How is the digital revolution transforming customs processes?

More and more businesses are digitising their international supply chains to improve the visibility of goods in transit, accelerate their processes, and ultimately drive down transaction costs through automation. Customs processes also make a natural launchpad for digitisation initiatives. But where do businesses stand today when it comes to digitising their customs operations? And how are they preparing their customs processes for the future?

These questions are the focus of a joint study by AEB and the DHBW Stuttgart University. Both partners are inviting supply chain professionals to participate in the survey at www.aeb.com/gtm-study. The online survey ends on 17th June 2018.

Next-Gen Customs: Reality or Vision of the Future?
“The fruits of digitisation are already conspicuous in many areas of business, but when it comes to customs, many companies are still in the dark as to whether and how the digital revolution has arrived,” remarks Dr Ulrich Lison, a global trade expert at AEB, explaining the motivation for the survey. “We designed this study to explore how companies move forward in digitising their customs processes, what potential they see, and what obstacles they encounter in the real world,” explains Dr Dirk H. Hartel of DHBW Stuttgart.

The collaboration with customs service providers is another of the study’s focus points. Many companies that operate internationally hire third parties to manage their foreign customs processes – for cost reasons or because of the complex regulations. The study aims to show how companies set up this collaboration and the challenges they face.

Supply chain professionals and experts working in the fields of customs and exports in companies of any size and sector are invited to make their voices heard and complete the online questionnaire by 17thJune 2018. All participants will receive a copy of the study upon its publication (scheduled for autumn 2018) and will be entered into a raffle to win one of several prizes, including a high-quality drone and power banks for on-the-go charging of your smartphone.
 
Global Trade Management Agenda series
The study on the digitisation of customs is part of the “Global Trade Management Agenda” series – a joint project by software developer AEB and Dr Dirk Hartel of DHBW Stuttgart. The studies in the series examine trending issues in global trade and logistics. The last study, published in late 2017, looked at the issue of
“Agile Project Management in Global Trade and Logistics.”

To download a free copy, visit www.aeb.com/uk/media/global-trade-management-study.php .