Product Information

Descartes Viatrade For Brokers

Enabling Cross-Border Trade with Descartes Viatrade for Brokers

Customs brokers are constantly seeking ways to automate processes to reduce the cost of operations, streamline document management and, most importantly, keep cross-border freight moving. The need for improved speed and accuracy has become increasingly critical as the number of shipments continues to grow and reporting requirements increase in complexity.

Despite the need for automation, many operations still rely on manual processes (e.g. for broker selection for northbound shipments), which means they have little real-time visibility into the status of shipments and potential problems. Among other challenges, manual processes can lead to delivery errors and inaccuracies in paperwork (e.g. customs declarations and security filings), resulting in unnecessary delays, penalties and rejection of documentation or shipments by brokers and customs agencies. In addition, many larger carriers have dedicated teams controlling the customs process. Without the proper tools in place or visibility into shipments, internal costs can escalate.

Bringing More Effective Solutions to Market

Descartes Viatrade streamlines business processes and interaction between carriers, customs brokers and government agencies. This collaborative solution automates customs security filings for CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) and CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency), and streamlines delivery management. It helps organizations make more effective use of internal resources, improves document accuracy for delivery to the appropriate authorities, and manages the final release of goods by customs.

Complete Shipment Lifecycle Management for Customs Brokers

Descartes Viatrade offers an easy-to-access portal to connect customs brokers with carriers to enable complete lifecycle management for shipments. As a web-based, on-demand offering, Viatrade enables organizations to leverage advanced automation features without the need to invest in the capital costs associated with in-house systems, integration, licensing, and upgrades.

Potential Advantages Include

• Real-time Visibility – With a completely integrated solution, customs brokers can gain real-time visibility into shipment status and receive data electronically to reduce the need for manual data entry. Users can opt for full or partial management, depending on their own infrastructure and needs.

• Collaboration – Customs brokers have access to a collaborative platform through which they can access and share information with appropriate partners, enhance visibility and speed filing and approval processes.

• Improved Selection – Descartes Viatrade streamlines broker selection and delivery activities to successfully complete the lifecycle of shipments from customers. Viatrade offers a broker’s portal, as well as different subscription levels, so participants can view paperwork and check status electronically.

Descartes Viatrade is a collaboration service that streamlines business processes and interaction between carriers, customs brokers, and government agencies. It manages the following processes:

• Receive electronic manifest data before security filing has been made by the carrier
• Get accompanying original documents electronically (FTP, i-Fax, web service)

Viatrade Broker Benefits

• Image and document management and delivery
• Best-known ETAs for shipment crossings

Descartes as a Partner of Choice

• Support for Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) export permits
• Electronic archiving
• Automated broker selection (Northbound)

Since 1981, Descartes has been focused on addressing the needs of global transportation and logistics providers. It has built its reputation on delivering results for organizations around the world that operate logistics intensive businesses and require visibility and control over multi-channel networks of trading partners and shipment management processes. Leveraging the Global Logistics Network (GLN), Descartes:

• Broker delivery and acceptance/rejection
• New FedEx Brokerage Connection™ (FBC)

With Viatrade, customs brokers have the potential to gain:

• A single web interface for multiple northbound less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers
• Full control over paperwork and processes, including:
  • Fully integrated ETA prioritization
  • Flexible track-and-trace search options
  • Generate on-demand in Web/PDF format
  • Canada Customs Invoice
  • Bill of Lading
  • Certificate of Origin
  • Various Reports
  • Streamlined one-click shipment rejection capabilities
  • Increased consistency by using a shipment folder concept
  • Lower operational costs through enhanced tracking, improved visualization of workflow, and real-time access to shipment information
  • Self-provisioning capabilities
  • Simplified operations management through a centralized summary view of all cross-border freight
  • Improved system stability, robustness and reliability at less cost

Descartes provides a number of service level options to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes:

• Integrated Service – Includes electronic document delivery integration in addition to the web browser access.