Comments on: Import Genius allows you track your competitors via their shipment records http://www.acf-china.com/blog/2008/09/27/import-genius-allows-you-track-your-competitors-via-their-shipment-records/ A blog for Asian furniture industry professionals offering invaluable insights, comments and ramblings about China business and importing home furnishings from China, with the occasional sidetrack into "life in China related topics." Fri, 09 Jul 2010 05:33:56 +0000 hourly 1 By: Kevin Palmstein http://www.acf-china.com/blog/2008/09/27/import-genius-allows-you-track-your-competitors-via-their-shipment-records/comment-page-1/#comment-4333 Kevin Palmstein Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:47:55 +0000 http://www.acf-china.com/blog/?p=366#comment-4333 This data is available to trade data providers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection through the Freedom of Information Act. CBP collects this data from the Automated Manifest System, importers are required to electronically transmit manifest information 24 hours before their products depart for the United States. They then release the information to providers of the data after the products enter the United States. This does make the information near real-time, but it is not a live feed and will not show shipments that are currently on the water. While there are the competitive intelligence uses for this information, thousands of companies rely on this information as a daily business tool. Transportation service providers find new customers and educate themselves on their customers’ supply chains. Sourcing departments research suppliers and monitor exclusive distribution agreements. Brand owners proactively protect their trademarks and copyrights by looking at the counterfeiters’ Bills of Lading. Finally, economists and business analysts derive valuable forecasts and market assessments. Check out a sample of the information that is provided at http://www.zepol.com/CASE-STUDY/Zepol-Bill-of-Lading-Sample.pdf Import Genius is a new provider; several other companies have been providing this data for years and have built advanced databases to meet their customers’ specific needs. Our company, Zepol Corporation, has provided U.S. Customs and Border Protection data for more than 5 years. We have hundreds of customers ranging from the Fortune 500 to small and midsized importers. Visit http://www.zepol.com to try our free trial. This data is available to trade data providers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection through the Freedom of Information Act. CBP collects this data from the Automated Manifest System, importers are required to electronically transmit manifest information 24 hours before their products depart for the United States. They then release the information to providers of the data after the products enter the United States. This does make the information near real-time, but it is not a live feed and will not show shipments that are currently on the water.

While there are the competitive intelligence uses for this information, thousands of companies rely on this information as a daily business tool. Transportation service providers find new customers and educate themselves on their customers’ supply chains. Sourcing departments research suppliers and monitor exclusive distribution agreements. Brand owners proactively protect their trademarks and copyrights by looking at the counterfeiters’ Bills of Lading. Finally, economists and business analysts derive valuable forecasts and market assessments.

Check out a sample of the information that is provided at http://www.zepol.com/CASE-STUDY/Zepol-Bill-of-Lading-Sample.pdf

Import Genius is a new provider; several other companies have been providing this data for years and have built advanced databases to meet their customers’ specific needs. Our company, Zepol Corporation, has provided U.S. Customs and Border Protection data for more than 5 years. We have hundreds of customers ranging from the Fortune 500 to small and midsized importers. Visit http://www.zepol.com to try our free trial.

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