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This site was last updated on

15-Sep-2009

Policy and Enhancements:

The Formwise system has, since its foundation been a licensee of SITPRO, the UK's trade facilitator, and as such been a firm supporter of standards both international and those of the UK. You would expect the system to conform to the UNECE layout key and conform to EDI and UNeDocs principles. Stuart is a member of a number of SITPRO groups and thus we are able to ensure that we can keep Formwise systems in line with future policies at national and international levels.  

The .net environment: We have been preparing for some time for a complete re-write of the software to ensure that the software can be run on a number of platforms which conform to Microsoft's .net environment, such that it will be possible to run the system on a number of platforms and devices. Whether we should look forward to running the system on a mobile telephone/PDA is a moot point, especially as it may be possible to give customers albeit a restricted access to a system. This is a medium to long term project however.  

UneDocs: This is a set of standards about electronic documents which have the capability of producing a document/message which whilst it can be viewed as a document, also contains the data, which with a suitably enabled software could extract and import the data content into its own data files. Thus an invoice can be read into a goods receiving and purchase ledger system without re-keying any data. The Formwise system already has the capability to produce documents/messages which conform to the UNeDocsUK standard but as yet the take-up nationally and internationally is pitiful but if you have an application we would very much like to hear from you.  

Government Single Window: Work is under way to develop a single portal to government data collection. Currently this project is at information supplied to the trade level. There have been meetings with SITPRO regarding the scope of the next stage of the project and we will keep you informed. The current site is at www.businesslink.gov.uk with a link to "International Trade". One thing that was determined as a definite item for inclusion was the submission of NES messages but this was not in the suggested scope, but the strength of feeling was such that this was to be reviewed. We will ensure that Formwise will be able to supply data as and when systems are available. This will include a long term goal to provide RPA submissions.  

Formwise Help (Links to other Sites): We will be adding the BusinessLink site to our Help menu, which will allow easy access to the International Trade area of the site.  

Electronic Bills of Lading: SITPRO have passed (September 2007) a briefing paper on electronic Bills of Lading (BoL) and the UNCITRAL draft convention on the carriage of goods prepared by Electronic Shipping Solutions (ESS).  ESS have addressed in the document the importance of the BoL to international trade, the inefficiencies of the paper BoL, the difficulties of creating an electronic BoL and the impact of the draft Carriage of Goods by Sea Convention on electronic Bills of Lading. Obviously we will ensure Formwise is capable of producing the message when determined.

General system changes: We are not averse to  providing variations on those standards for practical purposes.   A couple of examples of changes made at a user's suggestion would be
Our Alternate Export Cargo Shipping Instructions format, which has details of the general goods descriptions etc but includes brief details of the number, weight, quantity 2 and sterling value of each commodity code within a consignment, and
Our EC invoice, which has an area give the customer a breakdown by commodity code to aid the compilation of their Intrastat for Arrivals.  

 If you have any suggestions which would improve your productivity and customer service, then please get in touch with us either through the contact form or speak to us on the Support line.   We look forward to hearing from you.  

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