Cost Plus World Market Expands GT Nexus Supply Chain Operating Platform
Cost Plus World Market, a specialty retailer of casual home living and entertaining products, has expanded its use of the GT Nexus global supply chain operating platform to include functions that allow the retailer to comply with the new US Customs and Border Protection’s Importer Security Filing (ISF) rule, which came into full effect on 26 January 2010.
The ISF rule – also known as the ’10+2 rule’ – requires all US importers to electronically submit containerised shipment details before ocean vessels depart the origin port. Importers that fail to comply with the rule face fines and/or costly supply chain delays.
“The new US Customs ISF rule has the potential to seriously disrupt import supply chains,” said Jeff Turner, executive vice president (EVP) operations and chief information officer (CIO) at Cost Plus World Market. “With GT Nexus, we had the difficult task of collecting timely and accurate inventory information already done. When the ISF rule took effect in January, we were already in compliance with an automated system.”
The entire platform is provided to Cost Plus as an on-demand service over the web. The GT Nexus portal connects Cost Plus with its network of carriers, suppliers, 3PLs and brokers, which, in turn, allows operational data to be captured and standardised in a central repository. A suite of web applications provides Cost Plus with visibility, transportation management, document automation, supplier enablement, and ISF capabilities.