An Introduction to AES


Before AES, the export system was paper-bound; expensive, labor intensive, error prone. AES uses proven technology in a new way to address a significant problem with the export process. It will contribute to a re-engineering of the way U.S. exports are accomplished.

The Automated Export System (AES) is a joint venture between the U.S. Customs Service, the Foreign Trade Division of the Bureau of the Census (Commerce), the Bureau of Industry and Security (Commerce), the Office of Defense Trade Controls (State), other Federal agencies, and the export trade community. It is the central point through which export shipment data required by multiple agencies is filed electronically to Customs, using the efficiencies of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). AES provides an alternative to filing paper Shipper's Export Declarations (SEDs). Export information is collected electronically and edited immediately, and errors are detected and corrected at the time of filing. AES is a nationwide system operational at all ports and for all methods of transportation. It was designed to assure compliance with and enforcement of laws relating to exporting, improve trade statistics, reduce duplicate reporting to multiple agencies, and improve customer service. AES has the goal of paperless reporting of export information by the year 2002.

How AES Works

The export process begins when the exporter decides to export merchandise. The exporter or his authorized forwarding agent makes shipping arrangements with the carrier. The exporter or his authorized forwarding agent transmits the shipper's export information using AES. This information can come directly from the exporter or his authorized agent or through a service center or port authority. The AES validates the data against editing tables and U.S. Government agency requirement files and generates a confirmation message or error messages back to the filer. The carrier or an authorized forwarding agent transmits the export manifest data using AES. The AES validates the transportation data then generates either a confirmation message or an error message. Any errors messages generated by AES must be corrected and the corrections transmitted to AES.

 

Benefits of AES

Whatever aspect of the export community you represent - exporter, carrier, freight forwarder, port authority, service center, non-vessel operating common carrier, consolidator - AES has advantages for you.

 

Technology
AES was built for flexibility. It uses standard technology available to both large and small businesses.

AES offers options for transmitting export shipment data. You have the choice of using:

 

You can communicate with AES using any of the following formats:

 

Current ABI and AMS participants can use their existing mainframe connections for AES.

Customs and Census support AES participants by providing user assistance.

 

While AES utilizes several EDI formats the AES Team is developing alternative methods of communicating with AES customers, the trade community, by utilizing the latest information technology. AESDirect, a free internet application, supported by the Census Bureau, came on-line in October 1999. For more information on AESDirect, please visit their website at http://www.aesdirect.gov. AES is also exploring client/server, Intranet, Internet and Public Access Workstation capabilities for communications within Customs and with the external trade community.

 

 

Trade & Technology Coming Together

AES is trade and technology coming together because trade and technology belong together.

Manual processes are being replaced by automation in all aspects of life - in today's world automation is the norm, not the exception. AES is the tool that is keeping the export industry in step with the Information Age. AES offers you a chance to be competitive in today's global economy, to join the movement toward a global EDI climate, and to put technology to work for you.

 

Getting Started

When you decide to join AES send a Letter of Intent to Census.

Upon receipt of the letter, a Customs Client Representative and a Census Client Representative will be assigned to serve as your technical advisor during development, testing and implementation.

Learn how to register with AES.

Read through some of the Frequently Asked Questions about AES.

This concludes the tour. We would like to thank you for taking the time to learn about AES. Again, we encourage you to sign our Guest Book before leaving the AES Web site.

 

For more information on AES you can call the AES toll-free Answerline at 1-800-549-0595 or send an e-mail to askAES@census.gov

 

AES logo