Check out this brand-new eBook from Management Dynamics - Direct Import Strategies for Retailers: How to Take Control Over Your Supply Chain.

World Trade Magazine will be presenting an upcoming webinar on direct import in the global supply chain on Tuesday, May 25th at 2:00 pm EST.

Earlier this year Walmart announced projected cost savings of 5 – 15% by product category with an expanded direct import program. While retailers, consumer goods companies and most global manufacturers have been importing for years, there is renewed interest in understanding all of the elements of a direct import program and the opportunity areas that can drive new supply chain efficiencies and boost product profitability.

This webinar, presented by Management Dynamics and World Trade Magazine, will take a look at the foundation technologies for a direct import program, explore the implementation options by working with a global logistics provider, and discuss a number of successful case studies.

The webinar will be Tuesday, May 25 at 2pm EST. Please register today by following this link.

In a recent AMR Research study, 53% of 160 global trade professionals surveyed claimed that they would be increasing their investment on global trade management (GTM) software in 2010. Some of the main reasons cited in the study for the increase include: to improve coordination of GTM functions internally; to meet government mandates; to meet security requirements; to protect the brand; and to control various costs.

Here's a great article I found in Logistics Management that gives a basic overview of the Importer Security Filing ("10+2") rule: Complying with the Importer Security Filing. The rule, which goes into full effect very soon - Jan. 26, 2010, will require importers of ocean freight to complete a properly executed Importer Security Filing (ISF). To comply with this rule, the importer must submit 10 pieces of data related to the container's contents 24 hours prior to loading, and the carrier must submit an additional 2 items no later than 48 hours after departure.

Automating the import supply chain today is complicated by new compliance regulations like Customs 10+2 and C-TPAT. In this interview with Global Logistics & Supply Chain Strategies magazine, VP Customs Compliance at Leggett & Platt discusses best practices for import compliance and for transforming a fragmented global procurement approach into a centralized global import process:

Today, importers must deal with end-to-end supply chain accountability and are increasingly challenged to have visibility and control over their supply base and origin operations. Here is a short video gives a good overview of how GTM technology can help companies manage these complexities of going global by automating their inbound processes, improving regulatory compliance and attaining landed cost objectives:

Recent research shows that the average cost per Importer Security Filing is $30.* With large importers filing 5,000 ISFs or more per year, the cost of compliance totals to upwards of $150,000 and provides no ROI other than penalty avoidance.

In this short video, Ty Bordner, VP of Solutions Consulting at Management Dynamics discusses some of the strategic opportunities that ISF Compliance can present to an organization, including:

• Reducing the effort of complying with Customs 10+2
• Minimizing errors upon entry by linking to ISFs
• Eliminating manually re-keying data
• Preventing potential penalties of $5,000 per ISF
• Reducing broker fees (on average, $30 per ISF)
• Managing the import process with complete visibility from origin, through customs, to the final destination

*Source: American Shipper ISF Benchmark Study

Come join Management Dynamics at SCOPE West August 19 - 21 in Las Vegas. SCOPE West is one of the industry's leading Supply Chain executive conferences. John Wainwright, VP Customs Compliance at Leggett & Platt, will be presenting on 'Automating the Import Supply Chain.' Please follow this link for details on conference registration.