The e-Brief for the Export Strategy-Maker entitled Emerging Business Models in the Digital Economy¹specifically notes that "The secret to survival and success for the export-oriented enterprise is to be Web-enabled." And in the ITC paper entitled Death of Digital Distance² again, it is noted that "Particularly SMEs need to become e-enabled so that they can help bridge the digital divide through trade transactions - …"

One can take that hypothesis a step further to say that the key to local, national, and international competitiveness will lie in being able to take advantage of the opportunities for greater administrative efficiency, better trade facilitation, access to trade services and effective government (good governance) within the context of the digital economy. In fact, the e-Brief for the Export Strategy-Maker entitled E-governance: the State and cyberspace³ notes recommendations made by the OECD Business Forum including: "Governments should use new electronic delivery systems to provide the means to significantly enhance the internal efficiency and productivity of public administrations" and "Governments should be pioneers in using new technologies for making electronic forms available for collecting taxes and other functions".

Tatis has developed B2G and B2B international trade and e-government solutions which "level the playing field" for international trade partners, trade services providers (and users) and governments in developing and transition economies. In many ways the digital economy acts as "the great equaliser" and enables opportunities for solutions to redress problems in trade facilitation, governmental efficiency and trade services – problems which have in the past separated the rest of the world from the G7.

One can imagine the day when an international trade transaction could be truly "paperless". However, this point has yet to be reached. Some nations such as the USA and Singapore have implemented systems, which are based upon electronic documents, but the systems have yet to incorporate all of the key "players", "partners" and "stakeholders". In the mean time, there exists a significant gap between paper-based systems and electronic documents.

Tatis has taken on this challenge to "Bridge the Gap Between Paper-Based Systems and Electronic Documents". With Tatis solutions, developing and transition economies can compete effectively in terms of trade facilitation and access to trade services.

Today there is a gap between the developed and transition/developing economies in how international trade issues are addressed. In some countries, access to trade-related services can be very limited and trade and revenue compliance processes very inefficient. This limited trade services access can have significant negative effects on competitiveness in terms of cost of goods and the procurement of trade-related services.

Tatis has addressed this issue within the context of a B2B international trade services procurement solution. The Tatis solution provides the trade community with the opportunity to access, on a unique Internet platform, an extensive range of services including trade finance, insurance, supply chain management, logistics, shipping and transport. In effect, Tatis offers access to an open market for trade services procurement, thus increasing competitiveness and reducing transaction costs. For the exporter, this represents the opportunity to offer the best service at the best price.

Tatis Limited is the leading innovator in e-fiscal Business-to-Government (B2G) portal solutions. It has developed a comprehensive portfolio of trade facilitation products designed to accelerate the import, transit and export processes while enhancing access to international markets. Tatis is developing B2G portals, which enable access to trade-related information with the possibility to process import, transit or export transactions.

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