This document discusses establishing interoperability among multiple inter-organizational systems for efficient cross-border trade. It notes the emergence of multiple "single windows" and the need for them to interoperate. The document outlines three single window architectures and argues that governments should encourage collaboration between systems through agreements on standards, business processes, data exchange, and more to create an open single window environment.

1. Conférence Internationale sur les Guichets Uniques:
« Guichet unique virtuel du commerce extérieur :
L'exigence d'une collaboration inclusive »
SWC2016
Establishing Interoperability among
multiple Inter-Organizational Systems (IOS)
for Efficient Cross-Border Trade
- Single Window Environment -
Somnuk Keretho
Institute for IT Innovation
Kasetsart University, Thailand
sk@ku-inova.org

2.  Trends in Multiple “Single Windows”
 Interoperability between
Inter-Organizational information Systems (IOS)
 Government Actions are needed to support
the development of interoperability among IOSs
(Single Window Environment)
 Business Requirements, Processes & Data Schema
defined for interoperability
In this presentation
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3.  Single Window has been a huge success in helping countries
to implement trade facilitation reforms.
 Need to keep in mind that: The objective of Single Window is
not the establishment of a SW itself but rather the trade
facilitation reforms for the benefit of both government and trade.
 The emergence of multiple Single Window systems within
a country is a challenge that needs to be addressed in order to
achieve further trade facilitation enhancement.
 Interoperability between multiple SWs (IOSs) within the country
and with partner counties needs to be defined and implemented.
Key Points
3

4. Emergence of Multiple “Single Windows”
e-Trade
Importers
Exporters
Importer’s
Banks
Exporter’s
Banks
Maritime
Regulatory SW
Marine
Department
Ship
Piloting
Vessel
Traffic &
Safety
Agency
Ship Agents
Port
Authority
Terminal
Operator
Vessel
Operator
Port
Community
System (PCS)
Freight
Forwarders
Haulers
Warehouses
Terminal
Operators
Several Other Regulatory Agents
Port Equipment
Operators
e-Freight
Freight Forwarders
Traders
Haulers
Vessels
Air lines
Customs Department
Quarantine Agency
Several Other
Regulatory
Agencies
Food & Drug
Authority
Customs
Brokers
Traders
Trade
Regulatory
SW
4

5. One question, many answers: our e-Customs System, our Trade Regulatory System,
our Port Community System, our National e-Logistic Platform, our e-Maritime SW, …
Single Window Architecture Questions?:
 Which agency leads the initiative? How do stakeholders collaborate?
 How is the information exchange organized?
 What are the objectives, business models, …
Three Single Window Architectures:
What is a Single Window?
5
I. Centralized SW II. SW Evolution
III. SW Environment
(Network of IOS)

6. A leading model in the early SW implementations*
One central, national system that manages all communication
between the stakeholders
Hierarchical model, one system does it all
Architecture I: The centralized Single Window
6* Ref: UN/CEFACT Recommendation No. 33.

7. Stepwise development of large Government IT platforms in a country
Evolution of systems: Customs ⟹ eCustoms ⟹ Regulatory SW ⟹ Port
SW/Port Community System ⟹ National Integrated SW…
Each country has different priorities and is in a different phase of
development….. hence we see many different models of SW systems.
Architecture II: Single Window Evolution
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Ref:
TEN YEARS OF SINGLE WINDOW IMPLEMENTATION:
LESSONS LEARNED FOR THE FUTURE, J. Tsen , UN, 2011.
Ref:
Single Window Planning and Implementation Guide,
UNESCAP/UNECE, 2012.

8. International
Trade
Transport
Supply Chain
Transport
Infrastructure
Management
.
Transport
Regulations
Trade
Regulations
B2B e-Commerce (e.g. Amazon, Apple, AliBaba..)
e-Freight (e.g. IATA e-Freight), GS1 Track & Trace Systems
Port Community System (PCS), Free Zone Information
Systems, Cargo Management System (CMS), …
Air/Sea Port Community Systems (PCS),
Free Zone Information Systems, Inland Waterway Management, …
Maritime SW, e-Navigation, SafeSeaNet,
Waste Management Systems, …
eCustoms, NCTS, ICS, ECS, eTIR, eCITES, eSPS, ASYCER,
Trade Regulatory Single Window, …
Architecture III: Multiple stakeholder systems
emerged to manage cross border trade
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9. The Single Window Environment
9
In the EU we see combination of both centralized and decentralized Single Window concepts:
 Some large collaborative systems for cross border trade which are similar to SW (Customs SW, Maritime SW, ..)
 .. and also many, smaller stakeholder systems (PCS, CMS, NCTS, CITES, .. )
In African and Asia countries, there are needs for interoperabilities between Regulatory
SW and PCS within the country, and National SW and National SW connectivity, among other.
Single Window Environment*: “A network of cooperating facilities bound by
agreed collaboration mechanisms in which government and trade have
seamless access to services and information to fulfil their legitimate roles.” (WCO)
The SWE consists of stakeholder systems and
a framework for collaboration (standards, legal framework, gov’ policies)
*Adopted by EU member states as the future EU SW Architecture (Venice Declaration October 2014)

10. Looking ahead – Establishing the Network of IOS
for efficient cross-border trade
e-Trade
Importers
Exporters
Importer’s
Banks
Exporter’s Banks
Maritime
SW
Marine
Department
Ship
Piloting
Vessel
Traffic
Safety
Ship Agents
Port Authority
Terminal
Operator
Vessel
Operator
Port
Community
System (PCS)
Freight
Forwarders
Haulers
Warehouses
Terminal
Operators
Several Regulatory Agents
Port-equipment
Operators
e-Freight
Freight Forwarders
Traders
Haulers
Vessels
Air lines
Customs Department
Quarantine
Agency
Several Regulatory
Agencies
Food & Drug
Authority
Customs
Brokers
Traders
Trade
Regulatory
SW
10
Networking of IOS
for cross border trade

11. Inter-Organizational Information Systems (IOSs)
IOS: A system for collaboration and information exchange
among independent stakeholders in international trade
IOS Characteristics: focussed, limited number of stakeholders,
fast implementation, dynamic,
supra-national,..
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12. IOS: Why Government leadership matters?
 In EU, EU directives and large EU projects have an important role to
provide orientation for the many IOS systems:
 What will be the future architecture for agency collaboration in Europe?
 Which data standards will we use?
 How do we interact with other IOS systems?
 What is the legal framework for collaboration with the private sector?
 …
 In ASEAN, the ten ASEAN governments mandate all relavent agencies to
implement connectivity between National Single Windows of the ASEAN
countries.
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13. What could be a suitable framework
to encourage different IOS to collaborate?
Port
Community
System
Regulatory
Single
Window A network of inter-Organizational
Systems creating
The Single Window Environment
Agree on
collaboration:
NSW PCS
Business Model,
Legal terms,
Service level
agreements,
Process &
Data structures,
Security
A Proposed Framework for collaboration between IOSs and Single Windows:
Expected Output:
 A best practice framework/guide for agreements between IOS
 Two IOS could use this framework to negotiate the specific agreements for
their collaboration
Key Guidelines:
 Collaboration between IOS is demand driven – or the Government mandate
 Business value for stakeholders
 Legal guideline for collaboration
 Business Processes interaction between systems
 Data Schema for exchange
 Service Level Agreement
 Security standards and common technical protocols
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14. Recommended Actions for Governments
14
Governments should continue to simplify and automate trade
procedures under a national Trade Facilitation & Single Window (IOS)
Strategy
Governments should encourage collaboration of IOS with the objective
to
..create a Open Single Window Environment that delivers integrated and high
value added services to trade
To this end, Governments should
 Develop a framework of standards and agreements for IOS collaboration in
international trade and..
 Initiate IOS pathfinder projects that establish IOS collaboration in their sector

15. Thank you
Somnuk Keretho, PhD
Director, Institute for IT Innovation
Kasetsart University, Thailand
sk@ku-inova.org
For more details, please refer to
Co-authored by
Somnuk Keretho & Markus Pikart, 2013