While technology is an important enabler, successfully implementing the end-to-end seamless border vision is a complex proposition that involves multiple stakeholders and requires supporting common standards alongside harmonised regulatory frameworks.
Having explored the vision and the technology innovations and advances being utilised today to support the implementation of seamless border programmes around the globe, we’ll now look at what’s involved in making this happen ‘for real’.
One thing is for sure. Initiatives currently underway highlight how implementation is a complex and multi-faceted proposition that goes way beyond simply planning to deploy new standalone systems and technologies and ‘hoping for the best’.
For a start, building a successful IT system that supports seamless travel involves deep collaboration between multiple stakeholders including border authorities, air and sea ports, land-based border points and carriers – including train and bus operators – and deep integrations with a multitude of other systems.
All of which will entail the redesign of business processes, the training of personnel in these new protocols, and careful planning to manage the operational impact of these changes. Plus, systems will need to be backwards compatible and future-proofed to support potential further technology innovations on the horizon. The discipline of change management and engaging comprehensively with stakeholders should include travellers, who need to be able to use the new solutions. Good two-way communication will all be important for achieving a successful outcome within planned timeframes.
But that’s not all. As technology increasingly forms an essential part of border control and international travel processes, the need for excellent cyber resilience and highly reliable IT systems and infrastructure will grow. Contingency plans need to be in place to handle unexpected downtime events, which could cause major disruption.