True harmonisation across Southern Africa’s borders is still a long way off but innovative software providers are continuing to develop ways and means for systems to speak one language.
According to Ridwaan Mohammed, general manager of Advanced Customs Solutions (ACS), there are a variety of steps that can be taken that require only a small effort from stakeholders to make harmonisation through software like the ACS Freight System seamless. “Harmonisation is the only way to ensure compliance from start to finish in the life cycle of any given consignment, big or small,” he says.
“Software integration between cross-border software systems like Asycuda World and others, are the key tools in kicking off seamless harmonisation. This in addition to strong validation functionalities is a step in the right direction.”
Mohammed says ensuring all stakeholder systems in neighbouring countries collaborate is critical in order to persuade them about the benefits of harmonising the customs systems in the various countries.
“It is not just harmonising systems, but choosing the correct system to harmonise w ith.”The decision by the South African Revenue Service (Sars) several years ago to modernise their customs operations was a step in the right direction and has done a great deal to improve efficiency – not only with regard to border traffic but also as far as ensuring proof of export, increasing revenue collection, and reducing corruption, according to Mohammed.
“From a customs clearing software point of view, our efficient validation systems ensure customs compliance, thereby ensuring speed in the clearing process, giving the user additional time to concentrate on other elements in the cross-border process to further speed up the logistics chain,” explains Mohammed.
He says there is no doubt that cross-border harmonisation would contribute to reducing delays at the border posts, although lack of harmonisation remains only one of a number of factors contributing to cargo delays.
“Over the past five years we have seen neighbouring countries upgrade their systems, in some cases quite impressively. But before we can even begin to harmonise, we must ensure there is a solid foundation,” he says. “We have the correct software systems to begin with as these are the main communication tools that will allow for full cross-border harmonisation to take place.”
