Integration Point Awarded Partners-In-Protection (PIP) Certification

Software enables compliance and improves supply chain security.

Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) February 17, 2009 -- Integration Point (http://www.integrationpoint.com/)® Inc., a trade compliance software provider, has been certified a Partners-in-Protection (PIP) Associate. This certification is in recognition of Integration Point's PIP Certification Software, which helps automate risk analysis while increasing compliance with government regulations and improving the security of global supply chains.

Recently the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reached a mutual recognition agreement with their respective PIP and Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) programs. This mutual recognition means that both Customs agencies have accepted common security parameters and agree to honor each certification equally. An automation tool such as Integration Point Supply Chain Compliance can make applying for both certifications much easier. Further, as PIP and the other certificates continue to be updated, the recertification process is greatly facilitated by having all the necessary compliance information gathered by and organized in the Integration Point web-based system.

Integration Point's PIP Certification Software allows users to capture and analyze supplier security profiles in real time. As each question is answered, the impact to the overall risk rating is calculated instantly rather than waiting for all answers to be returned and compiled manually.

Users can tailor questions to specific supplier profiles for groups of entities to be verified in PIP. The automatic notification sends invitations to participate, reminders to complete missing information and deadline notices to suppliers via email. With the mutual recognition agreement between CBSA and US CBP, questionnaires can be shared between the Partners-in-Protection and C-TPAT certification programs, eliminating the burden on importers and their suppliers to gather the same information multiple times. The Integration Point system helps automate what was once a frustrating and time-consuming paper collection process.

Benefits of using the Integration Point PIP Certification Software include:

•    Elimination of manual tracking of supplier risk factors

•    Analysis of supplier risk ratings automatically as questionnaires are being completed

•    Ability to attach documentation (photos, procedural guidelines, etc.) to individual supplier records

•    Participation in the Free and Secure Trade (FAST) program

•    Leverage mutual recognition with other governments around the world

About Integration Point, Inc.

The Integration Point ®, Inc. Global Trade Management helps many of the best known companies import and export goods more effectively by providing up-to-date international trade compliance. Integration Point's solution is a comprehensive suite of fully integrated, web-based software products that provide consistent and secure access to information around the clock including: Import/Export Management, Global Classification, 10+2, C-TPAT, AEO, PIP, Denied Party Screening, Free Trade Agreement qualification and FTZ participation. Companies dependent on efficient import/export of goods rely on Integration Point to help them quickly and accurately navigate through the often complex and dynamic requirements of global trade. Contact Integration Point at www.IntegrationPoint.com or 704-576-3678.

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