CT Strategies (CTS) has been awarded a contract to perform a customs modernization study and requirements development project by the Colombian Tax and Customs National Authority (DIAN). As part of an Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) funded initiative to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of tax and customs management, CTS has been selected to evaluate the feasibility, impact, and propose the technical design of incorporating virtual inspection and review processes in place of in-person activities for certain customs functions.
Initially, CTS will conduct a thorough study to map the current model for processing authorizations, permits, and qualifications issued by DIAN to various types of business entities including authorized economic operators and bonded warehouses. Following this study, CTS will work to develop the operational and technical requirements for a technology-enabled system to conduct these processes in a more automated manner and perform a business case to outline the economic impact of implementing such a system.
Background
Colombia has entered into a loan agreement with the IDB to support the customs modernization program at DIAN over a 5-year period. The program’s specific objectives are to improve the institutional governance model that contributes to the effectiveness of tax and customs management and to improve the efficiency of technology management at the agency level.
As DIAN seeks to improve efficiency and effectiveness of its operations, increased reliance on technology and automation is critical to maximize limited human and financial resources. However, it is of equal importance that technological solutions are designed and implemented in a way that matches the needs of the end users, operational model, and agency technical infrastructure so that it truly supports and enables the execution of the customs mission. In the case of Colombia, it is also a consideration that the proposed solution works equally well for geographically distributed end users with varying levels of access to training, technology, and bandwidth.
CTS is a leader in the field of customs modernization with specific expertise in technology applications for conducting customs verifications remotely. Leveraging experience from the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the rapid growth of these remotely performed processes, CTS has supported public and private sector entities successfully transition to this new operational model with confidence.
