Electronic Cargo Tracking System and Operational Peformance at Kenya Revenue Authority and on Transporters

Abstract

Technology is at the centre stage in Kenya‟s long-term development goals this is evident especially in the national policy strategic goals known as vision 2030. Vision 2030 aims at transforming Kenya into an industrialized middle income that will enable the country to be able to develop and compete global with the other developing nations. The vision 2030 policy comprises of three key pillars: Economic; Social; and Political. The Economic Pillar aims to achieve an average economic growth rate of 10 per cent per annum and sustaining the same until 2030. To be able to achieve these goals national organizations are implementing systems that enable them to be able to participate in the achievement of these goals. One such system is the Electronic Cargo Tracking System-ECTs. This system was first introduced in the aviation industry and it was used for the tracking cargo that was moved by air, over time it has evolved and is now being used to track cargo that is being moved by road. The objective of the study was to determine the extent of implementation of the electronic cargo tracking system by both the transporters and by Kenya Revenue Authority, to determine factors that influence the implementation of electronic cargo tracking and operational performance at Kenya Revenue Authority and by the transporters and lastly to establish the challenges faced in the implementation of the system. This study adopted exploratory research design. A research questionnaire was used as a data collection tool with different officials at different stations country wide. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and the finding of this study reveals that the system has been implemented and it has a positive impact on operational performance both at KRA and also at transport organizations that have implemented the system. The research findings revealed that the major challenge in implementing the system is a slight disconnect between what the revenue collect expects and what the vendors have set-up, similarly the research reveals that IT infrastructure is key for the successful implementation of the system.. The study recommends both the transporter and Kenya Revenue Authority should be in constant communication for the system to work.