Chapter 17
Ten Best Practices in Global Trade
In This Chapter
Making sure you can trust your partners
Obtaining the proper licenses
Leaving a paper trail
G
lobalization means a lot more of us are involved in global trade
these days. Here are ten best practices to help you navigate these
complicated waters. (And don’t forget to read Chapter 8 for much more
information.)Automate or Else ..........................................................................................
Global importing and exporting has grown so complex it’s absolutely crucial
to automate your import and export processes. Dozens of countries, hun-
dreds of regulations, and thousands of orders can quickly create a mountain
of paperwork. More importantly, it’s simply not feasible to hand check each
order to ensure it complies with global trade regulations. Rolling the dice can
have major consequences for companies — large fines and public disgrace.
The best solution is to put in place a software system — such as SAP GRC
Global Trade Services — that automates all of the essential import and
export tasks.Don’t Go to Pieces........................................................................................
Remember the old war between VHS and Beta? Customers who bought
one system couldn’t use tapes from the other and vice versa. It was a big
mess. Today, some companies handle global trade the same way. Different