At Last, Carnet Technology That Saves Exporters Time & Money

Liverpool, England - Embracing Export Britain is taken seriously at the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce (LCC) as they are implementing technology that saves exporters significant time and money. As of June 1st, 2015, LCC offers online ATA Carnet export document processing that is unmatched in the U.K. This technology, provided by boomerang carnets® UK, is delivering efficiencies and cost-savings for the first time to exporters the U.K.

ATA Carnets allow exporters to clear customs duty- and tax-free into foreign countries for up to 12 months. Savings to exporters using carnets can be significant and as much as 90% less expensive than paying import duties and taxes.

In 90 days beginning March 1^st, a high-volume carnet user was able to reduce the time spent applying for carnets by 525 hours or 70 work days. The time savings comes from eliminating turnaround time, wait time, messenger deliveries, complexity and the need for external preparation services. All carnet application processes are done online including signatures, seals, stamps, item lists, amendments, edits, reviews, updates, approvals and even delivery to dedicated carnet printers in convenient locations: London, Heathrow and Liverpool.

Through a partnership with boomerang carnets® UK, LCC has implemented an electronic system that has been successfully used in the U.S. for 10 years and successfully tested in a pilot program in U.K. Boomerang carnets® issues 7600 carnets annually, has a 25 year history of carnet issuing in the U.S. “It has been our vision to bring this technology to the U.K. for a number of years. There is no reason an economy like the U.K. should issue fewer carnets than Italy which has a smaller GDP. The only barrier is the complex and expensive carnet system in the U.K. U.K. exporters deserve easy access to this temporary export document to promote their products and services overseas. Our partnership with the Liverpool Chamber gives them that access,” stressed boomerang carnets®’ Senior Vice President, Leslie Levy August.

Previously applying for an ATA Carnet was mostly a manual process requiring physical signatures, seals and stamps. Complicating matters further, the required carnet financial guarantee needed a separate application. With boomerang carnets®' technology, applicants register for an account, log in, complete and sign the online application and submit it electronically. The carnet and guarantee are applied for simultaneously.

Once submitted, LCC's Export Documentation Manager and Carnet Specialist, Sarah Woolley, reviews the application online for accuracy and compliance with U.K. and international guidelines. Changes and updates can be made online up until the moment the carnet is signed, sealed, issued and printed by Ms. Woolley. Once issued, the carnet can be picked up in Liverpool, shipped by overnight courier or delivered electronically to remote printers in London or at Heathrow for pick-up.

Since applicants never need to leave their office to apply for and receive their carnets, and membership in the LCC is not a requirement to qualify for the best rates, U.K. exporters anywhere in the U.K. have access to this highly-efficient system.

Since March 1st, 2015, LCC has issued 180+ ATA Carnets using boomerang carnets®' technology and is now fully-operational and accepting carnet applications from member and non-member U.K. companies.

For more information about ATA Carnets contact the Carnet HelpLine® at 0808.189.3400 or email our Carnet Specialist.