Now is a time of significant change for customs agencies. Ever greater demands are being placed on them as their public service role in securing the nation and supporting its prosperity becomes increasingly important. High-performing customs agencies need to deliver:
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Security in the face of new and more complex criminal and security threats
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Facilitation in an era of greater and faster goods movement, with rapid growth in new modes of trade
Intelligent operations and the use of information that is now available through new technologies offer profound opportunities for customs agencies to meet these challenges. While technology has been helping to modernize customs for the past 30 years, delivering efficiency through automation and virtualization, we are now realizing the potential that customs technology and intelligent customs solutions have to transform the effectiveness and capabilities of customs agencies.
The current wave of technology applied to customs, allows for real-time processing, deeper information collection and intelligent information management, advanced analytics, instantaneous collaboration and a wealth of other capabilities. This has the potential not just to improve the way customs operates but to transform it.
Accenture has identified three key components that will underpin the Customs Agency of the Future:
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Intelligent operating models, driven by customs analytics insight
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Connectivity enabled by new technologies
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A competency-driven staffing approach
These key pillars provide a holistic approach to transformation and will guide agencies on their customs modernization journey and associated challenges. This will require agencies to consider their structures, workforce and all elements of their operations to ensure they are ready to become the Customs Agency of the Future.
The Customs Agency of the Future report is an introduction to Accenture’s Customs Agency of the Future program, which offers customs agencies a detailed view of how to achieve these components.
The next step of the program will entail a detailed analysis of the three components to establish the capabilities required, leading practices related to these capabilities, and supporting examples of agencies around the globe that are striving to be leading customs agencies. There will be a new point-of-view report linked to each of the three components that we will share with you as the program progresses.
Learn more about the three components in the first Customs Agency of the Future report.