Industry welcomes glitch-free Interfront

The recent introduction by SA Revenue Service (Sars) of its new Interfront customs border solution (iCBS) processing system – another milestone in its customs modernisation programme (CMP) – has come up trumps. Not only did it take just one business day – it also switched on without any reported glitches. “The switch-over went exceptionally well,” said Jonathan Sims, MD of freight systems specialists, Corefreight. And JL Koekemoer, GM of Shipshape, was taken by the speed of the switch-over. “Quite impressive the time frame in which they pulled it off,” he told FTW. “Compared to a week or two for most overseas switch-overs of a similar nature, Sars allowed two and a half days. But they got it completed in one working day.” But, amidst all this glee, Barney Curtis, executive officer of the Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations (Fesarta), warned all clearing and forwarding agents to be “on their toes”. “They will have to feed exactly the right information into the new system,” he told FTW. “No more the rushing up to the border post to get a member of customs to help to make lastminute corrections to the paperwork. “The new system is a pure electronic thing, with as little human intervention as possible. So it removes people’s ability to intervene to make any changes.” But all three of our commentators pointed out that the freight trade should expect no big benefits to f low from the new system. Koekemoer expressed what all three hinted to FTW. “The benefit is that there’s a quicker turnaround. There are no others from a trade perspective. It’s all f lowing to Sars' back office systems.” And Sars was proud to announce these benefits it had gained under the new Interfront all-electronic data interchange (EDI) system. The system converted some 26 older legacy and paper-based systems into a fully automated and centralised processing system, said an official report. The new automated management system has, among its main benefits: • Reducing the use of paper – end-to-end paper reduction of up to 95%; • Automation – the introduction of electronic declarations and mobile inspections (iPods). INSERT 95% End-to-end paper reduction achieved by Interfront. INSERT & CAPTION The switch-over went exceptionally well. – Jonathan Sims