AEB reports successful implementation of EMCS solution at Marston’s
Moving and exporting some of the UK’s leading ale brands, such as Marston’s Pedigree, Wychwood Hobgoblin and Banks’s Mild within the EU has just become easier, thanks to the implementation of AEB (International) Ltd‘s EMCS solution EMCS||XPRESS at Marston’s.
As the UK’s leading brewer and pub company, Marston’s performs movements of goods that are subject to excise duties from the UK to (and within) other EU countries. But on 1st January 2011, a new regulation changed the game within the European Union, particularly for registered consignees/consignors and tax warehouse keepers such as Marston’s: the Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS).
EMCS applies to alcoholic beverages, manufactured tobacco products and energy products (motor fuels and heating fuels, such as petrol and gasoline, electricity, natural gas, coal and coke). It affects mostly wholesalers who trade alcoholic drinks (such as breweries and wine merchants), tobacco growers, manufacturers of mineral oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Live since 2011, EMCS was designed to replace the previous paper-based system and is a computerised structure for recording in real-time the movement of excise goods which have not yet been released for consumption and for which excise duties have yet to be paid. The third phase (FS2) is due to go into effect in January 2012, and will include enhancements which allow for the splitting of energy product movements going to multiple destinations, as well as a notification for incorrect or incomplete consignments.
With AEB’s EMCS||XPRESS, Marston’s is now using an easy-to-use web-based software solution that makes submitting and tracking EMCS movements simple and affordable and doesn’t require any investment in IT infrastructure. The system went live in May 2011 and currently serves 24 users.
EMCS||XPRESS is an online solution for participating in EMCS, ideal for both the quick discharge and the convenient submission of e-ADs. The system guides registered consignors or tax warehouses keepers, like Marston’s, through the process of submitting movements electronically, receiving confirmations by the authorities and sending notifications. On the inbound side, as soon as the user receives a shipment accompanied by an e-AD, they simply log on to EMCS||XPRESS and discharge it. All of AEB’s SaaS modules under the SERIES||XPRESS offer fast online access and high levels of usability, while offering options for automated data import and export to systems either up or down the process flow. This ensures full transparency and interconnectivity of supply chain processes as well as partners.
For operators, EMCS creates an opportunity to optimise internal excise processes, save costs and increase shipping times and to standardise and harmonise information flows between operators and Customs authorities. This will simplify procedures and enable paperless administration and effective use of modern IT tools — an important evolution for those who trade in alcohol, tobacco or oil products.
AEB’s General Manager, Claire Umney, said: “The latest change in regulatory requirements, namely EMCS, is another example of hidden opportunities to optimise and streamline supply chain processes through not only ensuring compliance with authority and customs regulations and requirements, but through making the most of them, hence improving general, operational efficiency and eliminating wastage. Using AEB’s EMCS solutions, either as SaaS, as part of an end-to-end SCM system or as a plug-in integrated into your SAP®, will ensure smooth and compliant customs movements, while generating transparency and optimising efficiency.”
Chris Evans, Group Logistics Manager at Marston’s, said: “Prior to using EMCS||XPRESS we were using the HMRC Government Gateway to complete EMCS submissions and discharges. We had been looking for a more convenient and user friendly solution, and that’s exactly what AEB delivered. Our staff can now quickly process each transaction by using configurable templates that reduce the time required for data entry. The e-AD is generally transmitted within one minute and can then be printed and handed to the driver. We are really impressed by EMCS||XPRESS, as it saves us so much time and effort and helps to keep costs down. “
Marston’s brews some of the UK’s leading ale brands including Marston’s Pedigree, Wychwood Hobgoblin, Banks’s Bitter, Mansfield Bitter, Jennings Cumberland Ale and Ringwood Best Bitter. It also operates more than 2,000 pubs across the UK.
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Contacts For editorial queries or interview requests please contact Andrea Krug, Krug Communications, tel. ++44 (0)7740 245 867, email: andrea@krugcomms.com. To find out more about AEB’s supply chain management software solutions please contact AEB (International) Ltd., tel. ++44 (0)1926 801 250, email: info@aeb-international.co.uk, or visit AEB’s website at www.aeb-international.co.uk.
Notes to Editors
About AEB (International) Ltd AEB is one of Europe’s leading providers of supply chain logistics software and has been delivering solutions to customers for over thirty years. The company has over 6,000 customers worldwide, supported by offices in the UK, Germany, Singapore, Switzerland and the US. AEB’s core product — ASSIST4 — is the comprehensive solution suite for all logistics processes in global business. ASSIST4 offers a complete set of business services for end-to-end logistics, including international goods movements, making it possible to standardise and automate business processes in supply chain execution. ASSIST4 also creates transparency and provides a reliable basis for making the right decisions about the planning, monitoring, control and continual optimisation of supply networks — even beyond the boundaries of the business. The ASSIST4 suite offers full functionality via a wide range of modules including Warehouse Management, Freight Management, Transport Management, Customs Management, Visibility & Collaboration and Compliance & Risk Management.
About the Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS) EMCS (Excise Movement and Control System) is a computerised system for monitoring movements of excise goods under suspension of excise duty within the EU, i.e. for which no excise duties have yet been paid. It will replace the paper document that currently must accompany such movements (the Administrative Accompanying Document or AAD) with electronic messages from the consignor to the consignee via Member State administrations. For further details about EMCS, please visit http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/taxation/excise_duties/circulation_control/index_en.htm.
About AEB (International) Ltd’s EMCS solutions AEB (International) Ltd offers four dedicated EMCS solutions: • EMCS||XPRESS – an affordable online solution without any IT investment needed. Ideal for the quick discharge of e-Ads and the occasional submission of e-Ads. • EMCS||XPRESS plus – an online solution that connects to an existing ERP system. Enables automation without any IT investment needed. • ASSIST4 – a practical extension of existing ASSIST4 installations to include all EMCS functionalities. Unique for its end-to-end process security and IT integration. • ATC :: EMCS – an affordable plug-and-play extension to handle EMCS directly within SAP®.