ICES 1.5 – New Customs Nightmare!
THERE is a major switchover to a new version in the Customs software. 33 existing locations out of 41 and 47 new locations out of 78 have migrated to ICES 1.5 version.
7 major locations would be migrated by end of December 2010.
ICES 1.5 and the ICEGATE applications have stabilized in Air and ICD locations, and improvements on the Sea side are to be completed shortly.
But the migration has left many stakeholders and Customs officers in the lurch with absolutely no clue as to the solution. There is a Huge pendency in clearing the Shipping Bills due to the delays in filing of EGMs.
Transmission of data to DGFT is problematic, consequently substantial amounts of export incentives are with held. We are told that the Help desk is not helpful at all. CHA associations and the Trade bodies are complaining about the performance of the system as the clearance process has not been very smooth after migration and the method of access to import / export data is not adequately meeting the information needs.