A complete order
A concrete example that walks through describe → plan → approve → execute → deliver → accept.
The amounts and timings below are illustrations for the flow only; real prices come from the plan you see.
The situation
You run a small appliance company. Next month you ship a batch of air fryers to France. You do not want to hire a certification body, a translator, a customs broker and a tax agent separately.
You say:
"Next month I'm shipping this batch of air fryers to France. Handle CE certification, French labels, customs and VAT together. I've uploaded the product description and existing test reports."
Minute 1: the platform asks first
It does not quote immediately. It confirms the things that change the plan:
- Does the product have wireless, heating or medical functions?
- Which models do the existing test reports cover?
- Is the target only France, or the whole EU?
- Do you already have an EU authorised representative?
- When do you want to launch?
Why answering matters: these determine which certifications are needed and whether existing reports can be reused. Clear answers mean fewer rework loops.
Minute 3: the plan
The platform returns a plan like this (illustrative):
| # | Step | Owner | Estimated price | Depends on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CE certification pre-check | Certification provider A | €150 | — |
| 2 | French labels and manual | Localisation provider B | €75 | 1 |
| 3 | Customs documents | Broker C | €100 | 1, 2 |
| 4 | VAT registration and filing basis | Tax agent D | €225 | — |
| 5 | Result summary | Platform | €0 | 1–4 |
Total: €550 (illustrative)
Missing inputs are listed too:
- DoC (Declaration of Conformity) template;
- Test reports do not cover the new model;
- French packaging registration number.
Your options:
- Missing something → "Add French packaging registration";
- Too much → "I'll handle VAT myself";
- Looks right → approve.
Minute 5: approve and pay
You see an approval card:
Plan approval
5 steps · 4 providers · €550
Missing: DoC template, new-model test report, packaging registration
[Approve & pay] [Reject]After "Approve & pay":
- The amount enters escrow, not the providers' accounts;
- The plan is locked and dispatch begins;
- Missing materials can be supplied now or during execution.
A zero-price plan shows "Approve & start" and creates no payment.
From minute 6: execution
On the right you see:
① CE pre-check Running Provider A ~2 hours left
② French labels Waiting waiting for ①
③ Customs documents Waiting waiting for ①②
④ VAT registration Running Agent D
⑤ Result summary Waiting waiting for ①–④Parallel: ① and ④ run at the same time. Missing input: if ① needs the DoC template, it asks in a separate to-do and does not block ④. Failure: if ③ finds the origin information missing, it shows the reason and impact; you can supply it and retry, or stop and refund.
Delivery: what you receive
A summary report plus the original deliverables:
| Content | From | Key evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable CE directives and gaps | Provider A | Directive numbers, report page references |
| French label draft | Provider B | Terminology, regulatory basis |
| Customs document checklist | Broker C | HS code, origin, trade terms |
| VAT registration and filing basis | Agent D | Rate, filing period, registration number |
| Summary and next steps | Platform | Status per part, gaps, recommendations |
Note: the platform does not write "certification will pass". It tells you how prepared you are, what is missing, and on what basis.
Acceptance
You check the delivery:
- The CE part is missing the DoC template → incomplete;
- The other parts match the agreement.
Two choices:
| Choice | Result |
|---|---|
| Accept | Release the full escrowed amount |
| Reject | Choose "missing items" and explain |
After rejecting:
- A dispute starts (default handling within 72 hours);
- The platform applies the term, for example 30% for missing items = €165;
- The rest is released to the completed providers;
- Everything stays on record.
If no "missing items" term exists, the platform does not guess; it routes to a human.
How this differs from the traditional route
| Traditional | This order |
|---|---|
| You find four companies and request quotes | Describe once; the platform decomposes and matches |
| You decide the order and who waits | The platform advances by dependency and runs independent steps in parallel |
| You pay and chase each supplier | One approval, one payment, one tracking view |
| Blame starts with "whose fault is it" | Step and delivery records locate the issue |
| Refunds are a negotiation | Calculated from pre-agreed terms with a stated basis |
If something goes wrong
| Situation | What you see | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| A provider is late | The step is flagged with waiting time | Wait, switch, or end that step |
| Delivery does not match | Reject at acceptance | Choose a reason, explain, open a dispute |
| You change your mind | Running work can be paused / cancelled | Unstarted parts are refunded |
| No capability matches | A clear refusal and a recorded gap | Change the approach, or wait for supply |
Next
- Plan and approval detail → Plans, approvals & payment
- First use → 5-minute setup
- How trust is built → Trust model