Effective software helps eliminate customs stops

Documentation and data quality remain a major challenge for cross- border trade, where inconsistent or missing information across suppliers can create compliance issues that delay cargo at borders for days. According to Michael Henning, general manager at Easy Clear, political and regional macro risks can also bring trade to a halt, as was recently the case when the export of bulk minerals was stopped in Zimbabwe, disrupting traffic through the Beitbridge corridor. “As a result, risk is increasingly being factored into route planning, with some operators exploring alternative corridors, a shift that ultimately adds cost to regional supply chains,” he told Freight News. It is with this in mind that the adoption of real-time tracking, digital documentation and integrated TMS/ERP solutions is becoming more widespread. “It is all aimed at reducing transit times,” said Henning. “The transit times are affected primarily by repetitive data capture and incorrect documentation, which result in customs stops and cause compliance issues that can be eliminated through the effective use of customs clearing software that creates these efficiencies and control within the customs teams.” He said investing in end- to-end visibility for exception management presented a significant opportunity for cross-border logistics, helping to optimise processes, improve decision-making and planning, as well as ultimately reduce costs. Henning said despite the numerous operational challenges in the cross-border sector, indicators suggested that trade across the region was continuing to grow. Recent statistics published by Sars point to an increase in exports, including shipments into SADC markets. This trend, he said, was also reflected in activity seen across various cross-border industry groups. “I suspect this is linked to the increased emphasis on regional supply chains and intra-African trade, supported by AfCFTA, and a broader shift towards reducing reliance on European and American markets,” he said. There are also a number of developments that could create new opportunities for the logistics sector. He cited a renewed focus on regional integration through infrastructure and transport development, as well as improvements in financial systems such as the SADC- RTGS for payment settlement and the planned cross-border digital ID framework aimed at enabling secure digital payments and trade as prime examples. These initiatives are expected to introduce greater stability, certainty and reduced risk for cross-border transactions. “We are extremely optimistic about the outlook for the cross- border sector,” said Henning. “Our software continues to evolve and we regularly introduce improvements to meet industry requirements. Most recently, we have focused on automatic acquittals for RIT-type declarations specific to land borders, together with SADC tracking that enables us to manage the certificates issued by Sars and used across cross-border declarations. This improves visibility and the management of these certificates.” LV