Descartes Systems Group has developed a new service to help importers manage their inbound supply chains, and gain visibility of shipment status. The vendor's Visibility and Compliance offering helps importers to coordinate with customs authorities and brokers, with an eye toward identifying potential order failures before they occur. Customers get line-item visibility across multiple modes of transportation through improved connections with trading partners. They can share data, such as purchase orders, advance shipment notices, shipment-status messages and customs filing details, while monitoring the entire order process. In addition, importers can review item-level classifications and quantities of goods as the data is shared with brokers for customs entry. The feature helps to ensure that accurate duties and taxes are paid, and border delays avoided. According to Descartes, the service helps to reduce shipment variability and costs associated with obsolete inventories, while speeding up border crossings and customs processes. Visibility and Compliance draws on Descartes' Global Logistics Network for the connectivity needed to gain line-item visibility.

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