Single Window Systems
In the OIC Member States
30
Setting up a regional Single Window is a challenging task as it presupposes interconnectivity
and interoperability of national Single Windows, data harmonisation and the existence of a
legal framework for the data exchange. The reality however is that national Single Windows
use different IT technology and architecture, and data and messages are not frequently
standardised across the border.
2.1.6 Trend towards Decentralization of IT Architecture
Many changes occur in the IT architecture. The Single Window business environment now
demands more multi-dimensional coverage of services and focus on both the document and
physical movement of cargo in ports and along transport routes. To respond to these demands,
Single Windows expand their coverage and offer new services that support Government-to-
Government (G2G) cooperation and services such as Business Intelligence reporting and risk
management. A distributed IT architecture seems more apt to respond to this challenge, as it is
more flexible to changes.
Single Window architecture also evolve from a centralised to a distributed architecture to
reflect that a growing number of public agencies now use their own IT systems to cover partial
and end-to-end business processes. Through a distributed IT architecture, the Single Window
becomes more “message” oriented, triggering exchange of data and information with agencies
IT systems. In a distributed architecture, the Single Window can host the agencies’ IT
applications and data and thereby reduce costs for the agencies whilst providing high level of
protection by a fault tolerant system and off-site data backup. The distributed architecture is,
however, necessarily underpinned by extended data centralisation.
2.1.7 Single Window Data Centralization
Single Windows are complex IT environments in which managing data in standalone legacy
applications is an inefficient and impossible task and poses threats for data availability, data
protection and business continuity. Single Windows therefore modernise and build their
architecture on the centralization of the data layer and the optimization of information
exchange. Centralised data layer means that data from various organisational and application
origins is integrated on a single common data repository-see Figure 11.