Customs Broker Module

• This application module makes extensive use of an ADI to keep you informed of activity required to complete requirements for your clients (Consignees).
• The supporting Database is designed to help when working for active Consignees. It keeps track of who they buy from and what they buy.  This helps in the classification process.
• The supporting Database is complete with an up to date Tariff file and a corresponding generic item table that assists in the classification process. These are complete with procedures to keep them maintained.
• Documents used while building Declarations for Customs, can be attached into the Database, making them readily available to submit to the Bahamas Customs BESW system.
• Supports delivery of PoGs, whether using your own trucks or a third party. If a third party, they can be connected and supported by the GAACS Trucking Application Module. 
• Supports the electronic transmission of Customs Declarations to the Bahamas Customs Single Entry electronic system (BESW). This interchange makes use of XML.
• Optionally, supports all your accounting requirements from billing clients to managing receivables and payables.

 To better understand how GAACS works, we should look at how the current process of importing goods works from the Customs Broker's perspective, and how it could work in the future. Currently a Broker works from paper documents, albeit they may be in a digital form, but the main process is to transform data from the documents into a computer application (a 'data entry' process).  These documents will have already been used in the importing process to support the movement of goods towards their final destination.  Having the correct and complete set of documents is a manual exercise and is prone to error. The data the Broker is required to capture must describe the goods, who they are from, who they are for, their value etc. In essence, all the data shipping agents have used to create a Bill of Lading is used again in a 'data entry' exercise by the Broker, with the inherent possibility of making a mistake. 

The only thing the Broker does that is unique to the process of preparing an Import Declaration for Customs is to classify the items shown in the Supplier's invoices.

How does the use of GAACS in a Supply Chain help the Broker?  

It avoids the need for 'data entry', removes the possibility for errors relating to supporting documents, and speeds up the process of presenting an Import Declaration to Bahamas Customs.