In order to comprehensively modernize the Customs and Foreign Trade Service, Guatemala has presented today (24.01.2024/XNUMX/XNUMX) a New Model of Air Goods Dispatch. This initiative includes the gradual implementation of the components of the recent customs computer system that integrates the processes of Importations, exports y courier simplifying and automating the management of loading and dispatching goods that will be transported by air, according to an announcement by the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT-G).
The launch, held in a hybrid format, was chaired by the Superintendent of SAT, Marco Livio Diaz, as well as the Acting Superintendent of Customs, Edwin Curtidor, who stated that this new model responds to objective No. 5 of the SAT Institutional Strategic Plan.
In this regard, the Acting Superintendent of Customs explained the applied methodology based on best practices, namely the Customs of Mexico, Peru (Sunat), Colombia (Dian), Bolivia and Korea. "These methodologies are based on process management, quality management and change management," he said.
Regarding the background, The organization has developed - in accordance with the WCO Guide - the National Study of Dispatch Times (2019), a tool that allowed the Central American country to have information on the average dispatch time and the areas of opportunity by actor that affect times and costs, as well as the public and private strategies for their attention. In this way, in 2020 the action plan was started to carry out the corresponding mapping. Thus, the SAT drew up the Plan of Modernization of the Customs Computer System for the period 2023-2026. It studied the adaptation to a new transport model (air, sea and land, each of these processes with different systems and infrastructures). After that, it programmed the new Air office all with 2023, Sea Freight all with 2024 and the Land all with 2025.
Additionally, the State entity of Guatemala carried out a collaborative work with all actors in the logistics chain and cooperating organizations in order to develop the IT platform, update regulations, improve infrastructure, strengthen staff capabilities and disseminate the results, based on the International Change Management Methodology.
According to the SAT, the implementation operation This will allow progress towards a Customs with digital processes, given that - as part of cargo control - electronic requests, authorizations and notifications will be implemented, as well as interoperability between actors in the logistics chain and virtual attention without time limits. Meanwhile, for the clearance process, the traceability of operations will be optimized in real time and the time spent will be reduced.
Since the model is based on risk management, the SAT detailed the following: components: cargo management module, destination module, courier module and administrative module. "All of them will be implemented gradually under the change management methodology," added the Customs Superintendent.
On the other hand, the implementation of the model implies new features, for example: process simplification, technological migration, operational stabilization and user-friendly and intuitive screens. Added to this is the application of disruptive technology.
What benefits does the project have? The computer modules that make up the new air dispatch model will offer the actors in the logistics chain a reduction in time and costs, as well as actions that contribute to the comprehensive modernization of the customs and foreign trade service.
Clearly, these efforts to digitally transform customs processes by SAT - the facilitating entity - respond to the use of guides and compendia from the World Customs Organization such as the SAFE Framework of Standards; and on the other hand, to the Agreement on Trade Facilitation of the World Trade Organization that stipulates what refers to the "customs cooperation"(Article 12), mainly in relation to the exchange of information, to improve risks, simplify and speed up customs procedures.
In this sense, the presentation also included the participation of personalities from public and private sectorsIn detail: the Executive Director of Combex-Im, Jorge Gómez; the General Director of Agexport, Amador Carballido; the Executive Director of AGLA, Motty Allegrina Rodas; the President of CLADEC, Marco Antonio Martínez and the President of CAAG, Jorge Zibara; accompanied by government authorities linked to the customs process, auxiliaries of the customs public service and cooperating organizations.
Representatives of Temporary Customs Warehouses in seaports also attended, who symbolically received the challenge baton to adopt the implementation of this project in the maritime transport mode, which will be linked to the other models that the SAT plans to implement.
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