New online survey: How is the digital revolution transforming customs processes?

WARWICK, U.K. - May 10, 2018 - PRLog -- More and more businesses are digitising their international supply chains to improve the visibility of goods in transit, accelerate their processes, and ultimately drive down transaction costs through automation. Customs processes also make a natural launchpad for digitisation initiatives. But where do businesses stand today when it comes to digitising their customs operations? And how are they preparing their customs processes for the future?

These questions are the focus of a joint study by AEB and the DHBW Stuttgart University. Both partners are inviting supply chain professionals to participate in the survey at www.aeb.com/gtm-study. The online survey ends on 17^th June 2018.

Next-Gen Customs: Reality or Vision of the Future?
"The fruits of digitisation are already conspicuous in many areas of business, but when it comes to customs, many companies are still in the dark as to whether and how the digital revolution has arrived," remarks Dr Ulrich Lison, a global trade expert at AEB, explaining the motivation for the survey. "We designed this study to explore how companies move forward in digitising their customs processes, what potential they see, and what obstacles they encounter in the real world," explains Dr Dirk H. Hartel of DHBW Stuttgart.

The collaboration with customs service providers is another of the study's focus points. Many companies that operate internationally hire third parties to manage their foreign customs processes – for cost reasons or because of the complex regulations. The study aims to show how companies set up this collaboration and the challenges they face.

Supply chain professionals and experts working in the fields of customs and exports in companies of any size and sector are invited to make their voices heard and complete the online questionnaire by 17^thJune 2018. All participants will receive a copy of the study upon its publication (scheduled for the fall of 2018) and will be entered in a raffle to win one of several prizes, including a high-quality drone and power banks for on-the-go charging of your smartphone.

Global Trade Management Agenda series
The study on the digitisation of customs is part of the "Global Trade Management Agenda" series – a joint project by software developer AEB and Dr Dirk Hartel of DHBW Stuttgart. The studies in the series examine trending issues in global trade and logistics. The last study, published in late 2017, looked at the issue of "Agile Project Management in Global Trade and Logistics." To download a free copy, visit www.aeb.com/uk/media/global-trade-management-study.php.

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Contacts
For further information, photos or interview requests, please contact Andrea Krug, Krug Communications Ltd, tel. +44 (0)7740 245 867, email: andrea@krugcomms.com.

About AEB (International) Ltd (www.aeb.com/uk)
For over 38 years, AEB GmbH has developed software to support the global trade and logistics processes of businesses in the industrial, commercial, and service sectors. More than 5,000 customers from over 35 countries use AEB solutions for transport and warehouse management, import and export management, preference management, and much more. They benefit from enhanced efficiency, compliance, and transparency – domestically and internationally – thanks to features such as customs and embargo checks, improved collaboration with supply chain partners, and automated shipping processes. AEB's portfolio extends from ready-to-go online solutions to comprehensive logistics solutions. AEB has its head office and on-site data centres in Stuttgart, Germany, and has international offices in the United Kingdom (Warwick), Singapore, Switzerland (Zurich), Sweden (Malmö), the Netherlands (Rotterdam), the Czech Republic (Prague), France (Paris), and the United States.

About DHBW Stuttgart (www.dhbw-stuttgart.de (https://www.dhbw-stuttgart.de/zielgruppen/international-visitors/dhbw-stuttgart/profile/))
Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW), with some 8,300 bachelor students, is among the largest institutions of higher education in the Stuttgart and Upper Neckar regions. DHBW Stuttgart collaborates with some 2,000 carefully selected companies and social institutions to offer more than 40 nationally and internationally recognized bachelor work-study programmes in business, health, technology, and social services. Students alternate in three-month intervals between the university and their training workplace, thereby gaining valuable work experience as part of their university education. They benefit greatly from financial independence, solid opportunities in the job market thanks to extraordinarily high placement rates, small class sizes, and an international orientation.