ATLAS Export is Germany's implementation of the international IT project ECS/AES (Export Control System/Automated Export System) under the supervision of the European Commission. Complete information is available from the source at www.zoll.de/english_version/index.html.
Introducing ATLAS Export - just an electronic export declaration, or is there more to it?
The changeover to ATLAS Export affects many areas of operation, only a small portion of which is subject to certification.
Anyone who thinks that the sign of a good ATLAS solution is certification by the customs authorities is overlooking the profound effects the new IT procedure will have on the logistical processes. Certification by the ATLAS authorities only confirms that the software in question can generate, send and receive EDIFACT messages that are technically, formally and syntactically correct. That’s it. A good ATLAS solution, however, requires more than that.
ATLAS Export integrates into the logistical processes
The decisive factor in the business-critical process of “despatch” is the demand for rapid handling and highly secure processes. The result is the need to rethink current export workflows. With ATLAS Export, goods can only leave the business premises after the customs authorities have issued an electronic message granting a release and the appropriate export shipping document has been printed out and given to the driver of the transport vehicle. ATLAS Export thus involves much more than merely eliminating the hard-copy export declaration. Since ATLAS Export is integrated into the logistical processes, it doesn’t make sense to view it in isolation from a customs perspective alone. In other words: ATLAS Export turns what is often a disjointed customs process into an integrated step in the core logistical process. One more reason why it’s so critical when introducing an ATLAS solution to rely on a partner that also understands supply chain management.