UPS is enabling electronic customs clearance for its air freight customers, the same capability already enjoyed by the carrier's small-package shippers. The extension of UPS's Paperless Invoice service is now available in more than 90 countries. According to UPS, the free-of-charge offering allows customers to integrate order processing, shipment preparation and commercial invoice data. It then transmits the data in advance of the shipment to customs offices around the world. Because information is stored electronically, customers reduce the possibility of manual errors in filling out customs documentation as well as the submission of incomplete paperwork. In a related development, UPS has added 25 origin countries to its UPS WorldShip shipping software. Customers can use the application to generate labels and prepare packages for shipping, without the need for pen and paper. WorldShip software can now be used for small-package and air freight shipments in 63 countries. UPS Paperless Invoice and WorldShip are aimed at companies in retail, consumer goods, professional services and high-tech, among other industries. The new enhancements make it possible for Paperless Invoice customers to submit an electronic NAFTA Certificate of Origin for packages moving between the U.S. and Canada, reducing or eliminating duties on NAFTA-eligible goods.
