Seko Logistics, a global freight forwarder, 3PL and supply chain management specialist with a growing focus on e-commerce solutions, has selected Hurricane Commerce as its global cross-border data partner. The two e-commerce brands say they have joined forces to help their customers achieve frictionless trade and manage critical issues such as compliance with the US STOP Act and the launch next month of the EU’s Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS).
Hurricane’s technology will be available via Seko’s OmniParcel platform, which provides brand owners, retailers and e-tailers with a global e-commerce solution. The company’s solutions will also be rolled out through Seko’s Transport Management System (TMS) and Warehouse Management System (WMS) portals. Seko has already been using Hurricane’s solutions for e-commerce customers in Australia and the USA.
David Emerson, senior vice president of e-commerce solutions at Seko Logistics, said, “We are delighted to have chosen Hurricane as our global partner for the provision of cross-border data. We pride ourselves on only working with the best-in-class and Hurricane’s solutions are truly world-leading in the field of data provision. In today’s global e-commerce, nothing moves without the right data. Increasing rules and regulations mean that shipments have to have accurate data sets otherwise they are going to run into severe problems. For Seko, it is imperative that we keep our customers’ goods moving and Hurricane is a key partner in enabling us to achieve this.”
Martyn Noble, CEO of Hurricane Commerce, added, “The fast-moving regulatory landscape means that complete and valid data is non-negotiable in international e-commerce. Events like Brexit, the US STOP Act and, from July 1, the EU VAT Package and the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) are having a massive impact on the requirements to succeed in cross-border e-commerce.”
This point was backed up by Hurricane co-founder, David Spottiswood: “Failure to meet the mandatory requirement for high-quality data – including product descriptions, HS6 codes, 8- and 10- digit import and export codes and country of origin – is resulting in parcels increasingly being stopped by customs. This leads to huge additional logistical and cost challenges around returns, warehousing and transportation. But just as important is the long-term damage done to the brand reputation of retailers, marketplaces and their supply-chain partners.”