CHICAGO -
Descartes Systems Group announced the launch of its Global Filer initiative designed to help logistics operations address their global customs filing requirements for freight.

As governments around the world roll-out additional security-related initiatives that reach deeper and deeper into the supply chain, supply chain participants are increasingly looking to minimize their customs compliance costs, complexities and risks. With relevant supply chain participants that include carriers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, logistics intermediaries, shippers and government agencies, the number of electronic connections, amount of information and precise timing of its collection to meet regulatory requirements is complex.

Descartes' Global Filer initiative is designed to further the development of network-based solutions to address these complexities. The initiative focuses on a single dashboard, portal-based framework that enables collaboration between multiple parties to address customs filing requirements across modes of transport in countries as they are mandated, while minimizing duplicate data submissions or re-keying. Relevant functionality encompassed by the initiative includes filing, filing status updates, exception management and reporting. With event management capabilities built in, organizations can build their own customized checks and balances that will keep them compliant.

The Descartes Global Filer initiative is been undertaken with the oversight of the Descartes' Global Customs Filing Working Group, a subset of Descartes customers committed to finding electronic ways to reduce customs filing complexities and costs, while preserving shipping velocity. The Descartes Global Filer initiative also leverages Descartes' advanced shipment manifest customs filing expertise using its Global Logistics Network -- a multimodal network of transportation providers and their customers that facilitates the interchange of logistics information and provides services that leverage that information. The Descartes GLN helps companies better manage their logistics book-to-bill process, track inventory, meet regulatory requirements, optimize fleet performance, and effectively communicate with their logistics partners.

"The dynamics of international trade are dramatically changing. Global customs initiatives are spurring an ongoing wave of customs compliance mandates that impact every mode of transportation and every participant in the global supply chain," said Jonathan Wasserman, Senior Vice President, Global Trade and Compliance Solutions at Descartes. "Network-centric systems are a logical solution for handling these new multi-party processes. With our experience with security filings in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and other countries in Central and South America, we look forward to working with our customers to design solutions that streamline the customs filing process."