Best practices for automating your import processes
This document outlines 5 things to consider before automating import processes: 1) Customs now demands more timely and detailed information. Automation can help manage these growing demands. 2) Automation can help resolve issues like scattered data, low visibility, and manual auditing that slow down import operations. 3) Many successful importers rely on automation to sustain growth and drive future success through faster times, greater efficiency, and reduced costs. 4) Companies should properly plan automation to avoid mistakes like inadequate processes, poor vendor selection, and lack of flexibility. 5) It's important to understand a partner's capabilities and ask the right questions to ensure automation is supported by the right people and processes.
Best practices for automating your import processes
- 1. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE AUTOMATING YOUR IMPORT PROCESSES
- 2. Well-planned, well-executed automation technology delivers considerable business benefits to global importers.
- 3. Companies need to look at existing processes and import risks before technology can deliver bottom-line business benefits.
- 4. 5 things you need to know before automating your import processes ?
- 5. Customs now demands more information, more quickly 1
- 6. Customs now demands: • More information, earlier o U.S. Customs 24-hour rule is one example
- 7. Customs now demands: • Greater visibility into goods before they arrive at the border due to programs such as: o Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) o Partners In Protection (PIP) o Container Security Initiative (CSI)
- 8. Growing demands by customs increases administration and document preparation time.
- 9. Consider automating your import processes to cope with growing demands for timely and accurate information. tip
- 10. Automation can conquer the main issues that affect import management 2
- 11. Successful import management is dependant on resolving the process killers that slow down your operations.
- 12. Automation can conquer: • Scattered and uncontrolled data by centralizing product, entry and transaction information
- 13. Automation can conquer: • Transaction invisibility by managing import documents, shipment and entry status information electronically
- 14. Automation can conquer: • Manual auditing by reducing time and costs while optimizing free trade opportunities
- 15. Automation has become a necessity 3
- 16. Many of today’s most successful importers rely on automation to sustain their current success and drive future growth.
- 17. Benefits of automating import processes include: • Faster time-to-market • Greater global supply chain efficiency and visibility • Assured global trade compliance • Enhanced reporting capabilities • Reduced operating costs
- 18. Choose a solution that factors in the dynamics of regulatory changes, new free trade agreements, reporting requirements and product changes. tip
- 19. Proper planning reduces risk of costly automation mistakes 4
- 20. Companies that rush into automation risk making costly mistakes, such as: • Inadequate processes • Poor vendor selection • Lack of scalability and flexibility to meet business demands
- 21. Automation succeeds when organizations can support it with the right people and processes.
- 22. Ask yourself, “do I have all the right processes, procedures and people in place to support automation?” tip
- 23. Many companies are offering trade automation services 5
- 24. It’s important to have a good understanding of the capabilities of your prospective partner.
- 25. Find out the right questions to ask Download PDF To learn the questions you should ask a potential trade technology partner, download our PDF.
- 26. Harness the power of automation and optimize your import operations… can help with that. Contact Livingston