Turns out ACE has been working for a very long time. Several organizations, this one included, have been part of the early adopter group whom have tested, fixed, retested, fixed and tested again to ensure that the transition from the old to the new is a seamless one. Being a part of this process, I can say, with confidence that this has been the best example of trade and CBP working together that I have seen or experienced in my 20+ years in the business. There is real collaberation here and it shows in the development and now implementation of this upgrade to cargo security tracking.
For many of those reading, the transition won't mean much. For this company, it is a back end change to our clients front end system. But for clients of our company, this opens up the possibility not only to track/trace shipments and input clearance but also monitor and perform functions previously assigned to a broker or forwarder. Being an importer, this give you more control over the data and functions of your shipment.
There is a great link to a document posted by CBP on ACE. Follow this link http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/automated/modernization/ace/ and click the PDF called TRADE BENEFITS.
Most Importers, NVO's, Carriers and Brokers are all looking to expand the relationship with their clients or vendors. ACE facilitates this. For the Importer, you can actually save money by using this environment to pay your duties. Also, you can see the actual duty charges specific to your shipment. For NVO. Carriers and Brokers, this portal environment provides customize reporting and customized functionality to improve your service to your clients.
This post is general. There is much more specific information available at the link above. The most important benefit is the centralization of our Homeland Security in relation to Cargo and allows better targeting and better monitoring of cargos posing a security risk to the United States. I think we all can agree, this is the best benefit of all.
Until next posting...ARTEMUS OUT!
