ISF software for small importers

ISF software for small importers    Several trade management and customs software vendors have developed tools to specifically help smaller companies comply with the Importer Security Filing (ISF) program
      Boston-based TradeMerit recently announced a basic Web-based service that allows importers to fill in a template with the required data elements, maintain a master parts database and receive updates on their ISF status for 99 cents per filing. Customers can also make amendments to the filing when more accurate data becomes available for no extra charge. Premium services, such as a platform where multiple trading partners can enter some elements for the importer, are available at extra cost.
      The rules allow importers to update four types of information, such as the ship-to party and country of origin, indefinitely and two pieces of data (consolidator and container stuffing location), until 24 hours before arrival in the United States. Customs and Border Protection officials say that most companies not taking advantage of that flexibility and instead are filing complete documents the first time.

Scott

      Sandra Scott, TradeMerit's vice president of trade compliance, said one possible reason for the low number of amendments is that many third-party systems providers don't have the capability in place yet to do amendments, and are requiring their customers to enter all 10 data elements up front. Many providers also charge a fee to file amendments.
      Bryn Heimbech, president of Trade Tech, said his company can act as the on-scene facilitator for small U.S.-based brokers and infrequent importers that don't have the overseas presence, language skills or compatible office hours to round up the necessary ISF information from local vendors.
      Trade Tech, headquartered in Bellevue, Wash., specializes in logistics software and service for non-vessel-operating common carriers. It has offices in Shanghai, China; Hong Kong, Taipei, Taiwan; Hamburg, Germany; Lyon, France; and Genoa, Italy. The staff in those cities pulls together the loose strands of information that don't reside on the purchase order and send it onto data input stations in Vietnam and India, which have already keyed in the necessary data elements from the carrier booking. The information is combined and sent onto Customs.
      'Our offices work with the shipper, get the information, get it into the system and then the broker has access to the data through work flow technology. They review it, classify it, add anything they need to and file it,' Heimbech said.
      'The broker continues to be the agent for the importer. We're just providing a front office for them.'
      Other companies offering ISF software include:
      '    Descartes. The Waterloo, Ontario-based company has a basic ISF service that allows customers to enter data via the Web and then files it directly to CBP. Other tiers of service are set up to handle electronic data interchange transmissions.
      '    TRS Direct. Another cost-effective software product geared to smaller business entities with infrequent shipments. The company promotes direct filing as a way for the importer to make sure information filed is timely and accurate. The ISF is not considered 'customs business' by CBP and therefore requires no license or special filing code to participate.
      '    Management Dynamics. The company has an ISF component within its automated import management product, and has designed a smaller ISF application for manual filers. The key benefit is the customer can download it and work offline without having to be connected to the Internet while preparing the ISF form, according to Nathan Pieri, senior vice president of marketing and product management. Users can prepare multiple ISF files and submit them all together in a batch. The program will then connect online to Customs and transmit the file.