Replacing paper-based documents that need to be couriered between countries with digital messages and formats sent instantly over the Internet offers significant savings in time and cost for all parties involved in international logistics.

Digitalisation also reduces the risk of a document’s loss, theft or manipulation and makes the movement of goods more visible to shippers, forwarders, carriers, as well as government and border agencies. The development of distributed ledger systems, including Blockchain, offer further benefits, as well as challenges.

Once shipment information is routinely presented in digital form then the entire interaction between shippers, forwarders and carriers can be conducted through internet-based platforms and ultimately on applications on mobile devices. It could soon be possible to manage entire international supply chains from your mobile phone!

Shippers have three key interests in the digitalisation of international logistics:

• As the owners of the shipment data being digitised and shared, often containing commercially confidential information, with expectations and rights data protection and
• As the owners of the cargoes being moved, with rights and obligations arising from the terms on which sale and delivery has been agreed.
• As individuals named or identifiable from information contained in digital records, with rights of confidentiality and privacy protection

GSF is working to ensure these rights, interests and obligations are recognised and incorporated into new digital documentation systems and trading platforms and are protected at law.

Join GSF and to stay ahead of the digital transformation of international logistics