Descartes for Beneficial Cargo Owners (BCOs)
Read how Descartes can help BCOs meet complex customs and security requirements
What is a BCO in Shipping?
A Beneficial Cargo Owner in shipping is the designated owner of goods who contracts directly with carriers for cargo space. With increasing ecommerce demands and strict regulatory requirements, managing shipments into and within the U.S. requires speed, accuracy, and compliance at every step.
BCOs & Ecommerce Shipments
More BCOs are facing pressure to modernize logistics due to ecommerce. This shift means BCOs must now:
✔ Manage direct bookings and capacity planning
✔ Take ownership of regulatory filings and data accuracy
✔ Coordinate across multiple stakeholders
✔ Maintain end-to-end visibility and control of shipments
However, ensuring data accuracy, and regulatory filings, managing information between parties adds more complexity and greater risk.
How Can Descartes Help?
We help BCOs turn complexity into a competitive advantage through our advanced Descartes Global Logistics Network™ (Descartes GLN™) messaging capabilities and solutions to enable customs compliance.
How Does Descartes Enable Connectivity for BCOs Across Logistics Stakeholders?
We help BCOs better connect with logistics parties by bringing together carriers, logistics providers, and government agencies on the Descartes GLN. BCOs can seamlessly transmit standardized shipment, compliance, and operational data across all partners, eliminating silos, reducing manual handoffs, and minimizing errors.
By connecting once to the Descartes GLN, organizations gain access to a broad ecosystem of trading partners, enabling faster onboarding, more consistent communication, and the ability to repurpose data across workflows.
How Does Descartes Help BCOs Facilitate Compliance?
Descartes helps BCOs meet complex customs and security requirements by embedding compliance directly into their logistics workflows. With Descartes, authorized BCOs can automate critical filings such as:
✔ Air Automated Manifest System (AMS)
✔ Air Cargo Advance Screening (ACAS)
✔ In-bond (7512) movements
By digitizing and standardizing compliance processes across trading partners, Descartes enables BCOs to minimize delays, avoid penalties, and keep goods moving efficiently across borders.
About Descartes
Descartes is a global leader in regulatory compliance, combining deep expertise with the Descartes Global Logistics Network™ to connect BCOs with customs authorities, government agencies, carriers, and logistics partners for accurate, timely filings. By embedding compliance into a connected, standardized workflow, Descartes reduces risk, minimizes errors, and streamlines regulatory processes across global supply chains.