KNOWLEDGE ACADEMY- SINGLE WINDOW -
WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANISATION
SINGLE WINDOW- DEFINITIONS -
… a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardized information and documents with a single entry point to fulfill all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements. If information is electronic, then individual data elements should only be submitted once.
UN-CEFACT Recommendation 33
SINGLE WINDOW- DEFINITIONS -
•Parties involved in trade and transport
WHO?•St
andardized information and documents
WHAT?
•Single entry point
WHERE?
•Fulfill all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements.
WHEN / WHY
•Electronic data elements should submitted only once
HOW?
Single WindowSingle Window - Political & Technical - Political & Technical
The Single Window environment is a complex technical issue, but it cannot work without the politics and other non-IT issues being examined first. Be sure to get the policy, legal and administrative frameworks analysed and sorted before looking at technical options. (WCO Guidelines)
Political- Developing Political will
- Management Group among border agencies
- Concept paper/feasibility study
- Decide a lead agency
- Policy Harmonization
Technical- Technical Group among border
agencies
- Data Harmonization
- Development of SW system
- Alignment with global standards
(UNECE)
Revenue Administration
Transportation & Logistics Facilitation
Trade Policy Implementation
Internal Security
Health & Public Safety
Single Window Services
SW and Customs FunctionsSW and Customs Functions
Revenue Administration
Transportation & Logistics Facilitation
Trade Policy Implementation
Internal Security
Health & Public Safety
Revenue Administration
Transportation & Logistics Facilitation
Trade Policy Implementation
Internal Security
Health & Public Safety
Country A Country B
What is the Priority?What is the Priority?
• The choice of services for Single Window would depend on the national Customs
• What does the Customer hope to see?• Outcome-centric focus important for both working
level & leadership in steering SW implementation
SINGLE WINDOW PERSPECTIVES
Chap 1:Understanding SW Environment
Chap 2:Border Management Functions & SW Concept
Chap 3:SW as part of Customs Modernization
Chap 4:Agenda Setting & Policy Planning
Chap 5:Establishing Formal Structures
Chap 6:Designing SW Services
Chap 8:Human Resource & Change Management
Chap 7:Dealing with legal issues
1. Incubation & Strategic Planning
2. Establishment & Consolidation
3. Development, Implementation, Evaluation & Feedback
SINGLE WINDOW PERSPECTIVES
• Understanding of “horizontal” aspects important for optimal SW implementation– SW as part of Coordinated Border
Management– Service Interactions and Service Oriented
Architecture– Sustainability & Continual Improvements
in SW
SINGLE WINDOW- CBM -
COORDINATED BORDER MANAGEMENT
• The coordinated approach by border control agencies, both domestic and international, in the context of seeking greater efficiencies over managing trade and travel flows, while maintaining a balance with compliance requirements
SINGLE WINDOW ENVIRONMENT
• A facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardized information and documents with a single entry point to fulfill all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements. If information is electronic, then individual data elements should only be submitted once.
CMB does not equal SW- But effective SW environment can only be achieved if a Country
undertook CBM efforts- CBM is a pre-requisite to the development of a successful SW
environment
SINGLE WINDOW- CBM -
• CBM in the context of SW development– Stakeholder involvement– Business process re-engineering– Dematerialization of supporting
documents– Risk management
SINGLE WINDOW- CBM -
• Stakeholder involvement– Forming a structure with clear leadership
& directions for CBM– Active involvement / commitment of
CBRA, Trade– Consultation, confidence building,
feedback– Clear goals
SINGLE WINDOW- CBM -
• Business Process Re-engineering– To re-cast existing manual processes into
new electronic processes– Eliminate redundant / duplicative steps – Align digital workflow to physical goods
clearance– A well-designed workflow allows essential
checks / verifications to be achieved in a much shorter time without sacrificing rigour
SINGLE WINDOW- CBM -
• Dematerialization of Supporting Documents– Need to verify data submitted with
supporting documents– Potential source of bottleneck– Can physical documents be made electronic?
Scans? Electronic from creation?– Can such checks be reduced? Removed?– Post clearance audit instead of up-front
checks?
SINGLE WINDOW- CBM -
• Risk Management– Structured data in electronic form opens up many
possibilities– Pre-clearance
• Enables data to be holistically reviewed for key risk areas (i.e. security, revenue, OGA requirements)
• Identifying high-risk containers for checks (x-ray or intrusive)
– Clearance• Availability of information to Officers at the border enables
quick reference and intervention if necessary
– Post-clearance• Identifying unusual trends, patterns• Business intelligence
– Support effective allocation of scarce resources
Service Interactions & Service Oriented Architecture
• Works hand-in-hand with business process re-engineering
• Design of SW incorporating “ideal-state” for all stakeholders– Business value of regulators– Service design & Service delivery– Service mindset
Service Interactions & Service Oriented Architecture
• Business Value of Regulators– Stereotypical mindset: Customs as
hindrance to trade– Regulatory functions are necessary• Security, protection of society, revenue for
government functions
– Uncertainty, delays, inconsistencies in applying procedures that is the main problem, not the regulations
Service Interactions & Service Oriented Architecture
• Service design & Service delivery– Identify & optimize interactions– Face-to-face contact– Web-site navigation– SW software interface– Training / engagement – Availability of information
• Entire suite of regulatory functions / services provided must converge through SW
Face-to-Face
Telephone / Email
Website / Online Services
Publications
Service Interactions & Service Oriented Architecture
• Service mindset– Not always easy: regulator cum service
provider– CBM provides foundation to standardize
controls / reduce duplications– Designing effective SW services requires
regulators to empathize with the public we serve
Service Interactions & Service Oriented Architecture
User Registration
Authentication
Access Control
Submission of Data
Front-End Validation
Verification of Data
Supporting docs
SINGLE WINDOW ENVIRONMENT
Approval / Rejection
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
Goods arrive Goods targeted / exempted from checks
Goods cleared for imports / detained
BACK-END (or what the trader does not need to care about)Processing Systems / Modules
Business Rules Data Warehouse
Govt User Database
Risk Management
Offences / Enforcement
Database
Routing of Submissions
Validation of submissions
Supporting Documents
Manifests
Access Control
Authentication
Verification Functions
Post Clearance Analysis
Decision Making
Clearance
Business Intelligence
Action / Inspection Log
Payments
Payment Records
Arrears Management
Clearance Records
Payment
Electronic?
Sustainability & Continual Improvements
• A SW environment is not static – it needs to be refined
• Performance Measures– System availability– Feedback management– Service standards– Key performance indicators
• Time Release Study– Diagnostic on checkpoint situation to drive
improvements
Sustainability & Continual Improvements
• Operating environment can change– CBM provides framework for agencies to
coordinate responses – SW provides the tool to support prompt
response• Information• Controls• Facilitation
Conclusion
• A Single-Window is a tool that can unlock great trading and regulatory efficiencies – If it is designed properly, with the inputs
from key stakeholders– If it is run with a service-centric mindset– If it is sustained and continually improved
upon
Resources
• UNCEFACT Recommendation 33– http://
www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/cefact/recommendations/rec33/rec33_trd352e.pdf
• WCO Single Window Compendium– http://
www.wcoomd.org/en/topics/facilitation/activities-and-programmes/single-window/single-window-guidelines.aspx