The safety of perishable products is of paramount importance in the world web of transportation. The process of exporting such items can often times be grueling. There is a lot of inspections that take place. Not to mention the certificates you need to acquire. This is where one of our newest integrations comes into play.

In this blog we will dive into the integration with the Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) in South Africa, which thoroughly inspects and certifies these products before they embark on their journey across borders. It does this combined with eCert, an electronic certification platform which is a product of various organizations and companies active in the agricultural trade, food production, and logistics sectors.

From inbound to outbound

To streamline the processing of both inbound and outbound data effectively, a set of new message types has been created within 3PL Dynamics, which serve as a standard for processing Citrus in South Africa.

When a pallet is received with Citrus data, it is updated with a request to the PhytClean API, if it’s unknown. In the absence of proper certification or upon certification expiration, which is automatically tracked by 3PL Dynamics, an inspection request is made via the PPECB API. After the pallet is inspected by a PPECB inspector, the updated reinspection data is fetched and updated. In the background, PPECB also updates this in the TUM API. Subsequently, upon outbound, a check is made to determine if a citrus pallet meets the export requirements for a specific area by conducting a check via the eCert API to verify if the citrus meets the destination country’s requirements, quality, orchard certification, etc. Finally, the carrier information is passed on to the TUM API for further pallet tracing.

What it looks like in practice

PPECB Inspection Integration

The PPECB inspection integration consists of the following components:

– Request and Query Functions: From requesting inspections to retrieving validation results, the integration facilitates swift communication among stakeholders.

–Updating and Submission: Inspection messages can seamlessly be updated and submitted, enabling real-time updates on shipment statuses.

–Reinspection Management: In cases requiring reinspection, the system efficiently handles reinspection messages and updates, considering specific expiry dates.

Integration of eCert Modules

As already mentioned, eCert is an electronic certification platform, where you can create electronic certificates of origin online. Using eCert helps to ensure that regulations are complied with and that certified documents are delivered easily and quickly.

PhytClean API:

-Phytosanitary Status Management: PhytClean API manages the phytosanitary status of citrus products, including storage and treatment data.

–Logging: Log messages are recorded via the customer quality attribute on carrier content, ensuring comprehensive documentation.

-Seasonal Checks: While the exact method is unspecified, the system conducts seasonal checks to verify compliance.

TUM API:

TUM API (Tracking Unit Management) tracks the location, temperature, and status of products at pallet level, providing crucial insights into product handling and conditions.

What are the benefits?

This groundbreaking integration offers our customers a variety of advantages:

– Efficiency: By automating processes and reducing manual intervention, the integration enhances efficiency and accelerates certification procedures.

– Accuracy: Real-time data exchange minimizes errors and discrepancies, ensuring accurate documentation and compliance.

– Traceability: Enhanced tracking capabilities allow stakeholders to trace the journey of products from origin to destination, strengthening transparency and accountability.

The advantages of Packaged Integrations

There are many challenges that can come up during an integration project. High costs, scope creep, long implementation time just to name a few. How do you make sure you can avoid these issues? The answer lies in Packaged Integrations. Read more about them in our blog.