A range of electronic options speed documents for cross-border traffic

Having the correct
documentation is a
critical factor in crossborder
freight traffic movement,
according to Nachi Mendelow,
the marketing representative of
Compu-Clearing Outsourcing.
And Compu-Clearing, he told
FTW, has multiple solutions for
cargo travelling through Africa.
“Firstly,” he said, “we have
a special system designed
specifically for cross border
transport to the BLNS countries
(Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia,
Swaziland). This system allows
for quick and easy capturing of
data, and produces all the customs
documentation necessary – from
the bill of entry (BoE) to the
road manifest.
“Compu-Clearing is also linked
to the SA Revenue Service (Sars)
by electronic data interchange
(EDI), allowing for documents to
be processed and cleared before
the truck even arrives at the border.
This obviously increases efficiency
dramatically and helps to reduce
delays at the border.”
The freight system specialist has
also now integrated the system into
Asycuda in Botswana – allowing
a single capture of data to produce
the documentation for both sides of
the border.
“We are currently working on
integrating with Lesotho, Namibia
and Swaziland,” Mendelow added.
Compu-Clearing has just released
to the market a new web-based
product – the international air
waybill (AWB) production system.
“This allows users to produce
both master and house air waybills
from anywhere in the world on
neutral, pre-printed and plain
paper,” Mendelow told FTW.
“It also allows them to produce
consolidation manifests, reserve air
waybills for future use, and to print
bar-code labels.”
Added to that, and built into the
system, is the ability to save, print,
view and e-mail AWBs in
PDF format.
“The system lets users easily
maintain multiple selling rates
based on specific shippers,
consignees, airlines and routes,”
said Mendelow. “Live status
enquiries can be done with a single
click. The system also includes
dynamic live databases providing
accurate information on currency,
country, city and airport codes, and
including information on all
major airlines.”
Compu-Clearing’s third-party
warehousing solution, Stash, is also
designed to suit the African market
– and is already being used in
Uganda, Congo, Nigeria, Rwanda,
Ghana and Benin.
“This,” said Mendelow, “is a
complete PC-based warehousing
solution, using the latest in
Windows-based technology and
software. It allows users to manage
and control all cargo moving
through their warehouses and
allows for easy production of goods
received notes, goods delivered
notes, stock control sheets, and
multiple operational reports.
“Stash is extremely scalable
and can be used in companies
ranging from a single user, up to
20 plus users.”