Export Compliance Business Models and related IT solutions -2

Hi

I got some interesting comments based on my post titled 'Export Compliance Business Models and related IT solutions'. Sometimes it's hard to keep track of the comments and my responses so I am posting it a new post. Enjoy!

Hi Greg, Ashok and AnonymousThanks for your comments. My contention is that when a company has huge transaction volumes for export compliance screening it makes sense to have more than one platform. When I say huge I mean millions of transactions a year. If a company has a huge corporate/enterprise business and a small consumer business they can attempt to use one platform. To be able to do this will need to come up with hardware and software that fits both worlds. It's kind of like finding a cross between a classic car and a new sports car. To be able to achieve this the hardware will have to scale to the model that has more performance needs. Saying it differently this hybrid will need the sports car's engine. Also, the software should be configurable/modifiable enough to enable the two business models to coexist. Easy on paper but much harder to implement.As far as master data is concerned, the IT world is migrating towards product data hubs. I think this would be a logical place to store classification data associated with a product/sku. The product data hub would be responsible for real time communication of changes in classification to all the platforms. I will try and put out a slide presentation on this model in one of my future posts.As far as RPL master data is concerned, yes this will have to be maintained in each platform. Some software support automated updates with no human touch and in this case it wouldn't be a biggie. In the case where human touch is required it would be small price to pay compared to creating a hybrid between a sports car and a classic.The reexport sounds very similar to the enterprise/corporate type of business and the deemed export similar to the consumer business so we could put them on those platforms.If you would like to connect please send me an invite on linkedin.Let me know your thoughts.

Cheers

Giri

Oracle's introduces Landed Cost Management Module

Hi
Oracle has come up with a module for Landed Cost Management. Landed Cost Management is one are of Global Trade that is considered on the cutting edge as it can help reduce costs and has a better value proposition to management than the standard pitch of risk minimization.

Here' the link I found online for the product's datasheet:
http://www.oracle.com/applications/scm/oracle-landed-cost-management-data-sheet.pdf

It remains to be seen how this product will integrate with Oracle GTM. I hope all Global Trade related modules are managed under the same umbrella to maximize synergies and to enable modules to work well together.

Let me know if you end up implementing this module about how well it is serving your needs.

Cheers

Oracle's Global Trade Management Product -5

Hi
Here's an update on Oracle's Global Trade Management product. The product will be released in the second half of the year. The date is still to be decided.

I will keep you posted if I hear more info on the date or the functionality that will be made available in this product.

Cheers

Export compliance business models and related it solutions

Hi
I'd like to discuss business models in Export Compliance.
I have come across three models.
Model 1: Physical exports: This model involves an order life cycle that is typically between 1 day to up to a few months. The shipment of product needs to be accompanied with documents such as the commercial invoice that need to have export licensing data on it. If the customers are repeat customers it would make sense to retain the latest restricted party list (RPL) screening results and also history. Since the order life cycle is a few days there is some breathing room for manual intervention to resolve RPL and export licensing issues.

Model 2: Online downloads: The second model is for products that don't need to be physically shipped. Example, online downloads. This model involves an order life cycle which ranges from a few seconds to a few minutes. Since the product doesn't need to be shipped there generally isn't a need for shipping documents. The customers aren't generally repeat customers and therefore their RPL results may not need to be reused and a history for the customer may not need to be retained. Since the order life cycle is a few minutes there is very little time for manual intervention to resolve RPL and export licensing issues. This model may have higher volumes that the first model.

Model 3: Site access: Export compliance screening may be required when customers, vendors and other persons access a company's facility. The life cycle of the transaction is a matter of seconds as the person is waiting to enter the building/facility. The person may not be a repeat visitor so the RPL screening results may not need to be retained. The history may also not need to be retained. Since the life cycle of the transaction is very short there may be little room for manual intervention to resolve issues. The volume of transactions in this model will vary based on the number of visitors.

Please add a comment if you are aware of another model.

Now moving to the applications that support these models. Let's say your company uses more than one model and your volumes/projected volumes are large.It makes absolutely good sense to have two applications/instances of an application support the two models. The only exception being the needs for model Model 2 and Model 3 may potentially be combined into one. I think having one application that satisfies the needs for Model 1 and Model 2 isn't the best course of action.

Let me know your thoughts/comments.
Cheers

Oracle's Global Trade Management Product -4

Hi
I am hearing the Oracle GTM product will be released in August 2009. I am still trying to get my hands on the presentation made in Open World 2008. I will keep you posted.

Cheers

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Cool Tools 1 - Export Compliance Dashboard

Hi
I am starting a new category in my blog called cool tools. Whenever I find a tool or product that I find interesting and useful I will share.
I was on the export compliance training institute website and found the export compliance dashboard: http://learnexportcompliance.com/dashboard/index.php.
It's a cool tool you can download for free be providing some personal information.
The dashboard lets a trade compliance specialist look up EAR, ITAR, OFAC regulations, denied party lists etc.. from one single spot.
The tool can be periodically updated using the check for updates button on the dashboard. The result of this action tells you if you have the latest regs or you need to download a new version.

I thought this was a cool tool. Did you?

Cheers