These programs advocated use of EDI as the best means for parties in the supply chain co-operating to place goods on retail shelves quickly in response to emerging market demands. These programs targeted suppliers, and to a lesser extent carriers. Implementation of EDI has been slow in international trade, in part because truly international standards are lacking. Curiously enough, the lack of EDI usage has its positive side. In many cases only documents can give this confirmation, such as certificates issued by an internationally recognized inspection agency attesting to the quality of goods.
Governments rely on numerous paper forms to enforce regulatory programs.
Traders to Argentina can not obtain the full benefits of Bolero. They will find it more practical to have the SIP document named in the paper letter of credit as one of the documents that a supplier must present to get paid. So they will be likely to stick with the present paper-based system they now use. Not surprisingly, the BRS do not have much to propose in the way of persuading governments to discontinue reliance on paper. Perhaps the task is one which would be too long term for a project which must get established quickly.