Kewill goes live with ICS country connectivity across Europe

Kewill, provider of solutions that simplify global trade and logistics, has successfully gone live with the Import Control System (ICS) and is successfully exchanging real-time data on behalf of its customers with each local Customs authority in both Germany and Austria.

ICS connectivity for all remaining European countries, including Belgium, France, Italy and the UK, is scheduled to follow in rapid succession. This will ensure compliance for thousands of shipments made across Europe each day, whilst significantly reducing the burden of managing this complex process for Kewill's customers.

ICS is a mandatory electronic Customs procedure, designed to improve security by providing advance visibility of shipments into Europe. It replaces an existing paper-based process and requires detailed information on goods to be submitted electronically, prior to arrival within the European Community, in order to facilitate near real-time risk analysis by local Customs authorities.

Kewill has leveraged its extensive Customs experience in order to rise to the difficult challenge of enabling multi-country ICS compliance  through its suite of electronic Customs software solutions; CustomsXchange, Zabis and Air Cargo Pool. With each individual country issuing separate specifications for ICS, Kewill has worked closely with its network of partners across Europe, and their teams of local experts, in order to meet the respective local Customs requirements. This ensures connectivity for its customers, which include a number of high-profile global air cargo providers, for whom ICS compliance is both crucial and time-critical.

Jacquie Boast, Chief Operating Officer for EMEA at Kewill, commented "ICS presents a particularly complicated compliance scenario for all global logistics providers, who regularly manage international shipping arrangements on their customers' behalf.  These providers are turning to Kewill in order to benefit from our Customs domain experts and existing network of local software solutions. Kewill is delighted to announce its market leading progress, which will enable providers to seamlessly achieve pan-European connectivity for ICS, whilst allowing them to concentrate on their core business of providing first class logistics services throughout Europe."