Every corner of industry and society has been touched and altered by the pandemic. I’m not particularly keen on the phrase ‘new normal’ – but I can’t find a better alternative to sum-up our existence as we begin to emerge from the last 18-months. For the UK the ‘new normal’ includes the shape shifting impact of Brexit. Arguably these combined events have been more disruptive to the import/export sector and all of those who rely on a smooth-running supply chain, than any other part of the UK economy.
Yet, I am not convinced that as a collective of freight-forwarders, good handlers, customs officials and customs clearance experts we have fully acknowledged and accepted our new circumstances. As someone more perceptive than me once said: ‘the first step towards change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.’
It is not in my skillset to psychoanalyse us as an industry, but I can assert my observations as the founder of multiple successful start-ups and acknowledge that it is rarely fruitful to fight what we can’t change. Brexit has happened, the pandemic has irreversibly altered how the import/export industry operates. Let’s accept that and turn our attentions to how we can change and adapt for the good of the whole industry and our customers.
The case for Digitalisation
It’s extraordinary in a world that has seen the rapid digital transformation of whole sectors: music, retail, television – nearly always to the benefit of consumers, that in import/export we are still exchanging pieces of paper.
Not only that, but we are resisting (and very occasionally obstructing) the sharing of these pieces of information across the whole supply chain. Protecting our own slice of the commercial pie perhaps, but ultimately not serving the best interests of those we work for.
There is a better way, and it will benefit us all: Digitalisation.
Transformation in a click
We are fortunate that this seismic change has happened at a time when technology can not only guide us through but help us thrive.
At KlearNow we have embraced artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud systems to create a digital service that provides full transparency across a supply chain. On one platform every step of a products’ journey can be monitored, in real time. Each draining minute spent tracking down a shipments’ progress with emails, calls and misinformation can be eliminated with software. Every piece of information accessed on a device in the palm of your hand – in the same way we now manage our bank accounts, binge our favourite TV shows and keep up-to-date with work emails.
As Enterprise World magazine commented: “Digitalisation has enabled businesses with instant communication. Businesses are now creating systems that will promote their digital growth, which is one of the most important factors. The world is now online, and it is necessary for the businesses to exist online as much it is for them to exist offline.”[1]
AI is the final piece of the puzzle, eliminating mistakes by extracting the right information every time.
We’re in this together
To unlock the full potential of the digital world we need be in this together. Success depends on sharing information, supporting our customers’ intentions to digitalise their supply chain management and embracing the opportunities that are presented by a new streamlined process. Back in 2018 a report by Forbes stated: “True digitisation to boost our productivity will need to include all sectors and enterprise to make a difference. This means that large corporations will need to face their tech demons head-on and solve their adoption issues with strategy. Small businesses and mid-size enterprises will need to begin adopting technology to remain competitive.”[2]
The case for digitalisation is powerful. The benefits have been shown by endless industries across every international market. By joining forces to embrace the full opportunities that digitalisation offers we will unleash a new era for the import/export business, positively transforming the sector for the future and for all.
Biography
Sam Tyagi is currently a founder and managing partner of Argean Capital, as well as chairman and CEO of KlearNow, a technology startup looking to disrupt a portion of global supply chain and pioneer ‘logistics as a service’ (LaaS)
[1] https://theenterpriseworld.com/impact-of-digitalization-on-the-business-world/
[2] https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnewman/2018/04/03/3-ways-to-embrace-digitization-to-improve-productivity/?sh=5c17b86266e1
KlearNow is the world’s first AI-driven, 100% digital customs clearance platform. Its mission is to make global logistics simple and cost-effective. As a customs clearance and document management platform built for importers, exporters, customs agents, brokers, freight forwarders and hauliers, KlearNow makes customs clearance faster, cheaper and easier, providing end-to-end visibility for users.