Digital Customs at the service of sustainable logistics

Abstract

Today, questions relating to logistics as a possible response to the problems of supply, processing and distribution are major concerns for both practitioners and researchers, particularly in the context of the globalization of the economy and the international breakdown of production processes.

However, it has to be said that this boom in international trade has been accompanied by a general and growing awareness of environmental issues, caused by climate change among other things.

Against the backdrop of these socio-economic changes, corporate social responsibility is attracting growing interest in both theory and practice, as part of the debate on sustainable development.

On the other hand, like all public organizations, customs, as a major player in the logistics chain, has been obliged to adopt a results-based management approach, dictated by the requirements of budget reforms.

For several decades now, the Moroccan customs administration has been engaged in a process of digital transformation, with performance as its main objective.

In fact, the major challenge for customs remains how to reconcile trade facilitation and the fluidity of trade on the one hand, and securing the international supply chain through effective and intelligent control on the other.

That said, the question today is how can Supply Chain Management (SCM) be both effective and sustainable at the same time? And how can customs, as a major player in SCM, contribute to achieving this objective?

Based on systematic literature and direct observation, this article addresses the issue of the role of digital customs in the sustainability of the supply chain in the context of the Moroccan Customs Administration.

Keywords: Supply Chain Management, Sustainable Development, Digitalization, Performance.

JEL Classification : H11, O33, O38, Q56.

Paper type: Theoretical Research.