| Title: | ADVOCATE ANNOUNCEMENT |
|---|---|
| Date: | 1995-10-02 |
| To: | abi |
| Links: | previous, next |
SUBJECT : ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY
DATE : 10/02/95
TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT
AUTOMATION ADVOCATE
THE MISSION THAT WE HAVE IN THE NEWLY REORGANIZED OFFICE OF INFORMATION
& TECHNOLOGY (OIT) IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY
SERVICES WHICH WILL ENHANCE CUSTOMS PROCESSES AND RESPOND TO OUR USERS'
NEEDS. IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THAT MISSION WE FEEL THAT WE NEED TO
PROVIDE CUSTOMS EMPLOYEES WITH THE PROPER AUTOMATION TOOLS AND
INFORMATION TO DO THEIR WORK. IN ADDITION WE NEED TO DEVELOP,
MAINTAIN, AND SUPPORT THE APPROPRIATE TRADE INTERFACES FOR IMPORTERS,
EXPORTERS, CARRIERS, BROKERS, PORT AUTHORITIES, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES. TO ENSURE THAT ALL OUR USERS (INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL) ARE
AWARE OF, HAVE ACCESS TO, AND ARE SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICES AND
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY OIT, I HAVE ESTABLISHED THE ROLE OF AN
"AUTOMATION ADVOCATE". CUSTOMS EMPLOYEES HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADVISED
OF OUR NEW ADVOCATE POSITION, AND WE WOULD NOW LIKE TO SHARE THAT
INFORMATION WITH OUR TRADING PARTNERS.
WE SHOULD MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT IS NOT OUR INTENTION TO REPLACE ANY OF
THE EXISTING SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDED TO OUR TRADING PARTNERS. WE
EXPECT THE TRADE COMMUNITY TO UTILIZE THE SUPPORT SERVICES THEY HAVE
USED IN THE PAST. FOR EXAMPLE, FILERS UTILIZING THE AUTOMATED BROKER
INTERFACE (ABI) WOULD STILL CONTACT THEIR ASSIGNED ACS CLIENT
REPRESENTATIVE. HOWEVER, IF A MEMBER OF THE TRADE COMMUNITY DOES NOT
KNOW WHO TO CONTACT, OR NEEDS ADDITIONAL HELP, THE AUTOMATION ADVOCATE
IS INTENDED TO BE A "ONE STOP" POINT OF CONTACT FOR ANY QUESTIONS, OR
UNRESOLVED ISSUES THAT OUR EXTERNAL CUSTOMERS MIGHT HAVE REGARDING THE
SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGY OFFERED BY OIT.
THE NEW AUTOMATION ADVOCATE ROLE WILL BE FILLED BY RUSS LANOUETTE.
RUSS HAS OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE WITH CUSTOMS, AND HAS SPENT THE LAST
NINE YEARS OF HIS CAREER IN THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY .
HE HAS WORKED IN TRADE USER SUPPORT, AND ALSO HAS SPENT TIME IN OUR
COMMERCIAL SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT GROUP. RUSS CAN BE REACHED AT (202)
927-0322, OR BY FAX AT (202) 927-2080.
IN PEOPLE, PROCESS, & PARTNERSHIPS, A REPORT ON THE REORGANIZATION OF
THE CUSTOMS SERVICE, A RECURRING THEME IS THE COMMITMENT TO MAKE
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION "A CORE ELEMENT OF OUR NEW MANAGEMENT CULTURE."
IN THE OFFICE OF INFORMATION & TECHNOLOGY WE VIEW THE CREATION OF THE
ADVOCATE POSITION AS A SERIOUS COMMITMENT TO OUR CUSTOMERS . WHEN THE
NEED ARISES, WE ENCOURAGE ALL THE EXTERNAL USERS OF OUR AUTOMATED
TRADE INTERFACES TO CALL ON OUR NEW AUTOMATION ADVOCATE FOR ASSISTANCE.
WILLIAM F. RILEY
ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
OFFICE OF INFORMATION & TECHNOLOGY