A software solution to reduce time-consuming red-tape cargo clearing for consolidated freight on the Trans-Kalahari Corridor (TKC) continues to set milestones for trade through Botswana, Easy Clear has reported.
The company’s online “BURS Integration” was first introduced earlier this year in response to a Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) requirement introduced by the Botswana Unified Revenue Service.
Whereas consolidated shipments from South Africa to Namibia could previously be itemised under one in-transit cargo entry for freight through Botswana, the UCR development meant consignors had to itemise every item.
Following an initial pilot phase earlier this year to automate line-by-line items for the UCR system on behalf freight forwarders, Easy Clear reported initial interest from industry.
In July, general manager Michael Henning acknowledged that it was “early days still” and that there were “minor teething issues”.
Just over three months later, and shippers using the TKC to land goods in locales like Windhoek are coming back to more easier clearing, one of them being NKL in Zeerust.
The express clearing agency’s operations manager, Nishal Lutchman, said some of the consignments they received for the TKC were in excess of 200 different types of cargo, which would take up to five hours to UCR itemise.
However, using Easy Clear’s method has saved significant time.
“I have been testing the BURS Integration and it works perfectly.”
Henning admitted that the system was far from the level of perfection aimed for, and Lutchman said alignment around Harmonised System (HS) Tariff codes was one of them.
Along with addressing challenges pertaining to units of measurement, the BURS Integration still smoothed the way for cumbersome clearing into Botswana, said Lutchman.
“We’re just really glad to see that a batch of goods that would’ve taken five hours to clear line for line, only took 45 minutes,” said Henning.
“It shows that something is working and we’re working hard at making it work even better, so we’re looking at HS codes and so forth.”
He said what was certain was that productivity was on the increase for agents where clearing clerks now had more capacity to hasten throughput.
“It’s a game-changer for the TKC.”
