ICT+Itinerary

=**Applying Information and Communication Technology for Simplification of Trade-related Procedures**=

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is now widely used by the trading and transport community to support global supply and logistics chain management. Public administrations also increasingly use ICT to automate processing and to communicate with their clients. The emergence of web services has made new applications of ICT possible. Information can be submitted electronically, and services can become location and time independent. Cross-border trade transactions involve a multitude of procedures that traders and other stakeholders in the supply chain have to comply with. __Each of these procedures entails in some for the submission, analysis, processing, and production of information.__ ICT therefore offers great potential to support trade facilitation reforms.

Benefits
The expected benefits from the use of ICT are:
 * faster and more reliable processing, in particular of large amounts of information,
 * uniform application of procedures,
 * better exchange of information across organizational boundaries,
 * availability of electronic information that can be used and re-used for various tasks, and
 * 24/24h and 7/7 days availability of services.

Examples of application of ICT for trade facilitation purposes
ICT can be applied in several ways for trade facilitation implementation:
 * Large ICT systems can automate complex government processes and procedures, such as systems for Customs automation, risk management, Single Windows, and also shipping portals, port and airport community systems.
 * ICT can be used to automate communications between private and public organizations (e.g. Customs declarations) and between public authorities from different countries and regions (e.g. Customs administrations within the European Union). This can be done through electronic communications and the application of e-business solutions, such as Electronic Data Interchange. Business Process Analysis can help in understanding and improving procedures and information flows.
 * Webservices can be used to share information, for example within port and airport community systems, or to share supporting documents for Customs declarations.

Next step: Learn about the use of ICT for clearance.