Technology plays a big role in protecting the supply chains and facilitating trade

	Establishing free trade zones to enable Vietnam’s economic growth
	Using backscatter technology in screening containers and vehicles
	Cooperate closely with trusted stakeholders to effectively respond to future challenges

Mr. Darren Hart (pictured), Deputy Director of Border Transformation, UK Border Force

In the context of many innovative solutions on the market, can technologies as well as innovative solutions support enforcement cooperation in areas such as anti-smuggling and trade fraud?

With trade growing and diversifying coupled with increased customer expectations, technology has a huge role in helping enforcement meet the dual missions of security and trade facilitation.

At the same time by moving our officers away from routine, process-driven jobs to more for filling technology-enabled roles, we can attract the more tech-savvy younger generation into our workforce.

Old skills such as an expansive knowledge of the rules will be replaced with more focus on adopting a professional, emotionally intelligent, and customer-centric approach.

In the near future, what emerging technologies or trends will bring the most effectiveness for Customs control at the border?

At the conference, we heard a great deal about the role of artificial intelligence in augmenting X-ray imagery analysis especially when combined with supply chain data. This potentially helps us with many forms of customs compliance ranging from counter-narcotics through to identifying under-valuation.

However, we are still relying on X-rays, a technology from the last century. Will it ever be fast enough to scan fast parcels or post at a speed to not disrupt the flow within sorting centers?

Many countries have legislation about exposing people to x-rays placing limits on its use. I want to know what's next to move us beyond this old technology.

In your opinion, to respond to the rapid changes in technology, what should the Customs agency prepare for those changes?

Change has never been this fast, it will never be this slow again. This quote from Forbes Magazine sums up the challenges for customs and border management. The private sector will adapt and use new technologies which in turn will drive up customer differentiation and expectations. Likewise, organized crime groups and terrorist organizations will look to exploit any new opportunities.

How do we prepare for these? The first and foremost criterion is to devote some of your resources to a forward-looking role, working with senior leaders to create a vision and the technology needs to meet this. The ability to horizon scan, working across governments and industry to understand the changes and how we can exploit rather than be threatened by them.

Employing VRT in transferring knowledge on customs professions

At the same time, we ignore at our peril, the views of the front-line officer whose experience and understanding are vital. We need to both value their skills regarding changes but at the same time help them to change and adapt, devoting time, money, and energy to help them develop new skills.

Finally, we need to diversify our recruitment processes - we still need those with a law enforcement appreciation but also need data scientists, coders, and content creators. All of this requires buy-in from the most senior levels of leadership.

Thank you!