs ecosystem
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Direitos de Autor (c) 2026 Xavier Marcelo Torres-Sarmiento, Mauricio Samuel Noblecilla-Grunauer
Este trabalho encontra-se publicado com a Licença Internacional Creative Commons Atribuição-NãoComercial-CompartilhaIgual 4.0.
