The impact of customs procedures

1.0 INTRODUCTION
The paper ‘The impact of customs procedures on business to consumer e-commerce in food products ’ is done by Boyd L. S., Hobbs E. J. and Kerr A. W., from Saskatoon, Canada.

To the authors, this paper aims is to :
Showed the potential benefits of e-commerce
discusses barriers to the expansion of international e-commerce , and also
to demonstrates the need of new trade policies.

In this paper, the authors realized that trade in the 21st century will be driven by e-commerce. E-commerce or electronic commerce to the authors are define as a marketing and distribution of products via telecommunications devices (internet). However, the authors found that there are many barriers to the expansioan of international e-commerce ( included customs fees), and due to this, researcher has used the comparisons of customs fees for regular and e-commerce sized shipment of four food products from Canada to the USA as the methodology. Lastly, researcher also found the need of new trade policies.

2.0 FINDINGS
These is what the researchers has been discuss and found . It is can be separated to :
· E-commerce
· The barriers to expansion of international e-commerce
· Why we need the new trade policies

E-commerce
According to the researchers, e-commerce is changing the way business transactions occur . Due to that, researchers also found that e-commerce technologies provide the basis for allowing acces to global markets for both consumers and firms.

Other than that, by this e-commerce technologies researcher also found that by e-commerce :
· Product delivery become easy
· in term of ordering and paying for products by online is convenient
· Businesses can accessing a broader range without extra cost (reduce marketing cost)
· It create the closer supply chain relationship between producers and consumers
· Customer service will be better through the efficiency of information flow , and also
· More timely matching of product characteristics with consumer requirements.
So, due to the research appears that e-commerce could be the key to unlocking and expanding international business.
The barriers to expansion of international e-commerce
By past research, the authors has identified , generally the global percentage of businesses selling products internationally using online system are very small. This contrary to the benefits of e-commerce.

Due to that, what is impeding the development of e-commerce into international market has become a question mark to the researcher and by the research, they found that :
Different languages
Different currencies, and
Customs procedures and fees
have direct implications for international e-business marketing channel.

Different languages
Even though e-commerce has an advantage over conventional systems, but a transaction cannot occur if the language uses among customer and Web site , are not compatible. However by e-commerce , it is more easier and less costly to design a Web site to include many different language rather than to label products in several languages.

Different currencies
The researcher also found that different currencies can also present obstacles for international e-business marketing channel . Different currencies can effect the number and profitability of firm’s international orders . Researcher also identified that fees must be paid when currency is exchange; and these fees usually have a fixed cost and are reflected in the transactions charges they impose on firms.

Customs procedures and inspections fees
Based on research, researcher found that customs procedures and fees have direct implications for e-commerce. Customs procedures and inspections fees that researcher has been identified as like a:
National import regulations;
There are complex legalities affecting consumers when ordering items online from foreign companies. Meaning that, consumer are accountable and responsible in order to fulfill national import regulations of country they occupy. If not, they can incur the fines and penalties .
Approval licenses (AP);
Some items require a license before importation (called as AP) can take place. In fact, researcher also found that obtaining licenses and permit can represent a considerable transaction cost for individual consumers.


Fees or customs duties;
Lastly, researcher found that the fees that incurred in getting products across national borders is the foremost barrier to online sales into other countries. Mean while, in international trade law, since e-commerce allows consumers to order products internationally, the products must be subjected to full customs duties, and these duties are based on volume of shipping, value of shipments and some cases, special requirements. However, the current customs systems is designed to accommodate these system, where as fee calculation and inspection processes are geared toward large lots but with the emergence of e-commerce, researcher found that the customs and inspection system cannot readily accommodate small package.

Moreover, in order to showed that the lack of international sales , in many cases, was due to customs complications, researcher has make a detailed survey and has found that even though in theory, e-commerce should enable consumers to purchases a multitude of products from anywhere in the world over the internet and have them delivery directly, but the fact is , in the e-commerce case the customs and inspections fees are approximately ten times larger than the product’s value. That’s why new trade policies needed.


New Trade Policies
Based on literature review that has been done by research, they also found that there is no agreement stated that customs duties would be addressed. This lack of an aggrement is a factor preventing the expansion of e-commerce into international markets. Means that, without an agreement , customs fees remain geared towards large shipments and are based on a flat rate per shipment. It’s also means that customs procedures , while not totally ignored in trade negotiations, have received only scant attention.
Due to literature review, researcher clarified that the trade policies need to changed , because the changes would be advantageous for developed as well as developing countries. Developed countries would see further penetration of e-commerce into existing markets, bringing lower prices and more choice to consumers, as well as greater access to potentially lucrative export markets for suppliers.

3.0 CONCLUSION
As a reader , I’m agreed with the authors. I’m agreed that e-commerce could have lasting beneficial effects in terms of economic growth. In fact, to fully maximize the benefits from e-commerce, access must be available at a worldwide level, and in order to reach this level, trade policies will have to undergo revisions , even though there are most barriers to the expand of international e-commerce, and we know that the foremost barrier is the costoms and inspections fees. But with appropriate revisions to trade policies , customs fees will reflect the realities of international e-commerce.

ISIAN MINDA

AL-QURAN TERAPI PALING BERKESAN

1. Kajian Dr Ahmed El-Kadi (Panama City, Florida) mendapati mereka yang mendengar bacaan al-Quran, termasuk daripada kalangan yang bukan Islam dan bukan Arab, mengalami perubahan fisiologi positif dalam diri mereka

2. Setiap ibadah yang disyariatkan Allah kepada kita secara tak langsung dapat meningkatkan kesihatan seseorang walaupun sekadar membaca al-Quran( Dr. Danial zainal Abidin, 2007)

A LESSON FOR US!!!

" after i confessed my mistake, i had hoped Malaysians would accept my apology. Unfortunately, from the feedback i've received, i found that Malaysians could not accept it. Some Malaysians are behaving holier-than-thou"

"i think i have simplified a complex matter. By doing so (confessing), i thought people would think that i am a political leader with high moral grounds...after 61years, i have a learnt a lesson that honesty doesn't always pay"

Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek

"ERP"

What is ERP?
Enterprise Resource Planning or ERP is an industry term for integrated, multi-module application software packages that are designed to serve and support multiple business functions. An ERP system can include software for manufacturing, order entry, accounts receivable and payable, general ledger, purchasing, warehousing, transportation and human resources. Evolving out of the manufacturing industry, ERP implies the use of packaged software rather than proprietary software written by or for one customer. ERP modules may be able to interface with an organization's own software with varying degrees of effort, and, depending on the software, ERP modules may be alterable via the vendor's proprietary tools as well as proprietary or standard programming languages.

Why is it Necessary?
By becoming the integrated information solution across the entire organization, ERP systems allow companies to better understand their business. With ERP software, companies can standardize business processes and more easily enact best practices. By creating more efficient processes, companies can concentrate their efforts on serving their customers and maximizing profit.

The Future of ERP
Industry analysts expect that every major manufacturing company will buy the software, which ranges in cost -- with maintenance and training -- from hundreds of thousands of dollars for a small company to millions for a large company. AMR Research of Boston says consolidation among the major players will continue and intensify. ERP vendors are expected to put more effort into e-commerce, CRM and SCM initiatives, with leaders redirecting between 50% and 75% of their R&D budget to these projects.
According to Gartner research group, the rapid evolution of ERP has already lead to a new corporate must-have, ERP II, which is supposed to help businesses gain more competitive edge in the future. The major difference is that ERP II involves collaborative commerce, which enables business partners from multiple companies to exchange information posted on eCommerce exchanges.

"WANITA"

Allah berfirman:
"Ketika Aku menciptakan seorang wanita,
ia diharuskan untuk menjadi seorang yang istimewa.
Aku membuat bahunya cukup kuat untuk menopang dunia;
namun, harus cukup lembut untuk memberikan kenyamanan "
"Aku memberikannya kekuatan dari dalam
untuk mampu melahirkan anak dan menerima penolakan
yang seringkali datang dari anak-anaknya "
"Aku memberinya kekerasan untuk
membuatnya tetap tegar ketika orang-orang lain menyerah,
dan mengasuh keluarganya dengan penderitaan dan
kelelahan tanpa mengeluh"
"Aku memberinya kepekaan untuk
mencintai anak-anaknya dalam setiap keadaan,
bahkan ketika anaknya bersikap sangat menyakiti hatinya "
"Aku memberinya kekuatan untuk
mendukung suaminya dalam kegagalannya
dan melengkapi dengan tulang rusuk suaminya
untuk melindungi hatinya "
"Aku memberinya kebijaksanaan untuk
mengetahui bahwa seorang suami yang baik
takkan pernah menyakiti isterinya,
tetapi kadang menguji kekuatannya dan
ketetapan hatinya untuk berada disisi suaminya tanpa ragu "
"Dan akhirnya,
Aku memberinya air mata untuk dititiskan.
Ini adalah khusus miliknya untuk digunakan bilapun ia perlukan."
"Kau tahu:
Kecantikan seorang wanita bukanlah dari pakaian yang dikenakannya,
susuk yang ia tampilkan, atau bagaimana ia menyisir rambutnya."
"Kecantikan seorang wanita harus dilihat dari matanya,
kerana itulah pintu hatinya - tempat dimana cinta itu ada."

HIMPUNAN DOA-DOA HARIAN

PENERANG HATI
“Wahai Tuhanku, lapangkanlah dadaku dan mudahkanlah tugasku dan lepaskan simpulan dari lidahku, supaya mereka faham akan kata-kataku” (Surah Taha : 25-28)

KESELAMATAN DIRI
“Wahai Tuhanku selamatkan aku dari kaum yang zalim.” (Surah al-Qasas:21)

MENAIKI KENDERAAN
“Maha Suci Tuhan yang telah memudahkan kenderaan ini untuk kami, sedang kami sebelum ini tidak berdaya menguasainya dan sesungguhnya kepada Tuhan kamilah kami akan kembali,” (Surah al-Zukhruf:13-14)

MUDAH DALAM PERJALANAN
“Ya Allah permudahkanlah kami musafir serta dekatkanlah yang jauh. Ya Allah, Engkaulah teman ketika musafir dan Engkau jugalah yang melindungi keluarga.”

REDAKAN KEMARAHAN
“ Ya Allah, ampunilah dosaku dan lenyapkanlah kemarahan hatiku serta lindungilah aku daripada fitnah kesesatan.”

CRM-What is it??

Definitions and Concepts
CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management. It is a strategy used to learn more about customers' needs and behaviors in order to develop stronger relationships with them. Good customer relationships are at the heart of business success. There are many technological components to CRM, but thinking about CRM in primarily technological terms is a mistake. The more useful way to think about CRM is as a strategic process that will help you better understand your customers’ needs and how you can meet those needs and enhance your bottom line at the same time. This strategy depends on bringing together lots of pieces of information about customers and market trends so you can sell and market your products and services more effectively.

Customer relationship management (CRM) is a set of practices that provide a consolidated, integrated view of customers across all business areas to ensure that each customer receives the highest level of service. CRM enables an on going one-to-one relationship with the customer. When relationship management is enhanced by technology, a “seamless integration of every area of business that touches the customer” is provided (Seeman & O’Hara, 2006).

CRM alone can't build the close relationships companies promised—those long term relationships that couldn't be broken. Instead, CRM should be called CSM, for customer service management. That more faithfully represents what companies are trying to do—manage and improve poor customer service. Even companies that get it—like customer-friendly Amazon—don't offer the model for a close "relationship." (Weiss, A. 2007)
CRM should be integrated into everything a company does, everyone it employs, and every place it transacts business. CRM efforts are not restricted to for-profit companies. Government agencies use it to improving customer service and nonprofit organizations use it for fund-raising efforts.

Part of CRM’s goal is to increase opportunities by improving the process so as to communicate with the right customer and provide the right offer (product and price), through the right channel, and at the right time. CRM attempts to segment, existing and potential customers so that the right products and services reach them at the right price in the right way at the right time (Turban, 2006).

CRM is an information system that tracks customers’ interactions with the firm and allows employees to instantly pull up information about the customers such as past sales, service record, outstanding records and unresolved problem calls (Nguyen H. T. , Sherif S. J. and Newby M., 2007) .

CRM can be interpreted as a process of digitizing a staff’s knowledge about his or her customers. CRM concepts and technologies have been widely accepted by many companies in different industries because they recognize that keeping strong customer relationships is likely to bring profitability in the future (Nguyen H. T., Sherif S. J. and Newby M., 2007) .

Benefits of CRM
Customer loyalty is important. In competitive markets, if a company does not maintain customers’ loyalty, another firm will take them away. In the mobile phone industry, for example, between 20 and 30 percent of customers change their provider every year.
Identifying who is likely to churn and maintaining even a small percentage of them can generate millions of dollars in sustained revenue. Loyal customers are typically more profitable customers. If an organization can accurately predict future sales based on customer behavior, it will lead to cross-selling. CRM enables customer retention and higher profits by knowing the customer and using cross-selling. It enables accurate target marketing by helping identify customers and their needs via customer segmentation.

While CRM efforts are often daunting, the benefits achieved are impressive. Firms who successfully implement CRM systems report improved customer data and process management, increased number of transactions and improved analysis and reporting.