ASM Urges Freight Agents: "Don't Get Caught Out When SAD-H Dual Running Ends Next Month"
Agency Sector Management, the UK's leading developer and supplier of software solutions and first class support to members of the freight community, is urging agents to familiarise themselves with the new SAD Harmonisation (SAD-H) Customs declarations, by using the new system instead of the old.
London, United Kingdom, December 19, 2007 --(PR.com)-- Chairman of ASM, Peter MacSwiney says: "It is very important that agents, whether ASM customers or not, realise that the deadline by which they must have migrated to the new system is just over a month away, with dual running of both old and new type Customs declarations expiring at midnight on 20th January next year."
The dual running period was agreed between Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and various industry stakeholders, such as ASM, to ease in the new system, a mandatory requirement across the EU and involving major changes to Customs Declarations.
Adds Mr MacSwiney: "We are very conscious that HMRC allowed this period of dual running after we held discussions with them over their previous intention simply to switch off the old system overnight.
"The dual running period allows extra time for agents to make a voluntary switch, in their own time and at their own pace, allowing any glitches to be identified and corrected. That time is nearly at an end and any agents that haven't started to switch, really need to get their skates on.
"I appreciate that for some agents this new system is a considerable change and it is only human nature to want to resist changing systems that might have worked successfully for years. However, this change is inevitable and will definitely happen in January. I am sure those who have made the switch would join me in saying that there is really no better time to do this than now, whilst a period of dual running is still available."
Over the last two months, ASM has been holding a series of seminars around the UK to help companies gain a thorough understanding of the new formats and the software that underpins them as they migrate to the new system.
Feedback from participants at those seminars suggests that there is still some concern amongst freight agents about the migration process and whether the operation of CHIEF during the dual running period has been sufficiently tested.
Earlier this year, ASM released Version 11.1 of GeMS, with all the SAD H Customs functionality in place, giving users the time and opportunity to experience the new software and familiarise their staff with the new procedures as they are implemented.
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The dual running period was agreed between Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and various industry stakeholders, such as ASM, to ease in the new system, a mandatory requirement across the EU and involving major changes to Customs Declarations.
Adds Mr MacSwiney: "We are very conscious that HMRC allowed this period of dual running after we held discussions with them over their previous intention simply to switch off the old system overnight.
"The dual running period allows extra time for agents to make a voluntary switch, in their own time and at their own pace, allowing any glitches to be identified and corrected. That time is nearly at an end and any agents that haven't started to switch, really need to get their skates on.
"I appreciate that for some agents this new system is a considerable change and it is only human nature to want to resist changing systems that might have worked successfully for years. However, this change is inevitable and will definitely happen in January. I am sure those who have made the switch would join me in saying that there is really no better time to do this than now, whilst a period of dual running is still available."
Over the last two months, ASM has been holding a series of seminars around the UK to help companies gain a thorough understanding of the new formats and the software that underpins them as they migrate to the new system.
Feedback from participants at those seminars suggests that there is still some concern amongst freight agents about the migration process and whether the operation of CHIEF during the dual running period has been sufficiently tested.
Earlier this year, ASM released Version 11.1 of GeMS, with all the SAD H Customs functionality in place, giving users the time and opportunity to experience the new software and familiarise their staff with the new procedures as they are implemented.
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Contact
Agency Sector Management (UK) Ltd
Ian Matheson
++44 (0)1689 860660
Ian Matheson
++44 (0)1689 860660
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