3 weeks ago
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Jamaica Customs Agency has collected over $7 billion in duties through its mobile app that now has more than 7,000 registered users a year after its introduction.
This was disclosed by JCA Chief Information Officer Andre Williams, who outlined the ongoing investments in technology at the agency, during the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Customs Seminar.
“The JCA invested a lot of time and effort in developing its mobile customs app, JA Customs Connect. This, of course, is empowering our users, whether you are an individual importer, whether you are a large importer, a manufacturer, an exporter, shipping agent, broker or a consolidator,” Williams said during the online event.
He said 7,306 persons have subscribed to the app, completing more than 7,401 transactions worth $7.13 billion using the payment service within the app.
Features of the app to registered users include the ‘track and trace’ service, which allows users to see the different sections within Jamaica Customs and the border regulatory agencies involved in reviewing and approving their applications, as well as the estimation of duties, Williams said.
Other technology introduced by the agency over the past two years include body-worn cameras in inspection areas, as well as electronic passenger declaration forms on arrival at international airports.
The information officer also disclosed other pending improvements, including faster verification and approval for clearance of packages, especially since the minimum value for a package attracting customs duty was adjusted from US$50 to US$100, earlier this year.
Commenting on the improvement in security of the JCA’s services, Williams said “we are investing in security tools that are AI-driven to detect and provide continuous surveillance of the traffic traversing our network, to ensure a high degree of safety and the ability to respond to threats is detected immediately”.
Williams also indicated that the agency is pushing for less dependence on physical bills of lading when clearing cargo at the respective ports and warehouse facilities.
“We are receiving the bill of lading information electronically, which is what allows for your customs broker to complete that declaration electronically to Customs. When it comes to the clearing aspect of things, we have been seeing a consistent and heavy reliance on the physical bill of lading. And, of course, we’ll be having ongoing discussions with the trading community and to include the importance of the use of the electronic bill of lading to reduce that component and improve our overall efficiency,” he said.
He also urged traders and brokers to adapt early to the technological changes.
“We want to encourage persons to be early adopters in coming on board, making use of the services, ensuring that your respective personnel are trained and becoming fully acquainted with the services to maximise their use. We find that quite often, persons only come on board when the services become mandatory and certain manual applications are no longer being accepted, and that slows down the adoption and implementation rate,” Williams said.
He added that currently, 91 per cent of commercial cargo is approved for clearance within a 24-hour period, resulting in significant cost reductions in doing business.
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