Canadian Import Coordinator Needed for a 60-Minute Product Research Interview

We are conducting a final customer validation interview for an early-stage software product designed to help companies review cross-border shipment documentation before goods move. We are looking for an experienced Import Coordinator, Import-Export Coordinator, Logistics Coordinator, Procurement and Logistics Coordinator, or Customs Compliance Coordinator working inside a Canadian small or mid-sized company. This is strictly a research interview. There is no sales pitch, implementation requirement, or ongoing consulting commitment. Ideal Candidate You should: - Be based in Canada. - Work directly for a manufacturer, distributor, wholesaler, retailer, or importing company. - Personally coordinate imports into Canada from the United States and ideally Mexico. - Handle at least 10 cross-border shipments per month. - Work directly with suppliers, carriers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, or 3PL providers. - Personally collect, review, enter, or track shipment documents. - Have experience with commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, HS or tariff codes, certificates of origin, customs documents, permits, or compliance certificates. - Use tools such as email, PDFs, Excel, ERP systems, broker portals, or transportation software. Please do not apply if your experience is limited to general supply chain management and you do not personally handle shipment documentation. Interview Topics During the interview, we will discuss and review: - How an import shipment is managed from purchase order to delivery. - Which documents are received from suppliers, carriers, freight forwarders, and customs brokers. - How and when each document is received. - Which information is manually entered or copied between systems. - How commercial invoices, packing lists, and bills of lading are reviewed. - Which fields must match across documents. - How HS or tariff codes are reviewed and confirmed. - How certificates, permits, and compliance documents are handled. - How document expiry dates are tracked. - How shipment readiness is confirmed before goods move. - Which systems, spreadsheets, portals, and manual processes are currently used? - Where documentation errors create delays, customs issues, or added costs. - Whether an automated pre-departure document validation tool would fit into the current workflow. Interview Format - One 60-minute video call. - Please be prepared to demonstrate one typical import workflow. - Confidential information may be hidden or redacted. - No documents need to be sent after the interview. - Compensation will be paid through Upwork. To Apply Please answer the following questions: - What is your current or most recent job title? - What type of company do you work for? - Which countries does your company import from? - Approximately how many cross-border shipments do you coordinate per month? - Which shipment documents do you personally collect, review, or validate? - Which software, ERP systems, spreadsheets, or broker portals do you use? - Do you personally work with US-to-Canada or Mexico-to-Canada shipments? - Are you comfortable screen-sharing and walking us through a real or representative shipment using redacted information?