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ICS2 – Quality of Export Information & Invoices

This is a reminder around requirements resulting from the EU’s mandatory customs Pre-Loading and Pre-Arrival safety and security program, Import Control System 2 (ICS2).

What is ICS2?
ICS2 is an automated entry process that applies to all cargo to and transiting through the 27 EU members states, Northern Ireland, Norway and Switzerland. The process is designed to monitor the security of the EU’s external border where imported or transiting goods are concerned.

This automation ensures that data can be exchanged more efficiently between the shipper, carrier and EU member states. It’s important to note that ICS2 applies to all express material, cargo and mail with a destination within or transit via the ICS2 mandate region, even if the final destination is not within the region.

What do we need to do?
This means that to avoid delays to any shipments destined to or transiting via the ICS2 mandate region, attention to detail when completing booking and shipping invoice is of huge importance.

The following information, to be recorded on the commercial invoice for all non-document shipments, is mandatory:
– Shipper name
– Shipper address
– Shipped EORI number (for UK originating shipments)
– Consignee’s name
– Consignee’s address
– Number of packages
– Gross weight
– Full & detailed goods description e.g. NOT Laptop but HP Laptop XXX
– Ten-digit Harmonized System HS Codes (along with net weight and value of each item where there is more then a single HS Code involved). Useful link for tariff codes: https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff
– For goods whose final destination is within the EU27 states, the consignee’s EORI number

Failure to provide the full information as above will result in delays, as the carrier is likely to hold individual shipments at origin pre-export and attempt to contact the original shipper to obtain the required information before uplift.

The above requirements constitute best practice for any worldwide export, and we are aware that most of our clients already ensure that their shippers (bookers) supply this information, but if you do have any shippers that need some clarification around ICS2, please do not hesitate to contact your Account Manager or Customer Service team on team@santisglobal.com.

DOWNLOAD ICS2 EXAMPLE INVOICE

Reducing our Carbon Footprint: Santis Global’s Commitment to Sustainability

At Santis, we understand that it’s not enough to just deliver packages on time, we must also ensure that our operations minimise a negative impact on the environment. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to promote sustainable courier solutions and support our clients in doing the same. In honour of World Environment Day we wanted to share some of the main areas where we have been reducing our carbon footprint and contributing to a healthier planet.

1. Investing in our Green Fleet

We are proud to say that 35% of our fleet is carbon-neutral and we continue to reinvest and grow our green fleet year on year. Our green fleet includes pushbikes, cargo bikes, electrically assisted pedal vans and electric vans. We are also happy to confirm that all our other vehicles are ULEZ compliant.

2. Vehicle Routing:

We strive to minimise CO2 emissions by optimising our vehicle routing. Thanks to our high-experienced control team we are able to plan the most efficient routes for our vehicles, which reduces the number of miles driven and, therefore, reduces carbon emissions.

3. Sustainable Logistics:

We use our green fleet as much as possible, reducing 85% of carbon emissions on selected routes. We also utilise ULEZ compliant vehicles on long distance deliveries, which currently electric vehicles are unable to complete.
 
4. Electric and ULEZ-Compliant Vehicles:

We collect all of our International and UK Overnight consignments using electric or ULEZ-compliant vehicles. We know that transportation is one of the biggest sources of carbon emissions, which is why we are committed to using the most sustainable options available for collections in order to minimise carbon emissions on each delivery.

5. Sustainable Office:

We have implemented a number of sustainability initiatives in our office, including LED bulbs, paperless invoicing, online payslips, recycling, and removing unnecessary plastic use. We are also mindful of our energy usage and have made changes to reduce our overall consumption.

6. Sustainable Travel:

We encourage sustainable travel by reducing the number of trips, utilising public transport, encouraging walking or cycling, holding some of our meetings via conference calls and by allowing working from home whenever possible. By reducing the number of trips we take, we are able to minimise our carbon footprint.

7. Carbon Emission Reports:

We provide comprehensive carbon emission reports to help our clients measure their carbon footprint. We believe that transparency is key to creating a sustainable future and by sharing information about our operations, we can help our clients make more sustainable decisions.

8. Reduction Targets:

We have set reduction targets, including emissions and waste reduction, to ensure that we are continuously improving our operations. By setting ambitious targets, we are holding ourselves accountable and pushing ourselves to do more to reduce our carbon footprint.

9. Partnerships:

We recently joined The Heart of the City Foundation to collaborate with larger corporate companies on sustainability goals. Not only do partnerships increase our reach, but it also fosters innovation and the exchange of knowledge to continuously improve sustainable practices.

As we work to reduce our carbon footprint, we are constantly improving, innovating, and implementing new initiatives so that we can do even more. If you’d like to learn more about our sustainability efforts or join us in reducing your own carbon footprint, please contact our Team at info@santisglobal.com. Together, we can make a positive impact on our planet and ensure a better future for all.

Mission Despatch Acquisition

The acquisition of Mission Despatch Limited by Santis Global.

Santis Global was founded in 2014 with the aim to create the most customer-centric, service driven and reliable courier company in London. Thanks to our flexible business model and highly experienced, and dedicated, workforce we have grown year on year and we are now London’s fastest growing privately owned courier company.

As a part of this ongoing expansion in January 2022, Santis Global completed the acquisition of Mission Despatch Limited.

Luke Eggar, Managing Director & Founder of Santis Global commented:

“In 2021 after a successful rebrand, I wanted to improve the service offering to our existing and prospective clients even further. Mission Despatch was a perfect match! As a result of this acquisition, we not only gained a depot in West London, but we also doubled our courier fleet, and most importantly, we welcomed some fantastic new Team Members with a wealth of expertise and experience in new sectors and industries.”

This acquisition also means that Mission Despatch customers are now able to access, and utilise, Santis Global’s specialist UK and Worldwide delivery services. All Mission Despatch clients will be pleased to hear that all familiar names (and voices) are still with us, Matthew Westlake is now Sameday Manager and David, Bob and Krzysztof all play vital roles in our control team with Mandy working in the accounts team.

Following the acquisition, Mission Despatch customers will now benefit from

• A larger, in-house based, experienced and proactive Customer Service team to support you when needed, 24/7, 365 days a year.
• A larger fleet of sameday vehicles, which will improve your collection and delivery times.
• Specialist services in the UK and worldwide including customs compliance support.
• A state of the art booking and tracking platform.
• A Dedicated Account Manager to ensure the highest levels of service.
• More sustainable delivery solutions to help reduce their carbon emissions.

Santis Global is thrilled to have Mission Despatch staff members and clients onboard and we are looking forward to working together in 2023.

Santis Global Management Team

Our Top 5 Road Safety Tips this National Road Safety Week

1. Check your vehicle condition

Probably the most obvious but also the most important tip of all! Making sure that your vehicle is serviced regularly in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations will help to avoid breakdowns and accidents caused by vehicle faults.

In addition, a quick daily walkaround could make all the difference when it comes to road safety. Look for any obvious signs of fluid or oil leakage, check the tread depth of your tyres and ensure there are no deep cuts in the sidewall. Also make sure to check your bodywork and windscreen for any signs of damage and check your lights, brakes and windscreen wipers to ensure they’re all operating correctly before your journey starts.

2. Plan Ahead

Whether you are delivering locally or further afield, you should plan your journey before you set off for the job. Planning as much of your journey as possible means having less reliance on route navigation which will help you focus more on the road ahead.

Another advantage of planning before you leave is that you can identify any upcoming traffic issues and stay away from challenging routes. You’ll also be able to give a more accurate ETA to the customer and it will help to reduce the need to speed to make up the time lost.

Lastly, it is also hugely important to schedule your breaks. 10-20% of crashes are estimated to be caused by fatigue, so give yourself some well-deserved rest as it will improve your levels of concentration and reaction time.

3. Don’t drive distracted

Driver distraction is one of the main causes of road traffic accidents. Overly loud music can affect reaction times. Research has shown that drivers can take up to 20% longer to perform physical and mental tasks when listening to loud music.

Satellite navigation aids are also fast becoming a major cause of driver distraction. Some drivers blindly follow instructions rather than anticipating the road ahead. If you follow Tip 2, hopefully, you will not have to rely on satellite navigation as much, which will reduce the risk of distraction.

4. Keep your distance

In the Autumn and Winter months, our roads become increasingly congested and road conditions become more challenging. The more space you maintain around you, both front and rear, the less likely you are to be in a collision.
During dry weather conditions, you should maintain at least two seconds-worth of distance between you and the vehicle in front. When visibility is low such as during light fog, light rain or night-time driving, you should double the distance to the car in front to a minimum of four seconds, and in severe weather conditions such as snow and ice then double the distance again. Just remember, you can’t crash into space!

5. Think seasonall

Driving conditions change with the seasons, so it’s important to be well-prepared to ensure you are driving safely across the year.

Safe winter driving can be exceptionally challenging! Drivers are faced with low temperatures and varying weather conditions including snow, ice, heavy rainfall and wind. Ensure your tyres are well-maintained or upgrade to winter tyres for the best performance on icy or wet roads.

What may be a short journey on a nice, sunny day could end up taking quite a bit longer if the weather is bad. With that in mind, it’s always worth giving yourself more time for your journey when driving in the snow. That way you’ve got a little more time to anticipate while you’re driving, plus to deal with potential road closures and detours.

European Solution

• Bring goods directly from manufacturers to our European based hub in order to avoid unnecessary customs related costs and shipping challenges out of the UK
• Give them complete access to the warehouse management system which will allow them to monitor stock levels of their goods at a click of a button e.g. storage of marketing material, office supplies, exhibition stands or IT equipment
• Arrange deliveries using the warehouse management system giving our clients option of express, time critical and economy services depending on their requirements
• Control cost due to access to online reports and transparency of costs
• Manage their marketing collateral for their events and office needs