‘EDI, digitization & automation processes can be considered as important tools’

Sunil Kohli, Managing Director, Rahat Cargo says, “The import and export of goods at a station have been a vital part in achieving an enhanced economic objective. And one of the crucial bottlenecks has been the customs, an area that is ripe for technological innovation. Historically, customs clearance has been characterized as requiring plenty of documentation and lots of manual processing which needs to be done away with. In this regard, EDI, digitization & automation processes can be considered as important tools towards correction. Further, inadequate staff compliment and skills also affect the clearance pace at which the services are rendered thus retarding the process. Apart from such shortcomings, physical inspections and controls which could be seen as anti-trade facilitation leading to wastages of time and inefficacies thereby delaying the clearance functions. A far more accelerated customs clearance can thus be obtained by taking the above factors into consideration.”