Case USA91: How a Customs Modernization Program Substituted Trade Portals for Enterprise Architecture Integration
- Sunil Dutt Jha
- Jul 29
- 2 min read
Overview:
This case is part of a 100-diagnostic series revealing how US border and customs agencies have mislabeled public-facing technology as “Enterprise Architecture progress.”
A recurring pattern is treating digital trade portals as proof of architectural integration.
Importers could submit declarations online, track shipments, and access compliance guidelines in one place — yet the enterprise structure linking customs clearance, regulatory enforcement, tariff management, and inter-agency data sharing was never modeled.
P1–P6 Insight Preview:
These six perspectives define how an enterprise connects intent to execution
— P1: Strategy, P2: Business Processes, P3: System Behaviors, P4: Component Governance, P5: Implementation, P6: Business & Technology Operations.
P1 (Strategy): The portal rollout was positioned as trade facilitation, but there was no architecture-led plan connecting it to revenue protection, security outcomes, or global supply chain resilience.
P2 (Process): Submission and tracking workflows were digitized, but inspection, risk assessment, and appeals processes remained fragmented across agencies.
P3 (System): The trade portal wasn’t behaviorally integrated with risk engines, logistics tracking, or international regulatory systems.
P4 (Component): Submission modules, payment gateways, and compliance databases were governed in silos, creating duplication of rules and data.
P5 (Implementation): Rollout prioritized front-end functionality for traders, leaving systemic integration milestones unfunded or deferred.
P6 (Operations): Business ops handled routine declarations faster, but tech ops still managed manual reconciliations for high-risk or exceptional shipments.
Stakeholder Impact Summary:
CEO/Customs Commissioner – accountable for trade flow, security, and revenue protection: Impacted by weak P1 Strategy — the portal improves trader convenience but doesn’t strengthen border security or revenue assurance.
CIO – responsible for system integration and data exchange: Impacted by P3 System Behaviors and P4 Component Governance — core systems remain disconnected, requiring costly point-to-point integrations.
Sales Head (Trade & Industry Engagement) – manages importer/exporter relationships: Affected by P2 Processes and P5 Implementation — can promote speed of filing but can’t guarantee faster resolution for flagged shipments.
Chief Enterprise Architect – ensures alignment between customs processes, systems, and national objectives: Confronts P1–P6 issues — the portal is a transactional layer without enterprise integration.
Head of Border Operations – oversees inspections and clearance at ports of entry: Feels P2, P3, & P6 — must manually coordinate inspection schedules and risk assessments across multiple unlinked systems.
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