Single Window Development and
Implementation
Experience of Singapore
Dr. Chong Yoke Sin
Chief Operating Officer
NCS Pte Ltd
UNESCAP-UNECE CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP ON TRADE FACILITATION
IMPLEMENTATION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC REGION
17 – 18 March 2005, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Agenda
 Experience of Singapore: The Single Window Implementation
 The Next Big Thing: Integrated Single Window e-Logistics
 A Vision: Single Window Inter-operability
 About NCS
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Background
Making Waves Since the 1980s ( Singapore Roadmap )
Fifth Wave
Fourth Wave
Third Wave
IT2000
Second
Early 90s
Wave
National
ITPlan
First Wave
Mid 80s
National
Computerisation
Plan
Early 80s
Infocomm21
Late 90s
Connected
Singapore
2003 -
TradeNet
•Conceptualized in 1986 as
part of National IT Plan
• Implemented in 1st Jan 1989
by Singapore Customs
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Background
TradeNet Process
Trade &
manifest info
Traders
Permit
Applications
Cargo
Clearance
Cargo
Clearance
Permits
EDI VAN
Operator
Controlling Agencies
Singapore Customs
Checkpoints
(ICA - Immigration Checkpoint Authority)
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Background
The Path of TradeNet
1988 1990
1991 1994
19952000
2003
Version 1.0 - 1.5
Version 1.6 - 1.7
Version 1.8 - 2.0
Version 3.1
• Implemented Electronic Submission
• Declarations were batched up
• Turnaround time in few days
• Improved validations & features
• Incorporated GST requirements
• Turnaround from hours to ~30 minutes.
• Interactive TradeNet
• Integrate Internal Systems
• Business intelligence/risks profiling
• Approval within 2 - 5 minutes
• Major business process streamlining
• Incorporated Export Control
Consignment System (ECCS)
• New HS Code (Asean Harmonized
Tarrif Nomenclature)
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Design and Development Process

Formation of TradeNet Working Committee Chaired by NCB
(currently NCS) and Customs


Business Process Study

Trade documentation business processes

Review all Manual processes involved
Standards Definition


Legal Policy Support


Study and Review Goods Classification
Introduction of Electronic Transaction Act
Evaluate Technology
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Design and Development Process

Systems Design


Consolidate Data Element to form TradeNet specifications.
Operations Plan

SOP & Contingency

Measure Performance

Evolve, Improve and Enhance

Payment of Duty and GST via Electronic means ( GIRO )
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Structure and Services
• Submission of TradeNet applications
# Import/ Export/ Transshipment
# Controlled/Non-controlled/Strategic goods
# Payment/Non-payment
# Cert of origin and other applications
• Amendment & Cancellation of TradeNet applications
• Auto Process of TradeNet applications (more than 1000
validation rules)
• Enquiry on application status via 24-hours IVR ( Interactive
Voice Response System )
• Auto deduction of duty/GST via GIRO
• Paperless clearance for TradeNet permits (CCS)
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Participants
Government Agencies

Singapore Customs ( System Owner )

Controlled Agencies ( e.g. AVA, SPF, etc )

IRAS ( Accounting of GST collection )

RCB ( Registration of Company and Business)

IE Singapore ( Statistics department )

Chambers of Commerce for COO
Private Sectors

Systems Integrator and Operator (NCS)

Front-end vendors ( e.g. IPACS, SCS, PSA Portnet)

VAN operator (e.g. Crimson Logic)
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Clients
Users:

Importers/Exporters

Freight Forwarders/Carriers

3rd or 4th Party Logistic Companies ( 3PL/4PL )

Port/Terminal Operators (PSA, Jurong Port)

Other Trade communities/portals (Warehouse Operators, CCN)
Statistics:

3,000+ registered declarant agents

1,000+ customs staffs

30,000 transactions per day.
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Business Model


Front-End Systems

Development funded by the Government.

Operated as an ASP model with transaction charges
Backend System

Development funded by Government

Operation outsourced to private sector (NCS)
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Results
Single Window Benefits
To the Traders:

Simplified commercial framework for both domestic and international trade

Faster turnaround time (average approval within 5 minutes)

Improved Convenience and efficiency

Productivity improvement and Costs saving

Faster customs clearance w/ paper-less and cashless transactions
To the Government:

Increased effectiveness of control methods

More effective and efficient deployment of resources

Improved trader compliance

Facilitates business intelligence through better/faster data capturing

Accelerated economic development & Encourage Foreign Investment
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Critical Success Factors

Conduct BPR within agencies to remove redundancy and
streamline processes and procedures (for both manual and
automated systems)

Use industry standards for electronic messaging to ease
adoption (e.g. UNEDIFACT, ebXML, RosettaNet )

Standardise practises on trade documentation and Goods
classification ( to achieve cross border trading )

Close Collaboration & Consultation with all parties involved,
including private sectors
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Future Plans
Singapore TradeNet:

Liberalisation of VAN for competitive pricing & services

Deeper integration into trade communities & processes

Objective is to reduce duplicate data entry, facilitate
information sharing and increase cost savings.

Centralised platform to act as National Hub to facilitate
trade activities
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Integrated Single Window e-Logistics
Integrated Single Window e-Logistics
“A neutral and open platform enabling the integration and
collaboration among trade, logistics, financial and government
communities to fulfill import, export or transit processes and
documentation through electronic means, in order to increase
information velocity, visibility and accuracy.”
© NCS Pte Ltd
• Single-Window for all logistical information, requests, and
exchange.
• Trade Declaration will be one of the Core Applications
• Owned and Run by Government or Private Sector
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Integrated Single Window e-Logistics
A Logistics Scenario Today:
BL, Invoice,
Pack List,
etc
Bank/
Insurance
Exporter
Shipping
Instructions
LC
Bank
LC
Application
P.O.
BL
Statuses/
Changes
Rates &
Schedules
Freight
Forwarders
Domestic
Carriers
Declaration/
Permits
Sea Ports &
International
Carriers
Importer
% Data Re-entry?
Customs
Manual or electronic
communication
Imagine the scenario of 2000 shippers, 200 LSPs, 20 Banks, 20 Carriers?
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Integrated Single Window e-Logistics
Key Issues in e-Logistics Today:
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Integrated Single Window e-Logistics
Integrated Single Window e-Logistics Scenario
Message
Translation
Services
Permit
Open Standards
Exporter
Shipping
Instructions
Rates &
Schedules
Freight
Forwarders
Draft
BL
OBL
Draft
BL
Shipping
Instructions
Schedule/
Status
BL, Invoice,
Pack List,
etc
Service Oriented Architecture
Statuses/
Changes
Bank/
Insurance
OBL
Sea Ports &
International
Carriers
Declaration/
Permits
Value-Add
Solutions
Electronic
communication
Customs
3PL/ Domestic
Carriers
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Integrated Single Window e-Logistics
Key Benefits of Integrated S.W. e-Logistics
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Single Window Inter-operability
Towards S.W. Global Trade
Business
Value
Chain
>2010’s ?
Integrated S.W.
Global Trade
>2005’s
Integrated S.W.
e-Logistics
>1995
>1985
<1980s
Detached
Agency
Portals
Single
Window
Customs
Integration Scope
Pre-Internet
Era
B2B -> B2ga
G2G -> B2G
N2N
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Single Window Inter-operability
The Problem
Source: Andrey Masalovich, Natalia Makarycheva
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Single Window Inter-operability
Why the need for cross-border inter-operability?
The landscape of global business is being shaped and driven by:
• Increased scale of competition:
• 1980’s - Competition of Product Superiority (TQM)
• 1990’s - Competition of Supply Chain (B2B)
• 2000’s - Competition of National Eco-system for Trade Facilitation (G2G, B2G)
• 2010’s - (Prediction) Competition between Regional Eco-system for Trade Facilitation (N2N)
• Increased volume of cross border trade and the need for capacity to handle it.
• FTA and WCO implementations to facilitate international trade collaboration
• Lower cost, and simplification of cross-border processes
• Fraud detection and control
• Increased physical threat to business and national security
• 911, financing and smuggling of weapons
• Increased physical, health and social threat to citizens from natural disasters or
biological imports
• SARS, Avian Flu, Drug recalls, etc.
• Disaster relief operations
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Single Window Inter-operability
Beyond Borders: a Nation-to-Nation (N2N) Vision
Forward
er
Forward
er
Haulier
Bank
Haulier
Bank
Customs
Customs
Seller
Country A
Country
C
Country A
International
Carriers
Seller
Country A
Country B
Federated Enterprise
Reference Architecture
• Message Converter
• Registry & Repository
• Collaborative Event Handler
• Metrics & Reporting Engine
• Choreographer Tools
• ebXML, RosettaNet, Web Services
International
Carriers
International
Carriers
Buyer
Country Z
Bank
Customs
Haulier
Forward
er
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UNECE UN/CEFACT
Single Window Inter-operability
Examples of Purposes and Benefits
• Single Trade Declaration - re-use of export data for import.
• Import permit application
• Submission of manifests and other documents
• Each country retains its own customs procedures and workflow.
• Trade Monitoring & Controls
• Visibility of cargo content from port of origin
• Track & Trace of carrier and container routes
• Trade Regulations Streamlining
• Clearer export/import and simplified compliance effort for traders
• Faster verification of information leading to faster revenue collection
• Facilitate easier implementation of future security & other trade policies
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Single Window Inter-operability
Challenges & Recommendations
• Firstly, improve internal government efficiencies & automation toward a comparable
performance standard (benchmark)
• Build your Customs or e-Logistics Single Window with “end-in-mind.”
• Adopt and support international or open standards for systems development,
messaging, product codes and other specifications.
• Adopt a common data messaging and security framework, supported by governments and
trusted by traders.
• Enhance Regulatory and Legal framework to support cross-border electronic document
exchange.
• Begin with specific, low risk product categories to achieve Single Declaration and/or Single
Inspection with another country. Balance between trade facilitation and security.
• Collaborate with commercial organizations and associations to address the issues of Letter of
Credit, Bill of Lading, Inspection Certificates, etc.
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About NCS
Regional Reach
 Beijing
 Chengdu
 Fuzhou
 Guangzhou
 Shanghai
 Shenyang
 Suzhou
 Wuhan
We go where our customers go..


Hong Kong
China

India
Private Company, subsidiary of
SingTel.
16 locations in 8 countries and
territories across the AsiaPacific
Global presence in 34 offices in
16 countries and territories
through SingTel
Malaysia
Philippines
Sri Lanka
Singapore
Australia
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About NCS
MIS Asia
IDC Ranking: Industry Accomplishment
MIS 100 :
30% of MIS TOP I.T. Users in Asia are NCS’
customers.
NCS is also listed.
Strategic 100 :
NCS is Asia Pacific’s TOP 25 IT
Vendors.
IDC :
NCS is #1 in IT Services Market
Share Singapore, ahead of IBM, HP,
Accenture & CSC
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Corporate Capital
About NCS
Our Thought Leadership

Speakers at regional
Seminars & Conferences

Co-authors and author of
these books:

“Branding In Asia”

“Hi-Tech High Touch
Branding”

“E-Government in Asia”
(On the reading list of a
degree module at the
Kennedy School, Harvard
University)
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About NCS
One Stop e-Enabler
‘THINK – BUILD – OPERATE’
 Consulting Services
 Development
& Integration Services
 Managed Services
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About NCS
One Stop e-Enabler
‘THINK – BUILD - OPERATE’
Government ICT Planning






Singapore Intelligent Island : IT2000 Masterplan
Mauritius and Sri Lankan Government IT Blueprints
Hong Kong SAR Government Departments
Malaysia’s Sarawak State Government IT planning
Singapore Government Data Centre Relocation
Broadband Infrastructure for Government, Singapore
Enterprise ICT Planning



Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association
Singapore Changi International Airport
SingTel Telco Infrastructure
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About NCS
One Stop e-Enabler
‘THINK – BUILD - OPERATE’

Over 2,000 solutions and counting

Cross industries: Education, Financial Services,
Healthcare, Government, Manufacturing,
Logistics, Telecommunications, Transportation.

Complex and mission-critical projects

NCS is one of Asia Pacific’s Top 25 IT Vendors
(Strategic 100, MIS)

30% of Asia’s Top 100 IT Users are our customers
(MIS100, MIS)
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Business Innovation
About NCS
One Stop e-Enabler
‘THINK – BUILD - OPERATE’
Outsourcing &
Managed Services









Total Outsourcing
Application Management
Airport Facilities Management
Business Recovery and
Continuity
Call Centre Data Centre
Enterprise Server & Storage
Network Management
System and Desktop
Management
Messaging
Data centre services
BS7799 certified
IDA-IT Standards Committee Certified
Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery
service provider
SunTone Certified
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THANK YOU
NCS Contact Information:
Dr. Chong Yoke Sin
yokesin@ncs.com.sg
www.ncs.com.sg
 Copyright 2005 NCS Pte. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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