The focus for the year 2017 will be the promotion by the WCO of data analysis as a sinew for customs modernization. The collection and analysis of data will be revved up with the use of data analytical technologies, the implementation of automation policies, and by building capacity in this specific field.
Nowadays, customs administrations around the world have the possibility of having access to a myriad of sources of information from border agencies, government bodies, public records or commercial databases. Collecting this data and analyzing it provide a strategic tool for policymakers to establish priorities and deploy resources judiciously. Customs plays a key role in tackling the illicit cross-border movement of goods that could ultimately support international crime and terrorist financing; having access to structured as well as unstructured data is a priority.
Some customs administrations have already successfully implemented advanced analytics and predictive modeling techniques, while others still have to be encouraged to follow the trend. One of our missions in the next months will be to keep them informed about new innovations and technologies and to showcase the immediate as well as future positive industry impact they can achieve. It is expected that data analysis will leverage effectiveness in enforcement and compliance, and improve risk management.
The second major challenge in 2017 will be to ponder about the rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce. While the shift to globalization production and international supply chains have brought additional pressure on customs to rapidly ease the flow of products, e-commerce poses a challenge to customs in relation to trade facilitation, revenue collection, and protection of the society. The WCO-established multi-stakeholder Working Group on E-Commerce will discuss these challenges and develop collaborative solutions. Here again, a challenge is to access and process quality data from millions of parcels and small consignments, at the right time, in order to make informed decisions.