WASHINGTON — With the deployment of new Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) entry summary this month, and accounts, and revenue capabilities fast approaching, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ACE Account Services Desk (ASD) staff is preparing to help both new account holders and existing ACE users with expanded account management capabilities.

In anticipation of increased customer inquiries, CBP is increasing service desk staff levels, including more individuals who have extensive technical experience in developing the software code that underlies the new entry summary, accounts, and revenue capabilities.

The ASD will continue to provide customer support service 24 hours, seven days a week.

The agency expects that the expanded ASD will be a key resource for users of the new entry summary, accounts, and revenue capabilities to be deployed in September. These capabilities will expand ACE portal access to virtually every entity doing business with CBP as well as provide new account management features, such as “cross-account access” that allows importers and brokers to manage multiple accounts with the use of only one sign-on and password.

To ensure customer questions are answered consistently, ASD team members will rely, in part, on a comprehensive frequently asked questions document and an account creation user manual that has been expanded to cover all account types.

ASD systems are in place to track and record each open customer service ticket, prepare requests to address any system problems, and capture customer feedback and “great ideas” for further system enhancements.

The agency is recommending all ACE users take the web-based training course on the new capabilities, entitled “Enhanced ACE Accounts and Master Data,” which is available on the CBP Web site. ( ACE Training and Reference Guides ) For help using the new capabilities, users should first contact the ACE Help Desk at 1-800-927-8729.