As African countries focus on modernising their customs processes, there have been overall improvements in the logistics chain, according to Ridwaan Mohammed, general manager of software company, Advanced Customs Solutions (ACS). “Modernisation and systems integration continues to be the trend and more and more companies from neighbouring countries are making use of the ACS freight system to streamline their business processes in terms of customs clearances, integration, tracking and communicating with transporters.” According to Mohammed many countries have also changed to the Asycuda World programme. “We have taken advantage of this opportunity and have developed integration into Asycuda World. This facilitates accuracy on both sides of the border where the same information declared on the South African side can be imported into the Asycuda World programme. Apart from accuracy, this also guarantees speed within the logistics chain. Our clients are also able to track the EDI responses through the tracking facility,” he told FTW. Mohammed said control over cargo through the clever use of technology remained a driving industry trend. Commenting on the countries in Africa that were specifically being targeted, he said southern Africa remained the focus as software integration and collaboration with countries such as Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia and Swaziland had proved to be fruitful to all stakeholders. “The close collaboration we have achieved has removed most challenges faced on a daily basis in the movement of cargo across neighbouring borders,” he said.
