The WCO Data Model: an enabler for coordinated border management

As countries developed Customs forms, requirements, and automated systems overthe years,there waslittle coordination and consultation among them. As a result, there are thousands of data elements, hundreds of different Customs forms, and as many different Customs systems as there are Customs administrations. This lack of coordination has created a confusing and confounding environment. These different requirements are rife with redundancy and duplication and are expensive to maintain and operate. Governments created this problem; governments can correctthissituation – by using the WCO Data Model.