Touring professionals know all too well the challenges of moving equipment and ATA Carnets have long been used for temporarily moving gear across borders. However, since Britain left the European Union, their usage has increased dramatically.
Every item, from guitars, lighting rigs to sound desks and staging, must be listed in detail for an ATA Carnet, including its description, country of origin, weight, and value. For major productions transporting container-loads of kit, it’s a monumental logistical task, and one we support our customers with every day. The stakes are high, and deadlines are tight because there’s no margin for error at international borders.
At Business West, we’re proud to be pioneering the next evolution in international touring logistics with Digital ATA or eATA Carnets. The ‘passports for goods’ are going paperless, and that’s good news for bands, artists, crews and tour managers.
We know, Carnets are not always popular within the music industry. From the extra admin and costs involved, they can feel like an added hassle. But for larger, more complex tours, Carnets can be the difference between smooth touring and customs chaos. Compared to the total value of all the equipment, they represent good value for money, as they eliminate the need to pay duties or taxes at each destination and simplify re-entry into the UK.
We hear from musicians that the Carnet process can feel overly bureaucratic or unnecessary, but in reality when you need one, you need it quickly and compliantly. That’s why we have been so committed to improving the experience. A Digital ATA Carnet does everything a traditional Carnet does – but faster, more securely, and with much less paper. Whether you’re prepping for a global tour, a one-off festival, or a run of European shows, the benefits include no loss of paperwork, fewer admin headaches, better for the planet due to less paper and touring friendly with tour managers able to manage Carnets via a dedicated desktop platform.
For the music and live events sectors, Digital Carnets represent a smarter, faster and greener solution that matches the pace and complexity of modern touring.
The journey toward digitalisation of the ATA Carnet scheme is picking up pace. Across the UK and participating countries, preparations are ongoing with customs teams and port authorities. Here in the UK, training has now been completed at Heathrow, Edinburgh, Holyhead and Dover, where several successful digital transactions have already taken place. These early test cases provide valuable insights into how the eATA Carnet app performs in real-world scenarios. Hot on the heels are Southampton, Portsmouth, Felixstowe, and Harwich, which will begin accepting test eATA Carnets shortly.
The UK is starting with a hybrid-based system, so digital and paper Carnets can be used alongside one another as the rollout progresses. As more UK ports join the eATA Carnet pilot, we encourage all Carnet users to familiarise themselves with the digital process. The transition from paper to digital is expected in early 2026, so now is the time to get ahead of the curve and even influence how the eATA Carnet app evolves in the coming year.
