eCommerce has skyrocketed since the start of the pandemic. Due to lockdowns, travel restrictions and health concerns, more and more people are shopping from the comfort and safety of their own homes.

The result? A surge in demand for shipping, port and intermodal transport services, which in turn has triggered disruptions and congestions in global supply chains.

Amid this uncertainty, one thing is for sure: the need for efficient, digitised processes and data-sharing has never been greater.

One year of MSC eBL: MSC paves the way for paperless trade

MSC is pushing the digital transformation of shipping with its electronic Bill of Lading (eBL) solution, launched one year ago in April 2021. Offered via a secure blockchain platform, MSC’s eBL helps to avoid the cumbersome steps involved in filling out, checking and exchanging paper shipping documents: a time-consuming and inefficient process. This innovative solution also helps to protect against human errors, fraud and document loss.

Crucially, it’s much faster than the traditional process, too: the eBL can reach its intended recipient within moments, as opposed to days or weeks. This helps with logistics organisation, enables shorter payment cycles and even leads to cost savings.

The urgent need to collaborate and embrace the DCSA standards

To make initiatives such as the eBL a success, widespread adoption is key – and that depends on cross-industry collaboration.

The Digital Container Shipping Association (DSCA) is a neutral and non-profit association focusing on driving standardisation, digitalisation and interoperability in container shipping. One of its key activities is creating industry-wide standards to enable frictionless sharing of digitised shipping data. But to successfully implement these standards, there is an urgent need for all stakeholders of the global supply chain to contribute – and among them customs and government authorities, thus fostering a culture of trade facilitation.

Don’t miss: MSC’s André Simha to speak at UNCTAD’s eCommerce Week

André Simha, MSC’s Chief Digital and Information Officer and Chairman of the DSCA, will be taking part in a panel discussion during eCommerce Week 2022: Data and Digitalization for Development.

This special event will take place simultaneously at the United Nations Office at Geneva and online from 25 to 29 April 2022, organised by UNCTAD in collaboration with eTrade for all and partners.

Tune in from 11:30 - 13:00 CEST on 27 April to watch the panel discussion and hear Andre’s insights into why data and digitalisation solutions are key to improving logistics operations for ecommerce.