Trade Intelligence
Trade Intelligence tracks the paperwork and money of exports and imports: export and import shipments, landed cost, LCs and forex, export incentives, compliance report, licences, CHA and forwarders, samples and enquiries.
Why and when you use it
An export is not done when the invoice is made: there is a shipping bill, a bill of lading, payment realisation and incentives to claim. Imports carry freight and duty that change the true stock cost. Trade Intelligence keeps each shipment's papers and money in one place. The export manager and accountant use it.
Before you start
- Export invoice created in Trade
- Customs agent (CHA) and forwarder details at hand
- Trade Intelligence active (Enterprise plan)
Step by step
- Add the export shipmentIn Export Shipments, use Add export shipment. Record the FOB value (foreign currency), Port of loading, BL / AWB no., Container no. and later the e-BRC no. and Payment. The list shows Buyer, Country, Export invoice no., Incoterm, Value in ₹, Shipping bill no., Shipping bill date and Status.
- Record import shipmentsUse Import Shipments for goods you bring in, with their documents and charges.
- Work out landed costOpen Landed Cost to spread freight, duty, clearing and other charges over the imported goods, so stock carries its true cost.
- Manage LCs and forexUse LCs & Forex for letters of credit (bank guarantees of payment) and foreign exchange deals linked to your shipments.
- Claim export incentivesTrack incentive claims in Export Incentives, and check open items in Compliance Report.
- Keep licences and partnersStore your registrations, such as your IEC (Importer Exporter Code), in Licences & Registrations. List customs agents and forwarders in CHA & Forwarders.
- Follow up enquiriesRecord sample requests and buyer enquiries in Samples & Enquiries, so leads from abroad are followed up.
- Check Registers Overview, Accounts and My PlanThe last tabs are shared by the industry modules. Registers Overview gives one summary of the registers in Trade Intelligence, Accounts shows the money side of the module and how it reaches your books, and My Plan confirms the module is active - it reads "Trade Intelligence Enterprise (Enterprise plan)".
Worked example
Patel Engineering Works in Rajkot ships the USD 12,500 order to Allied Pumps Inc from Mundra on FOB terms. It also imports bearings from Germany worth ₹4,00,000.
- Export Shipments - Add export shipment: Export invoice no. EXP/26-27/014, Incoterm FOB, FOB value 12,500 USD, Port of loading Mundra, Container no. and BL no. from the forwarder.
- Shipping bill no. and Shipping bill date added once the CHA files it; Status moves forward.
- On 20 Dec 2026 the payment arrives; the e-BRC no. is recorded and Payment marked.
- Import Shipments: records the bearings; Landed Cost adds customs duty ₹48,000, freight ₹12,000 and CHA charges ₹6,500.
- Export Incentives: marks the shipment for the incentive claim.
Result: The export file is complete with shipping bill, BL and e-BRC, and the bearings enter stock at ₹4,66,500 instead of ₹4,00,000, so your product cost is right.
💡 Tips
- Record the e-BRC as soon as payment is realised - incentive claims depend on it.
- Do landed cost before you price products made with imported parts.
- Keep licence expiry dates in Licences & Registrations and check them quarterly.
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Leaving shipments without a shipping bill number, which blocks incentive claims later.
- Booking freight and duty as general expenses instead of landed cost, which understates stock cost.
सवाल
Is this the same as the Landed Cost screen?
The Landed Cost screen under Purchases does the same job; Trade Intelligence has its own Landed Cost tab for import shipments.
🎬 Video walkthrough (script — recording coming soon)
- Scene 1: Trade Intelligence tab row.
- Scene 2: Add export shipment for EXP/26-27/014.
- Scene 3: Adding shipping bill and e-BRC.
- Scene 4: Import shipment and Landed Cost to ₹4,66,500.
- Scene 5: LCs & Forex and Export Incentives.
- Scene 6: Licences & Registrations and CHA & Forwarders.