Shipping Solutions Version 9.18/8.18 Now Available

Shipping Solutions export documentation and compliance software is pleased to announce the release of Professional and Enterprise Version 9.18 and Classic Version 8.18. Annual Maintenance Program (AMP) subscribers can download the new versions for free from the AMP website.

If you aren't an AMP member, send an email to help@shipsolutions.com or call 888-890-7447 for more information.

The new versions include the following enhancements:

Upgraded Export Compliance Module

The latest versions of Shipping Solutions Professional and Enterprise include an upgraded Export Compliance Module that gives users a way to track screening results and note whether the results have been reviewed. The option adds two new columns to the Find Shipments and Compliance Audit Trail screens.

The new Results column indicates if a restricted party screening was run for a shipment and if there are any potential matches. The Review column allows users to indicate that the screening results were reviewed and whether the shipment was approved or denied.

Read the blog post Enhanced Export Compliance Module in Shipping Solutions for more details.

Improved Free Trade Agreement Functionality

All versions of Shipping Solutions include new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) certificates of origin and improve your options for entering and storing information about how your products qualify under one or more of the FTA's rules of origin. In addition to the summary below, you can read more details in my blog post, Free Trade Agreement Enhancements in Shipping Solutions Version 9.18/8.18.

• Updates the existing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) certificates of origin to match current best practices, including showing the origin criteria definitions right on the document.
• Adds the U.S.-Japan Free Trade Agreement Certificate of Origin.
• Adds the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Certificate of Origin.
• Modifies the Product Database so users can store FTA information like Origin Criteria, Producer, Country of Origin and Other Criteria for multiple FTAs on every product. This new functionality was added because a product may qualify for more than one FTA. Users can use a new data export and import feature to add or modify FTA fields for each product and FTA combination. 
• When a product is added to a shipment, the software will add the appropriate FTA information (if there is any) from the Product Database based on the shipment’s country of export and country of destination.
• Gives users the ability to automatically exclude items that are part of a shipment from an FTA certificate of origin based on whether an item includes the corresponding FTA information on the EZ Start screen. If no FTA fields are filled, then the item will not display on the FTA certificate of origin.

More Enhancements

Shipping Solutions versions 9.18 and 8.18 also include several updates based on current best practices and suggestions from Shipping Solutions users. See below for a summary of these changes. You'll find more details about these changes in my blog post, More Enhancements in Shipping Solutions Version 9.18/8.18. We always appreciate your feedback to help make Shipping Solutions better and better!

• Updates the SLI in NCBFAA format to match the changes made by the National Customs Broker and Forwarding Association of America (NCBFAA).
• Increases the size of the Tax ID field on the Commercial and Proforma invoices to provide room for the European EORI number or the Chinese USCI number.
• Adds the option to print the user’s company logo on the Generic Certificate of Origin.
• Adds three new Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) license types to comply with updated regulations.
• Provides a way to view more than 20 shipments on the Find screen without having to view all the shipments, which could slow functionality.
• Adds the invoice number to all Commercial Invoice continuation pages.
• Modifies the Database Update function so it only runs the scripts needed for the user’s specific database. This makes upgrading easier and reduces the chance for time out errors.
• Numerous updates "under the hood" of the software to keep it working well with the latest versions of other software.

Try out the new version yourself! AMP members can download the update for free from the AMP login page. Others can contact us at help@shipsolutions.com for pricing.

Like what you read? Join thousands of exporters and importers who subscribe to Passages: The International Trade Blog. You'll get the latest news and tips for exporters and importers delivered right to your inbox.