Asia leads the world in the adoption of electronic bills of lading, according to the recent FIT Alliance survey. What are the key drivers behind Asia's success and can these learnings help adoption of eBLs globally? ICC Digital Standards Initiative Managing Director Pamela Mar shares her views on a deep dive into the survey results. https://lnkd.in/dpzxDuCn Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) BIMCO FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations International Chamber of Commerce Swift
Future International Trade (FIT) Alliance
International Trade and Development
The Alliance works to raise awareness of the benefits of digitalisation and common standards across jurisdictions.
About us
The FIT Alliance is the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA), BIMCO, FIATA, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and SWIFT. The Alliance works together to generate awareness about the benefits of going digital and the importance of common and interoperable data standards and common legislative conditions across international jurisdictions and platforms. The aim is to facilitate acceptance and adoption of eBLs by shippers, carriers, regulators, banks and insurers and to unify communication between these organisations and all other stakeholders involved in an international trade transaction. By establishing open-source, interoperable, technology-agnostic standards, the FIT Alliance intends to make the digitalisation of international trade a reality, enabling smooth data exchange and streamlining the end-to-end shipping process for the entire industry.
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https://www.fit-alliance.org/
External link for Future International Trade (FIT) Alliance
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- International Trade and Development
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- Nonprofit
Employees at Future International Trade (FIT) Alliance
Updates
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Coffee and Learn: Advancing eBL Adoption through Collaboration On Monday, 17 March, during the 2025 FIATA HQ Meeting, the Coffee and Learn session featured insights from some of the members of the FIT Alliance: the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA), the International Chamber of Commerce Digital Standards Initiative (ICC DSI), and FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations. The session highlighted the ongoing efforts of the FIT Alliance to drive interoperability, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and overcome adoption barriers. DCSA provided updates on ongoing developments, in line with the FIT Alliance's mission to ensure interoperability, detailing initiatives to address legal and technological challenges. These include completed Proof of Concept (POC) and Proof of Value (POV) studies, as well as the launch of the first production pilots with live shipments. Attendees were also encouraged to explore the FIT Alliance’s online resources, including guides and the electronic Bill of Lading (eBL) declaration. www.fit-alliance.org ICC DSI emphasised the critical need to support SMEs in adopting eBLs, as survey results revealed that smaller businesses continue to face hurdles in transitioning to digital trade documentation. Key challenges include access to reliable digital infrastructure, awareness of available solutions, and the ability to navigate evolving legal frameworks. To bridge this gap, the FIT Alliance has developed guides for each sector to facilitate eBL adoption and ensure that all stakeholders can fully benefit from the efficiencies and security of electronic trade documents. Recognising this as a priority, ICC DSI reinforced the importance of continued collaboration to create a more inclusive digital trade environment. FIATA addressed the main obstacles to the adoption of the electronic Bill of Lading by freight forwarders, with 21% of surveyed stakeholders citing banks’ preference for paper Bills of Lading (BLs) due to financing requirements. However, progress is on the horizon with the upcoming UNCITRAL Negotiable Cargo Documents Convention, which will integrate the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) and establish a trusted legal framework for banks to accept eBLs. The discussion reaffirmed the FIT Alliance’s commitment to driving industry-wide digitalisation and ensuring that all stakeholders can benefit from the efficiency and security of eBLs. FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) International Chamber of Commerce Swift BIMCO
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With the rate of eBill adoption growing steadily we have reached the tipping point where interoperability moves from a “nice to have” to a “need to have”. Great to to see the eBill solution providers collaborating on interoperability to help create an optimal solution. BIMCO FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) Swift International Chamber of Commerce
Great interview with Marina Comninos. 🔍 Highly recommend a read! As Marina has rightfully pointed out - one of the blocker to eBL adoption is the lack of interoperability, and it has taken some time to resolve because it is a difficult problem - you need to solve all 4 aspects - legal, technical, liability, and IG P&I Club approval. What ICE Digital Trade (formerly essDOCS) IQAX and Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN) have accomplished is a great milestone as we have addressed all the prerequisites for success, but quoting Marina again "this is just the beginning - it’s not a fait accompli" So to all (Customers, Carriers, Banks, Solution Providers) who wish to see full eBL adoption - let's collaborate to continually improve upon the design and create value for all involved such that we can scale eBL adoption. Pamela Mar Hannah Nguyen Grant Hunter Stephane Graber Merlin Dowse ICE Digital Trade (formerly essDOCS) Marina Comninos Alexander Goulandris IQAX Lionel Louie George Guo GQ Dai https://lnkd.in/gsh_hhaa
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Future International Trade (FIT) Alliance reposted this
Transforming the Global Transport and Trade Ecosystem Digitally || Simplifying Trade, Amplifying Success || Founder @ Shipping and Freight Resource & Shipping and Freight Academy
Goodbye Paper, Hello Digital: Electronic Bill of Lading interoperability is finally here The global shipping and freight industry has been sluggish with the adoption of electronic trade documentation, a key component of which is Electronic Bills of Lading.. Although the carriers, solution providers, and in some cases the law are all ready, adoption, which is a vital step towards digital transformation and efficiency in the industry has been slow.. One of the reasons or barriers often cited by some of the stakeholders for the adoption is “interoperability” – the ability for electronic trade documents to be issued or curated on one platform to be seamlessly transferred to another while retaining its legal and operational characteristics.. Well, that issue seems to have been surmounted based on two major milestones achieved in this area through the demonstration by key players (ICE Digital Trade (formerly essDOCS), IQAX, Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN), OOCL, Pacific International Lines (PTE) Ltd, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., CrimsonLogic Pte Ltd, Deqing Sunny Plastic Products Co., Ltd.,) that interoperability is now a reality.. These developments summarily answer the question “Is Interoperability in electronic bills of lading for container shipment finally here..??” Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) BIMCO Future International Trade (FIT) Alliance Marina Comninos Bertrand Chen Lionel Louie
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Future International Trade (FIT) Alliance reposted this
What happens when the world’s leading trade and financial hubs go all-in on #digitaltrade? ✅ Singapore amended the Electronic Transactions Act (ETA) to adopt #MLETR in 2021. ✅ Hong Kong is stepping up, with the 2025 Budget making reference to #MLETR and committing to legal reforms to enable trade document digitalization. ✅ Shanghai legislature passed China’s first-ever local regulation focused on blockchain-enabled electronic documents - the “Shanghai Regulations on Promoting Blockchain Applications for Electronic Documents in Pudong New Area” - effective January 2025. Among this power triangle 🔺 of Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai: 🚢 home to the world’s top 2 container ports 💱 two of the top 5 financial centers we are witnessing a fundamental shift in how trade and finance operate across Asia and beyond. Hong Kong and Singapore’s financial regulators are also active in exploring the tokenization of trade documents and the advancement of CBDCs, a forward-thinking approach to modernizing financial infrastructure. What does this mean for Hong Kong’s role as a trade and financial hub? Join #ICCDSI and Asia Global Institute on 25 March as we explore these developments and their impact on the future of trade: 📅 Global Trade Goes Digital: Achieving Transformation in Hong Kong 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/gzTbXsvH Repost or share with your network! International Chamber of Commerce #ICCDSI Keith Brandt Bertrand Chen Pamela Mar Venkatraman P Heiwai Tang Wilkie Wong Tianmi Stilphen Luca Castellani
🔍 The recently released #2025budget included a number of measures to boost Hong Kong’s position as a leader in international trade and supply chain, including a commitment to undertaking legal reforms to enable trade document digitalization, by reference to the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR). Co-organized by the Asia Global Institute and International Chamber of Commerce Digital Standards Initiative, this roundtable will offer a digital trade “explainer” for Hong Kong, answering the questions: • Why is the MLETR important and what exactly will it permit? • What is being done globally, especially by Hong Kong’s leading trade partners, to align to MLETR? • Why is trade document digitalization important, and how does MLETR change the playing field? • What should industry do immediately to prepare for a future of digital trade ? Register now - https://lnkd.in/gYJVrjgz Keith Brandt Bertrand Chen Pamela Mar Venkatraman P Heiwai Tang Wilkie Wong
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Cross-industry collaboration is a vital component of transforming the global supply chain through innovation and interoperability. Congratulations to our FIT Alliance partner Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) on the launch of the DCSA+ partnership programme and to their newly-signed partners.
We are proud to announce the official launch of our inaugural DCSA+ partnership programme! This unique initiative is designed to foster collaboration with sector leaders, drive innovation and accelerate interoperability across the industry. During an exclusive reception following #TPM25 in Long Beach, we welcomed our first partners, Lufthansa Industry Solutions and Vinturas. By joining DCSA+, both organisations gain the opportunity to collaborate with industry stakeholders, share insights and contribute to the development of digital standards. Their participation underscores a shared commitment to innovation and industry-wide progress. At DCSA, we believe collaboration is key to a seamless, resilient and efficient supply chain. With DCSA+, we look forward to uniting stakeholders and reinforcing our commitment to shaping the future of digital shipping with our partners! Find out why your organisation should join DCSA+ in our mission to drive change across the supply chain here: https://bit.ly/3Dm0Xzk #DCSA #Digitalisation #Standardisation #Innovation #SupplyChain #Partnership
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Some wise words to ponder from ICE Digital Trade’s CoHead, MarinaComninos - born of long experience. BIMCO Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) International Chamber of Commerce FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations Swift
🌟 Saturday Musings on Digitisation in Trade 🌟 As we navigate the complexities of #digitisation, it’s crucial to strike a balance between maintaining a positive outlook and setting realistic expectations. How do we encourage progress without glossing over the challenges of #trade digitisation? During a recent webinar, I listened to a speaker highlight the impressive savings from using electronic bills of lading (eBLs) over traditional paper documents. Despite dedicating 20 years to this field, I found myself feeling fatigued by the repeated promises of benefits that often seem out of reach. If I'm feeling this way, what must the industry at large be experiencing? It’s clear we need a more grounded approach in our communication with the trading community. #Overselling (resulting in underdelivering) contributes significantly to the slow adoption of digital solutions, alongside skepticism and the complexities involved. Let’s be honest about the journey ahead, while still presenting compelling solutions: 🔹 Recognize the challenge of change management: The road to trade digitisation is long. A practical approach is to implement modular solutions that digitize simpler components first, gradually building the network needed for more complex areas. 🔹 Be patient: We can't expect to go from zero to hero overnight. Focus on quick wins that allows teams to experience early successes, demonstrating the tangible benefits of full digitization. 🔹 Prioritize digitising processes over isolated tasks: Our work comprises a series of interconnected processes. Let’s concentrate on digitising these processes as a whole, rather than just individual components, as this is what provides real value. 🔹 Embrace collaboration as a necessity: Collaboration is more than just a buzzword; it’s essential for successful trade digitisation. It requires a shared commitment to progress, effort, transparent communication and a willingness to compromise. I’d love to hear your #musings on this topic and how we can collectively advance the conversation around trade digitisation! 💬 #hereforthelongrun #betterthanpaper #Trade #Digitisation #Collaboration #ChangeManagement #ProcessImprovement #eBL #Innovation
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Future International Trade (FIT) Alliance reposted this
Next week, DCSA’s CEO, Thomas Bagge, will speak at S&P Global’s TPM25 during the panel session “TPM Tech: An eBL Status Check” on Monday, 3rd March, from 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm (PST). The session will dive into the progress the industry has made in adopting electronic Bills of Lading (eBLs), discussing key challenges and the transformative potential of digitisation in global trade. Our Chief Growth Officer, Mariana Bock-Losada, will also be on-site to highlight the importance of collaboration in driving the industry forward. By taking a collaborative approach, we’ve been able to drive meaningful progress and develop digital processes that boosts efficiency for all industry participants. We remain committed to scaling digital adoption and are excited to share how we plan to continue enabling a future-ready supply chain industry. See you there! Learn more about the panel here: https://lnkd.in/exkYmyH6 #TPM25 #Collaboration #Standardisation #Digitalisaion
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The FIT Alliance's recent survey indicates that collaboration is contributing to the increase in eBL adoption as interest in trade digitalisation grows. Watch the video for our perspectives on the survey results. https://lnkd.in/ekdbf5ir Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) BIMCO International Chamber of Commerce FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations Swift
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FIT Alliance's 2024 eBL survey shows steady rise of electronic bill of lading adoption globally; collaboration across trade supply chain could unlock further gains. BIMCO Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) FIATA International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations Swift International Chamber of Commerce