Clearing Support develops cross-border EDI document Windows platform brings benefits

LEONARD NEILL
A NEW ELECTRONIC cross-border document for imports and exports will soon be a reality. Developed by Clearing Support Services (CSS), the document is currently in a test phase with the Namibian customs authorities.
“We expect it to become available in early May,” says CSS chief executive Roger Shaw. “It’s all part of our objective to enable our clients to participate fully in the electronic future.”
The need for compliance with the latest operating systems and third party solutions prompted CSS to enter the Windows environment towards the end of last year. Now its Clearlink 500 DOS system is available in a 32bit Windows platform.
Other advantages, says Shaw, are the communications facilities enabling bills of entry to be sent to any recipient, and seamless data movement from branch to branch of all working operations.
It also allows the drawing of status reports of declarations as they pass through customs, and international administration via SMS.
“Imagine the status of your shipment being displayed on your cell phone while sitting in the traffic and watching the road works on the R21 on the way to Johannesburg International Airport,” he says.
The CSS programme will also include extended report writing facilities that will enable clients to draw up reports of their own specifications.
“An extremely user-friendly file-tracking system is already in use at several of our clients’ offices, automatically updating their own client files on a real-time basis from multiple sources. This enables the tracking of shipping files making use of various forms of internet search criteria.
“The import and export modules are already available, and further modules are being developed.”