26


Issue 4 2012


///THE IT SECTION News from Multimodal


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Blueprint for port best practice


The European Port Community Systems Association (EPCSA) has launched a ‘best practice’ guide on how to set up a port community system to enable port authorities, customs officials, carriers, forwarders, handling agents, shippers and other relevant bodies to communicate and share information. “We’re trying to make sure that


those ports and airports which do not have community systems understand their benefits,” says Richard Morton, secretary general of EPCSA. “The technology is not a problem: it’s a case of changing people’s culture and mindset.” Richard Morton was joined by


representatives of various port community systems on a visit to Ukraine and now plans to make a similar educational tour to Bulgaria. In addition to spreading the


gospel about port community systems, EPCSA is lobbying the EU to ensure any directives relevant to electronic aspects of international trade are efficient, simple to understand and implement and do not duplicate work already done. “At the moment, we are working


on Directive 2010/65 Ships Reporting Formality Directive,” Morton explains. “As every Member State implements directives differently, we want to ensure that there is a single window through which the data can be entered. For example, shipping lines already


By Marcia Macleod


provide some of the data required by this directive. We don’t want that data to be entered twice; if it’s already in the system, there should be some way of collating it into the data for the new directive.” Directive 2010/65 makes the


collection of data of the type of goods for maritime statistics mandatory, to bring it in line with regulations covering statistics for road, rail and inland waterways transport. This includes personal data for passengers and crew, as well as cargo. It came into force in October last year, with each Member State expected to produce an implementation plan by May 2012. However, full operation will not begin until June 2015. The group is also concerned at


the lack of accurate, meaningful data submitted under the EU’s Import


Control System (ICS)


and has suggested that the port community system match data between that held by the carrier and NVOCC/forwarder. EPCSA was born in June 2011


aſter five leading port community system operators


got the EU together


to create a common voice for lobbying


regarding


initiatives and directives affecting port operations and international trade,


such as


IT companies were out in force at Multimodal in May. Fargo Systems, for example, has extended its intermodal rail software with new versions of its TOPS container transport package and CYMAN container yard management software. TOPS enables users to monitor


and control cross-border services with contracted or reserved space allocations by rail, barge or short sea. Planning can be made at specific wagon chassis level, if required, and multiple checks ensure wagon and container compatibility, that the correct weight is being allocated to the wagon and any hazardous goods are being correctly handled. CYMAN manages rail arrivals and departures, including the


e-customs and


e-freight. The original five companies involved with EPCSA were Soget in France, MCP in the UK, Portie in Spain, Portbase in the Netherlands and dbh in Germany. DFakosy in Germany was subsequently invited to make up the founding member group. Since then, another seven port


community system operators have subsequently joined. They are: CNS in the UK; the port of Bilbao; Portel in Spain; APCS in Antwerp; Hamburg port authority, Israeli Ports Company; and the Port of Venice. Although


no airport


community system has yet joined the group, Morton emphasises that ‘port’ encompasses airports as well as maritime facilities. “Many


of our members are


involved with airfreight in any case,” he points out, “so we consider ourselves a sea and airport community. We would welcome enquiries from any airport community system operator who wishes to join EPCSA.”


ASEAN single window


Meanwhile, the South East Asian nations that make up ASEAN are also developing a single window. Seven of the 10 ASEAN members are taking part in a pilot to enable forwarders, shippers and other companies to submit import,


export and transit data once, through a single window. The pilot, which covers sea and air movements in and out of the ASEAN member state, is being powered by Axway, a business integration specialist.


Trade Tech has ACE up its sleeve


Trade Tech has become one of the first technology providers to receive certification for the US Customs and Border Protection’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). This allows Trade Tech’s customers - including NVOCCs,


shippers and forwarders - to directly transmit and receive trade and security information with the US authorities. All companies will have


to provide ocean and rail information electronically to ACE, which replaces


the existing Automated Commercial System, by 29 September 2012. Trade Tech’s solution allows users to submit the required information in a single, harmonised filing, which should speed up the pre-arrival processing of cargo.


coordination of block container


movements, allowing for provisional railhead positioning. Containers can be allotted to 3D terminal locations or generic storage areas. Fargo has also launched a


mobile application for in-cab road applications. Drivers can receive job details and updates through their device, while returning electronic PODs and messages regarding delays or other problems. DeltaWMS, a new warehouse system, was also


management


revealed at Multimodal. Featuring a graphical map and KPI dashboard, DeltaWMS enables users to manage inventory movement in real-time, thereby improving productivity. The company’s DeltaBond is designed


for bonded warehouse applications, automating the production of HMRC documentation,


calculating duty,


and producing monthly returns. It is also integrated with EMCS, the EU’s Excise Movement and Control System. Other new products included


Stirling Solutions’ eSubcontractor, enabling sub-contractors to view and update jobs allocated to them and enabling the main contractor to see at a glance which jobs are allocated to which sub-contractor; and New Age Software and Solutions’ Freight Suite, based on Oracle Forms and Database to cover operations using all modes of transport, accounts, sales, CRM, track and trace and communication with customers and suppliers.


Consistency is key to the high-tech supply chain


Consistent integrated and seamless service is the top requirement for high-tech and electronics sector companies when it comes to selecting their 3PL (third party logistics) providers. That was one of the key points


to emerge from the sixth annual Hi-Tech and Electronics Supply Chain Summit organised by eyefortransport in Amsterdam, the Netherlands,on 9-10 May. During the event, which attracted


more than 220 executives from manufacturers, suppliers and logistics providers, delegates participated in a series of electronic polls about major issues. One of the key questions put to them was: “When outsourcing logistics services to a 3PL provider, what is THE criterion when making your decision”. In reply, 79% of the delegates who participated voted for “consistent integrated and seamless service offering”, although 20% went for “best price offering”. “It


is interesting that the


overwhelming number want consistent integrated and seamless service but it also interesting that there is still a drive on price, with 20% stating that cost is the key factor for them,” commented conference chairman Hugh Williams, managing director of Hughenden Consulting, a UK-based international supply chain planning consultancy. Another key issue discussed


and voted on was that of the importance, or otherwise, to high- tech and electronics companies, of ‘transparency’ in the supply chain. Marc


Schaap, director global


transportation for TE Connectivity, a worldwide manufacturer of connectors, argued that transparency was only needed when something went wrong. “No news is good news,” he said. Later in the debate, he added: “If the supply chain is reliable, I need less transparency in terms of where my shipment is”. However, Edwin van der Meerendonk, vice president


European operations for Walt Disney Home Entertainment, disagreed: “I think transparency is taking cost out of the supply chain. It is not just something you need when things go wrong. It is something you need for successful business execution.” He added that supply chain reliability allowed companies to reduce their safety stocks while transparency enabled them to reduce risk. Further divided views among company


high-tech executives


about the significance of transparency in the supply chain emerged during other polls carried out at the conference. For example, in response to


the question “Is full supply chain visibility required to achieve time to market accuracy?”, half the delegates (51%) said it was, just over one-third (36%) suggested it was only required in relation to certain elements, and 11% simply replied that full chain visibility was not achievable.


Rational!


Since choosing the ForwardOffice software package, and Forward Computers as IT partners, we have not looked back. The whole system has been the bedrock of our Company since 1999 and the advances, past, present and future, help us to stay at the forefront of our specialised fi eld of NVOC services.


Bob Andrews, Managing Director, Globelink-Fallow


Speak to the freight software experts today call +44 (0)115 938 0280 or email sales@forwardcomputers.co.uk


www.forwardcomputers.co.uk K10110_fbj 70x133-aw.indd 1 25/04/2012 11:44


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