Comprehensive package offers forex and finance option

Order planning system to be offered free of charge to importers
JOY ORLEK
THE LAUNCH by freight computer bureau Compu-Clearing of an Online Order Planning System (OOPS) is imminent and will herald its entry into the trade finance arena. OOPS, which will be handed out free of charge to importers, will provide a range of applications – from order planning and costing to foreign exchange payments and trade finance, as well as a tracking facility that will enable the customer to establish on which flight or ship the goods are arriving. Compu-Clearing CEO Arnold Garber took the industry by storm late last year when he announced the development of the system that would offer the proverbial ‘one-stop shop’ right down to trade finance. It’s now in the final stages of development and almost ready for release. The company has negotiated a deal with two partner banks that will enable importers to complete the transaction right down to foreign exchange payment. And the banks have undertaken to match or even better the rates offered by major banks. Once the importer has placed his order the forwarder will be notified automatically. “Until now the clearing and forwarding industry has concentrated on the transportation element and the payment and administration of expenses related to the transport of the cargo,” said Garber. Compu-Clearing has now taken this one step further and instead of the agent sending his customer to a bank for his foreign exchange transaction, he can now offer the importer a foreign exchange payment option as well through one of the partner banks. The commission paid to Compu-Clearing for introducing the importer to the bank will be split with the agent, he added. “A win-win situation all round.”