Single Window Systems
In the OIC Member States
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3. Emphasize process simplification from a supply chain and not single
organizational perspective and integrate automatic decision-making.
To deliver faster and more accessible services to the trading community, it is
necessary to rigorously simplify the processes by leveraging digitisation, automated
decision-making, data exchange, integrated risk management and agency
collaboration.
Single Windows are whole-of-government efforts and require cross-organisational
collaboration and vision. Whilst Single Window initiatives can be launched by
individual entities, i.e. a Custom Administration or a Port Authority, a functional design
across organisational boundaries is necessary to leverage the advantages of a Single
Window. Single Windows have the most impact when they follow the Supply Chain
perspective rather than the digitisation of isolated procedures.
4. Improve measurement and transparency of real costs and benefits of Single
Windows
Defining, valuing, measuring and managing the expected performance, impact and
costs of the Single Window is required for the political decision-making. Governments
need to make informed and rational choices as to the costs and benefits of a Single
Window project. A systematic approach of assessing transitional and recurrent cost is
necessary to allocate sufficient resources to the project to ensure its sustainability and
efficiency. Taking into account the live cycle of the software (maximum 7 years) and
hardware (5 years), reinvestment in the IT infrastructure is inevitable. In this respect,
the study highlighted the importance of using costs assessment methodologies and
performance measurement as practices for good management and governance of
Single Window projects. Data driven quantitative and qualitative peer review can steer
Single Window towards continuous improvement and help to judge whether the
reforms are having the desired effect.
5. Prioritize flexibility, scalability, safety and interoperability of IT architecture of
Single Windows Systems
The Single Window IT architecture has to be consistently integrated with the business
objectives and fully support the functional requirements of the stakeholders that are
part of the Single Window environment.
The IT architecture must be flexible and scalable to accommodate rapid changes of the
IT development, diverse technologies, to integrate new technological evolutions and to
deliver new services over time. Furthermore, the Single Window IT architecture
should have the ability to integrate and support diverse IT systems and applications.
Therefore, interoperability, meaning the ability to provide collaborative, networked
and interconnected business processes, should be taken into consideration while
defining the IT architecture of Single Window Systems. High availability and business