Shipping sector users can now make payments to various stakeholders through a common platform which will remove dependency on bank-specific solutions. The Shipping Ministry will issue a notification soon to make this mandatory. This will lower the cost of transaction and drop the dwell time and also improve the ease of doing business.

The Indian Ports Association (IPA) has launched the Port Community System ‘PCS1x’.

A major feature is the deployment of a payment aggregator solution which removes dependency on bank specific payment ecosystem, it said. ‘PCS 1x’ is a cloud-based new generation technology, with user-friendly interface.

The system seamlessly integrates eight new stakeholders besides the 19 existing stakeholders from the maritime trade on a single platform. It will improve communication of trade with customs.

The platform offers value-added services such as notification engine, workflow, mobile application, track and trace, better user interface, better security features, improved inclusion by offering dashboard for those with no IT capability.

The system offers a database that acts as a single data point to all transactions. It captures and stores data on its first occurrence thereby reducing manual intervention, the need to enter transaction data at various points and thereby reducing errors in the process.