Customs have never been more important than now, but will be more important tomorrow.
These resonating words from Lars Karlsson, Maersk Global Head of Trade and Customs, mark International Customs Day 2022, discussing how the world finds itself in the middle of a paradigm shift when it comes to the digital transformation of customs and borders.
It’s a shift that’s accelerating faster and faster this year, too, as the World Customs Organization says it’s “dedicating 2022 to scaling up customs digital transformation by embracing a data culture and building a data ecosystem”.
At the very forefront of this movement is Maersk Customs Services – fully embracing digitalisation and bringing the benefits to customers looking for simplified procedures and optimum control of their supply chains.
Visibility through digitalised customs solutions
Covid-19 undoubtedly brought about several challenges at borders around the world, but one benefit of the pandemic was the rapid acceleration of customs digitalisation. In the face of widespread delays and uncertainty, the need to integrate customs into the supply chain while enhancing visibility and predictability grew to unprecedented heights.
Global restrictions also saw e-commerce grow immensely and bring about the emergence of trade superhighways – presenting several opportunities for Maersk Customs Services to provide smart, digital solutions and support to its customers going forwards.
A digitalised set-up for import, export and in-transit declarations means customs data can be used and re-used throughout the supply chain for clearance in a secure, compliant and time-efficient way, all manageable from one place through Maersk digital services.
As containers can pass through a vast number of different borders during their journey, it’s crucial to have a functioning system that works across the board and allows customers to verify the necessary data in time before a crossing. By using blockchain technology, container and customs data has been revolutionised to become simpler, more consistent, safer and trusted at borders worldwide. Put simply, Maersk unlocks and opens the black box of the border for customers.
This minimises the risk of any compliance problems that could see cargo stuck at the border, or indeed lead to expensive fines in the case of auditing. The ripple effect of better planning and more time, meanwhile, contributes to improved performance, better use of resources and more predictable and efficient goods flows – potentially creating further business opportunities and having a big impact on the customer’s bottom line.
Supply chain efficiency through integrated solutions
The combination of Maersk’s local customs expertise with the stability of a single integrated supply chain partner provides customers with visibility and control through every stage of the customs journey. It’s a means of alleviating uncertainty and risk, ensuring a smooth transition through borders and – fundamentally – delivering goods to the consumer on time.
All of it added together brings ultimate supply chain control to the customer: digital customs solutions make trading safer, faster, smarter and greener with the foresight and flexibility to limit supply chain disruptions in the future. It’s little wonder, then, that the customs digital transformation is continuing to pick up pace at an astonishing rate across the globe – and Maersk Customs Services is proud to be at the heart of it all.
Borders no longer need to be viewed as obstacles to overcome, but rather opportunities for Maersk customers worldwide.
To learn more about Maersk's Customs Services, click here.
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