Are there benefits to integrating zone operations with a company’s overall global trade compliance operations? Yes. Integrated zone automation tools and global trade management solutions provide benefits advantageous to the zone and the company.
Key areas of global trade compliance that provide benefits when integrated with zone operations include:
Product Classification – Pre-classifying goods leads to faster admissions, and, by using an integrated classification solution across the entire organization, companies are able to standardize imports at a global level.
In-Bond Filings or QP/WP – When moving goods out of the zone, faster shipment and fewer delays is always the goal. With an integrated electronic bonded movement filing system such as QP/WP, goods are released faster.
FTA Management – Qualifying goods for multiple FTAs at one time increases savings to the company’s bottom line, and when a zone operator can complete that qualification easily by automatically producing the 7501-08, the time savings, along with cost savings, are improved.
Supply Chain Compliance – Being recognized as a trusted trader helps zones by allowing them to take advantage of C-TPAT Tier 3 benefits, as well as global AEO programs, and provides automated supply chain tracking of goods.
Denied Party Screening – Keeping the supply chain secure is the responsibility of every party in the supply chain, so by integrating denied party screening (DPS), zones can ensure that all partners and suppliers are automatically screened before goods are received into and shipped out of a zone.
Document Retention – Managing documents in one place reduces time spent searching for supporting information. And when you can also tie admission and entry processes together through a complete audit trail, it makes everything easier.
Cross-Border Operations – For those companies and zone operators looking to expand zone operations in multiple countries, an automated and integrated zone will provide enhanced cross-border operations with automatic data flows between programs.
Having all trade compliance data and processes on one platform that can be easily accessed across the organization and throughout the supply chain, instead of using disparate systems, is the best choice for companies looking to get a competitive advantage while maintaining compliance.
