There are multiple options to get goods through UK-customs
after Brexit. Which option is best for your company depends on many factors,
such as the type of goods you will ship and the number of export or import shipments.
Other factors with a strong impact on the best choice for your business include
cost, experience, knowledge and availability of time and resources.
Taking care of customs declarations yourself has many
benefits, but there are a couple of things you need to have in place. A company
that wants to do business across the border first needs an EORI number
(Economic Operators Registration & Identification). In addition, companies must
register with the local customs authorities and submit an application
(Application for Registration of Electronic Message Traffic). This is required
if you want to submit customs declaration digitally. A customs software package
will also need to be purchased. Depending on the type of customs process
support you need, selecting and implementing the correct customs software can
take time, but there is not much time left until the transition period ends. A
standard customs solution and standard integration with existing IT-systems could
be the answer to shorter implementation timeframes. Customizations in these
areas often result in longer development and implementation tracks. If both
integration and customization are not required, the quickest option out there
today to start filing customs are web-based customs solutions which can be
on-boarded within 24 hours after signing up.
Would you like a flexible system that allows central handling of customs declarations for your exports to the one or several countries. With our Export Filing and Import Filing solutions, you can transmit your data seamlessly to the customs authorities in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and many other EU-countries. Besides that, it is possible to extend this central application for processing customs declarations via customs brokers.
Find out more about AEB's all-in-one international customs platform
AEB’s software solution for UK exports lets you automate and control your entire customs processing. The degree of automation is completely customizable and still allows for manual checks. Integration with your IT environment is available through our state-of-the-art API’s and ready-to-use plugins for SAP.
Find out more about AEB's Export Filing: CHIEF
There is not much time left; if you don’t want your
goods to get stuck at customs on January 1, you only have 2 months left to get a solution in place. Two other
options can also be considered: outsourcing to a customs agent or outsourcing
to a logistics service provider. In both cases, the company still has to apply
for an EORI number, but it no longer needs to invest in customs software and
customs specialists.
Outsourcing is not such a bad idea, especially in early
2021. In late September, the UK government published a document in which they
warned of problems at the border. In the worst-case scenario, 40 to 70 per cent
of the lorries leaving the UK for the EU will not have the correct paperwork. For
companies that have outsourced customs declarations the logistics service
provider or customs agent will be responsible for ensuring all paperwork is in
order, even when customs procedures change.
Customs brokers are experts in customs formalities and
know all about special goods procedures, whereas logistics service provider’s offering
customs services have limited customs knowledge.
Check with your existing logistics service provider on
their other services offerings. Chances are they also offer customs services which
could be the easiest and quickest solution. Having one external partner
handling logistics and customs also simplifies everything, from data-exchange
to invoicing, and minimizes chances of disruptions
Outsourcing customs comes with a price though. Premiums
for customs expertise and extra/add-on services such as customs filing can be
steep. Therefore, whether outsourcing is a temporary solution or not, close
monitoring of supply chain cost developments after Brexit is important. Plan a financial
review in early 2021 and ask yourselves if changing customs filing strategy, for
example from outsourcing to insourcing, will be a more cost-efficient choice for
your company’ in the long-term.