In his research, Tsois suggests that the container status messages which are exchanged by shipping companies can be used to gain insight into the routes taken by containers and into the time spent by these containers on ship and in terminals. This enables the authorities to better assess the security and Customs risks of these containers and to make a more effective selection for container inspection.
The certificate and prize, a €500 contribution to participate in the WCO TI Forum, was provided by RSM and Fontys University of Technology and Logistics in Venlo.
Improving logistics through big data
“This paper is an excellent example of research that is both scientifically rigorous and relevant for the customs profession,” said Professor Yao-Hua Tan, president of the jury and programme director of RSM’s Executive Master in Customs and Supply Chain Compliance programme, adding that Tsois and his team applied big data analytics methods to automatically generate more accurate and timely data about the international movements of containers and containerships. “These data can be used by companies in global supply chains to improve their logistics planning and reduce their costs, and customs administrations can use it to make better risk assessments of the goods in these containers”, said Prof. Tan.
RSM, Fontys University of Technology and Logistics and the Tax Authorities/Customs jointly organised this Research Track during the WCO Technology & Information Forum and co-ordinated and assessed the papers. The papers had to contain research results relating to the latest information or detection technologies which are available for customs purposes. Possible subjects were security, detection and sensor technology, and information technology for chain-transparent and more accurate and safe data exchange between government and third parties, and big data analyses.