Don’t throw out old Customs system yet!

12.OCT.07

Editor: Customs implemented their Asycuda++ on October 2, 2007. A ‘Plus’ would normally suggest that it is an enhancement of the old system, but with Customs, it is anything but that.{{more}}

It seems as though Customs has implemented the system, based on faith and not rational thinking.

Anyone implementing a new computer system knows that you have to run it parallel with the old one to ensure that it is working properly, and the customer does not suffer from any potential hiccups, but not Customs. The old system was completely thrown out and the new one accepted carte blanche and, of course, any problems that would have been found through a parallel run is now being revealed to the detriment of the public. Are the Customs officers trying to help? Of course, not. The routine answer is that everything has to go through the system-no manual entry. So if takes another month for them to sort it out, then the consumer has to wait.

This thorough dependent on a computer system leads me to wonder what would happen if the Internet or Customs’ system fails, what is the back up? I guess we the consumers wait until the system comes back up, whenever that is.

A Customer In Waiting