Editing UN/CEFACT (section)

== Trade facilitation and electronic business==
UN/CEFACT focusses on two main areas of activity to make international trade processes more efficient and streamlined, namely: [[trade facilitation]] and [[electronic business]].

Trade facilitation involves the simplification of trade procedures (or the elimination of unnecessary procedures). This includes work to standardize and harmonize the core information used in trade documents, to ease the flow of information between parties by relying on appropriate information and communication technology, and to promote simplified payment systems to foster transparency, accountability and cost-effectiveness.

Electronic business, in the UN/CEFACT context, focuses on harmonizing, standardizing and automating the exchange of information that controls the flow of goods along the international supply chain. UN/CEFACT's work on electronic business is driven by the understanding that goods cannot move faster than the processes and information that accompany them.

UN/CEFACT takes a total trade transaction approach to trade facilitation and associated electronic business, covering all the processes from initial placement of orders through to final payments. This is best illustrated through the UN/CEFACT Buy-Ship-Pay model of the international supply chain, which forms the basis of its work.

[[File:Buy-ship-pay.png|centre|thumb|499x499px|alt= Buy Ship Pay model of the international supply chain|Buy Ship Pay model of the international supply chain]]