The proposed solution is based on current technology standards and best practices, ensuring long term viability of the investment. An open SADC ICT Strategy of data standards and business processes promotes an integration approach with national system irrespective of the vendor or technology. The use of platform agnostic standards reduces vendor locking and provide the opportunity for open source solutions. Leveraging existing investments It takes into consideration the substantial infrastructure and software investment Member States have made in current and legacy systems, re-using these software systems through extension and integration. Accuracy and efficiency The promotion of electronic data capture by the trader offloads that responsibility from customs, which improves quality and accuracy of data and frees resources to attend to other tasks. Business benefits Advantages for business includes the reduction of costs due to less administrative and regulatory overhead due to simplification and reduced paperwork. Administrative optimisation will result in less time at the border for low risk traders and transactions. Logistics processes will be streamlined with improved predictability, promoting just-in-time supply chain processes resulting in reduced inventory. Economic and societal protection The use of electronic data exchanges and pre-arrival clearance, in favour of paperbased processes, will reduce corruption. Further, the risk assessment capabilities will increase the ability to detect cross-border smuggling. Security Modern and proven standards-based security measures will be implemented to protect data in storage and during communication between Member States without the need for dedicated physical networks and associated infrastructure. Expansion 15 Draft SADC Customs ICT Strategy 2012 Page 15