Traders will be required to lodge new Consignment Documents (CD) applications through the upgraded TradeNet system after a successful launch and training of the users, KenTrade, the implementing agency, announced in a public notice recently.
Phase one started with the government agencies on 20th August this year with the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK). Yesterday, the system went live with Pharmacy and Poisons Boards (PPB) and Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) is expected to use the new system from 25th August while National Environment Management Authority (NEMA; Kenya Radiation Protection Board (KRPB) and Control and Products Board (PCPB) slated for August 30, 2021.
“Effective 20th August 2021, traders (Clearing Agents & Importer/Exporters) will lodge new Consignment Documents (CDs) through the new upgraded system as highlighted in the roll-out plan. New Consignment Document (CD) applications to the current TradeNet system by traders will not be possible. Traders will be directed to submit the applications through the upgraded System,” the notice directed.
The upgrade followed a detailed gap analysis in February 2020 with stakeholders who provided valuable input which was used in the upgrade work, Chief Executive Officer Mr Amos Wangora told a virtual meeting that KenTrade held a few months ago.
KenTrade has upgraded the Kenya TradeNet system to enhance system productivity, avoid technological obsolescence and improve user experience. The TradeNet system upgrade entails a technological refresh to ensure that the system is compatible with recent technological advancements, the notice announced.
“The transition from the old system to the upgraded system will be a seamless process with minimum disruptions and once completed, the system will provide a much better experience for users. To this end, I want to sincerely thank you for your continued support that has enabled us to achieve notable milestones in the implementation of the planned system upgrade,” Wangora said in an earlier address.
The upgrade will address the challenges of delays in document processing, lack of a 2-factor user authentication mechanism and address the problem of the limited document security features.
Other challenges the old system has experienced in the past and which the upgraded system seeks to cure are limited visibility of information to users due to lack of dashboards and few standard reports and cumbersome user registration process delaying registration process.
The upgraded system will also focus on Master Data harmonization with Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) with increased ability to add more integration, make user administration easy and reduce the high total cost of ownership
Kenya TradeNet System has been operating since October 31, 2013 when it officially went live. It has registered over 12,500 system users and 35 PGA, with 5 of them completely integrated and others in progress
Crimson Logic of Singapore is upgrading the TradeNet System. The government collects over US$22.19 million through the system per year with the majority of Government agencies recording double digit growth in revenue year in year on.
Crimson Logic developed the software and has been assisting in running it but according to Wangora, the process of enhancing local capacity is also ongoing to reduce overreliance on software developers. “The new system will utilize current technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Block chain,” Wangora said in an earlier interview.
The process to upgrade the system, dubbed Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP), started in December last year with gap analysis.
