Sars gearing up for data integration with Sacu partners

Finding the correct electronic
solution is now more
important than ever before,
especially in the light of the
Customs Modernisation
Programme, says Michael
Henning, general manager of
Easyclear.
“Sars has made some
significant changes not
just in the way they do
business but also in terms
of meeting industry needs
and international standards.
And they are making trade
facilitation improvements all
the time.”
According to Henning
the Customs Modernisation
express train is moving
ahead with or without
companies.
“We are constantly in
the process of updating our
programmes to ensure we
are on board this particular
train because if you are not
you might as well not be
in business,” he told FTW.
“It is all about leveraging
the entire process to
one’s advantage to ensure
customers benefit, and to
do that one has to be at the
forefront of technology while
constantly evolving and
upgrading one’s products.”
For Henning and his team
that means providing their
clients with options. “For
us that is what electronic
solutions are all about. On
one side there is the stable
set of core products, while on
the other there are those that
are continuously evolving,
allowing one to advance and
increase service offerings.”
With Customs already
gearing up for its next big
project – data integration
with its Sacu partners – the
pressure is on IT companies
to keep up, says Henning.
“There is much pressure
for this data integration as it
will mean an export entry for
South Africa, once passed,
will be sent electronically to
the neighbouring country,
bypassing the need for an
import entry.”