Continued from Part 2 of our "-abilities" series

“It is better to be safe than sorry.”  How many times have we heard these words at home and at work?  The mindset implies that it is better to consider precautionary actions rather than be sorry you didn’t. A relatively simple, wise, and precautionary approach; and in supply chain management it is most evidenced when planning inventory, seasonal promotions, or telling a customer when something will be delivered.  Better to under commit and over deliver, than over commit and under deliver.

The term “global trade management” is expanding and growing as quickly as technology can keep up. Automation is capable of streamlining much of the complexities surrounding sourcing and global trade. To learn how, don’t miss Gary Barraco, Director of Global Product Marketing, and Cheryl Layne, Director of Customer Success, discuss The New Definition of Global Trade Management at Retail Delivery Connect next week in Coral Gables, FL.

Supply chains encompass the evolution of products, from raw materials to finished goods. Various components form the context of this sequence of processes, including a complex and vibrant network of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources.

Amber Road’s new video series tells the tale of a product as it makes its way through the supply chain. From development to production, testing, and shipment, we explore what actually goes into getting the product into the hands of the consumer.

Continued from Part 1 of our "-abilities" series

Are your Digital Platform Capabilities ready to challenge business as usual?

The buzz among several prominent industry analysts lately has created a flurry of research around business success directly correlating to a company’s digital competency. Going digital is more than just spending a higher percent of revenue on IT; it matters where and how you spend your IT dollars. 

Although many companies are engaged in global trade, that doesn’t mean they are getting the most out of their processes or technology systems designed to streamline international business. The new GTM recognizes the increasing complexity involved in global trade, and the need to encompass design, production, and global sourcing decisions as part of the end-to-end scope.

The labeling rules for apparel products are detailed and numerous.  Specialty materials such as fiber, bamboo, and fur all require an especially strong understanding of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) requirements.

A majority of executives are not investing in trade compliance training, despite potential fines, substantial penalties, and jail time, according to survey results released today from Amber Road's Global Trade Academy.

The survey of 300 U.S.-based global companies across a range of revenues and industries found that 56 percent of executives at the companies surveyed are not investing in trade compliance training, even though 28 percent of those companies had already been fined or warned by government agencies for noncompliance.

And while the vast majority (73 percent) have a stated trade compliance plan, 46 percent of surveyed companies didn’t require any training for employees and 28 percent require less than 11 hours of training – leaving a gap between having a plan and the ability to act on it. Furthermore, 55 percent had not standardized their global compliance training and 33 percent do not have a budget for trade compliance training, which opens the door to noncompliance risks as a result of untrained staff.

Global Cargo Security Programs offer key advantages to the savvy international trade professional. From C-TPAT to AEO, J-AEO, C-AEO, PIP and NEEC, companies are challenged with aligning these programs, especially when requirements differ from one country to the next.

Customs organizations around the world are modernizing systems to eliminate manual processes, improving visibility to trade flows, and helping companies comply with applicable laws and regulations.  The WCO (World Customs Organization) labels this type of system as a “Single Window” where Customs effectively centralizes the collection of data and distributes it to all required agencies to realize a coordinated and more efficient border control.

If you’re having trouble keeping pace with the rollout of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s single window initiative rollout, you’re not alone. In early February, CBP announced a new implementation schedule for its Automated Commercial Environment (ACE), another delay in a program that is guaranteed to impact every U.S. importer.