NuClear promises slick and quick clearance process

April 15 will see the
official launch of Clearing
Support Services’ NuClear
programme.
“It’s the paperless
integration with systems prior
to, during and subsequent to
the clearing process that is
the key to a more efficient,
slicker and quicker clearance
process,” says Clearing
Support Services’ managing
director Roger Shaw.
And that’s the philosophy
behind NuClear.
It’s the third version
of a programme that was
originally written in DOS,
then upgraded to Windows,
and now uses the latest in
computer technology in a
totally new, clean programme
that goes way beyond a
simple upgrade by using a
completely new operating
philosophy, says Shaw, whose
freight computer bureau
this year celebrates its 20th
anniversary.
“NuClear is written in
Java because it is platform
independent and can therefore
run on any operating system,
including the AS400,”
says Shaw.
“Our preference is Linux,
because it is totally reliable
and requires no licence fees
– a decided advantage in the
present economic climate.
“A further consideration
was the cost of printers and
printer cartridges, so any
type of printer can be used to
produce documents, from the
multi-function ‘coffee-makers’
to a simple inkjet printer.”
In terms of the actual
programme, the key was
to make it as flexible as
possible, Shaw told FTW.
“Not only to customise it in
terms of imports, exports
and cross-border, but even to
adapt the methodology of the
programme to the way the
client works.”
And the document process
does just that. “It enables you
to choose which documents
you require, and at which
point you wish to start, and
then automatically links all
the data,” says director
and technical manager
Priyen Vallabh.
“No longer will you be tied
into a rigid set of screens that
have no consideration for your
business requirements or the
sequence in which you receive
information for processing.
“The document printing is
also done at your discretion –
individual documents within a
bill of entry as required or all
together at the end of the bill
of entry capture process.”
According to Vallabh, a
major supermarket chain
which has bought the
programme has reduced
document processing time
from up to a full day to
one hour.
In addition, rates
of exchange and tariff
amendments will be
downloaded onto the system
automatically while the tariff
book, which will include
a word search, alerts the
user to any special permit
requirements, displays the
customs duty breakdown and
has a quick duty calculator.
While the programme is
being continually expanded
and updated, the importers’
and exporters’ modules are
already available, says CSS’s
Jeanette Primrose.
Ex bond, bond store control
and invoicing are soon to be
launched while an accounts
and warehousing package is in
the pipeline.
Based in Boksburg, CSS
has offices in Cape Town,
Windhoek and Durban. Shaw,
a qualified engineer, has 20
years’ experience in the field
while the rest of the 13-strong
team have all been involved
either in IT or the freight
industry for several years.
The programme is available
on full maintenance lease.