Single Window Systems
In the OIC Member States
17
workflows for joined physical controls, integrated compliance management and combined
computation of duties/taxes and fees/charges.
An additional advantage of the digital processing is that it is highly standardised on the level of
business processes and data. It therefore ensures a consistent application of regulations and the
harmonisation of operations at different locations. By removing physical contact points, a Single
Window also limit the opportunity for bribes.
1.3.3. Single Window Deliverables and Impacts
If designed and implemented properly, a Single Window can deliver substantial benefits for
traders, government entities, and commercial service providers below.
Table 2: Expected SW Benefits
Users Expected benefits
Traders and Intermediaries
(customs brokers and freight
forwarders, transporters)
Less paperwork through single data entry and uploading of structured
and unstructured data
Less contact points
24h/7d/365d processing and location independent processing
Less waiting and idle times and better information on status progress
Improved predictability and certainty
Less data and process errors through standardised data requirements
and advance information
Government Faster and less resources intensive processing
Sharing of infrastructure
Efficient allocation of resources to tasks
More effective controls through data validation and authorization and
information (risk) information sharing
Visibility about Status quo of processing and revenue collection
Revenue upsides
Uniform application across territory
Other service providers (i.e.
commercial banks)
Better service availability –additional service provision channel.
Processing efficiency
Source: Authors’ own compilation
elow gives examples of improvements achieved by Single Windows. These
improvements are at the level of border crossing times, documents collecting time, cargo
turnaround or dwell time, and customs clearance times.
Costs, time and predictability are decisive factors for companies’ competitiveness in the global
economy. In the past 20 years, supply chains have become increasingly geographically
fragmented12, offering companies from around the world new ways to integrate into global
12 WTO, “The rise of global value chains”, in World Trade Report 2014 (Geneva: WTO, 2014), 78-128, under publications
(accessed January 2017)