Kewill study shows lack of export automation

   Trade and logistics software developer Kewill has released its second annual review of the state of global trade management, 2011 Best Practices Survey for Global Trade Management, and found that 73 percent of the industry still has completely manual or semi-automated processes for preparing export documentation.
   Kewill surveyed more than 800 logistics professionals and executives for its latest report, asking them to reveal their challenges and strategies in global trade management.
   The white paper is available here.
   Other findings from the report:
The majority of survey respondents export from North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Almost 40 percent export from South/Central America and the Caribbean, and just 33 percent export from the Middle East and Africa.
Seventy-three percent of respondents continue to manage trade compliance centrally from the United States and only 27 percent manage trade compliance within each region. This was the same as 2010.
Companies need to be prepared for a potential increase in U.S. exports, should export control reform be successful.
Surprisingly, despite the risk of fines and penalties, roughly 20 percent of respondents export without screening for restricted or denied parties and embargoed countries.