Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA), a not-for-profit group formed to advance the digitization and standardization of container shipping, has partnered with nine member carriers to launch the second phase of its electronic waybill (eBL) platform for interoperability proof of concept ( PoC) announced.

“The PoC will be conducted in conjunction with CargoX, edoxOnline, essDOCS and WAVE BL. The companies will implement DCSA eBL interoperability standards to test eBL interoperability across the full bill of lading lifecycle using data reflecting a live shipment. "

DCSA had previously released standards for eBL data formats and interfaces. “The eBL Interoperability PoC uses DCSA eBL Interoperability Standards 1.0 – Beta 1. Upon completion of the PoC, DCSA eBL Interoperability Standards 1.0 will be officially released and free to download for any platform provider to include in their eBL solutions to ensure interoperability with standards DCSA-based eBLs."

Phase one of the PoC was completed in May 2022 with seven actively participating airlines, ExxonMobil and four of the six IGP&I approved eBL solution providers - CargoX, edoxOnline, essDOCS and WAVE BL. Completion of phase two is expected before the end of 2022 and will ensure full technology interoperability between participating eBL platforms, the statement said.

“ExxonMobil believes that digitalization improves both customer experience and efficiency and sees value in adopting and scaling eBL solutions in the near term,” said Georgios Diallas, Global Strategy & Improvement Manager, Marine Container Team and ExxonMobil. “For an eBL system to be effective, it must be interoperable across platforms, and we applaud DCSA and its members for publishing standards to enable interoperability. We encourage all eBL platform providers to increase adoption of eBL by embracing DCSA standards.”

For the global supply chain, fully interoperable eBL is a starting point for digital commerce, said Thomas Bagge, CEO of DCSA. “It will make today's practices more efficient, reliable and sustainable, but ultimately it will provide a foundation for further digitization. Actors in global supply chains want to be able to choose the best platform for their needs. For service providers, it will remove barriers to adoption and create a operational base that fosters innovation and collaboration."

Less than 1.2 percent of waybills were electronic according to the study at the end of 2021, Bagge added, urging industry stakeholders to join and be part of the movement to work to 100 percent eBL acceptance.