Enhanced trade compliance system: advanced shipment notice
Methods and systems for proactively processing errors in customs data transmitted to a customs broker are disclosed. A computer receives multiple sets of customs data from multiple importers, each set of data having its own format. The customs data are intercepted by the computer at a central processing division before the customs data are delivered to customs brokers from each of the importers. The computer converts the customs data to have a universal format, then processes the data to detect errors. Information about a detected errors, including correction data to resolve the error, may be transmitted to a customs broker before the customs broker detects the error in his own set of customs data received from the importer.
1. Computer-readable media embodying a program of instructions executable by a computer system at a central processing division of a company to perform a method of proactively detecting and resolving errors in a first set of customs data transmitted to a customs broker from a first importing division of the company in a first format and a second set of customs data transmitted to a customs broker from a second importing division of the company that is different from the first importing division in a second format that is different from the first format, the method comprising:
intercepting the first set of customs data from the first importing division of the company in the first format using the computer system at a central processing division of the company;
intercepting the second set of customs data from the second importing division of the company in the second format using the computer system at the central processing division of the company;
converting each of the first and second sets of customs data to a common third format using the computer system at the central processing division of the company;
accessing the converted first and second sets of customs data while in the common third format using the computer system at the central processing division of the company;
detecting an error in the first and/or second sets of customs data while in the common third format using the computer system at the central processing division of the company;
correcting the detected error using the computer system at the central processing division of the company; and
delivering the corrected customs data to the customs broker using the computer system at the central processing division of the company.
2. The computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the error comprises an indication of a product having no company classification code associated with it and the method further comprises:
comparing the indicated product to a list of company classification codes using the computer system within the central processing division of the company;
detecting that the indicated product is not included in the list using the computer system within the central processing division of the company;
receiving a new company classification code for the indicated product using the computer system within the central processing division of the company; and
correcting the detected error using the computer system at the central processing division of the company.
3. The computer-readable media of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises generating an audit exceptions file using the computer system within the central processing division of the company that includes information about the detected error.
4. The computer-readable media of claim 3 wherein the method further comprises receiving correction data to resolve the detected error, and modifying the converted customs data to include the correction data.
5. The computer-readable media of claim 4 wherein the receiving correction data portion of the method comprises calculating the correction data.
6. The computer-readable media of claim 4 wherein the receiving correction data portion of the method comprises receiving input from a user after the user manually inspects the audit exceptions file.
7. A system for proactively detecting and resolving errors in a first set of customs data transmitted to a customs broker from a first importing division of a company in a first format and a second set of customs data transmitted to a customs broker from a second importing division of the company that is different from the first importing division in a second format that is different from the first format, the method comprising:
an input device within a computer system at a central processing division of the company configured to:
intercept the first set of customs data from the first importing division of the company in the first format, and
intercept the second set of customs data from the second importing division of the company in the second format;
a processor in the computer system at the central processing division of the company configured to:
convert each of the first and second sets of customs data to a common third format,
access the converted first and second sets of customs data while in the common third format,
detect an error in the converted first and/or second sets of customs data while in the common third format; and
correct the detected error; and
an output device in the computer system at the central processing division of the company configured to deliver the corrected customs data to the customs broker.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the error comprises an indication of a product having no company classification code associated with it and wherein the processor is further configured to compare the indicated product to a list of company classification codes, detect that the indicated product is not included in the list, identify a new company classification code for the indicated product, and correct the detected error.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor is further configured to generate an audit exceptions file that includes information about the detected error.
10. The system of claim 8 wherein the input device is further configured to receive correction data to resolve the detected error, and wherein the processor is further configured to modify the converted customs data to include the correction data.