Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) has published beta releases of Standards for the Booking Process 1.0 and the Bill of Lading 2.0.
In conjunction with these releases, the company unveiled a website where interested parties can go to review and provide feedback on beta versions of DCSA Standards.
“After the publication of DCSA electronic bill of lading (eBL) standards, the publication of booking process standards is the second step toward end-to-end digitalisation of the shipping documentation process,” said the association.
DCSA Standards for the Booking Process 1.0 will enable frictionless sharing of digitised shipping data, which is anticipated to eliminate the need to rekey booking information into the eBL.
Regarding DCSA Standards for the Bill of Lading 2.0, they are aligned with DCSA booking process standards to enable automatic uptake of booking process data.
“In 2021, only 1.2% of the bills of lading issued by carriers was digital,” said Thomas Bagge, CEO of DCSA, who went on to add, “Fortunately, this leaves much room for improvement of the B/L process, which will have a significant and positive impact on international trade.”
As part of DCSA’s multi-year e-documentation initiative, these publications are expected to bring the industry closer to a standardised electronic bill of lading, which, according to DSCA, will increase efficiency, enhance transparency, facilitate compliance and eliminate paper from international trade.
Through this initiative, the association aims to facilitate acceptance and adoption of eBL by regulators, banks and insurers and to unify communication between these organisations and customers, carriers and all other stakeholders involved in a transaction.
“Eliminating paper each year will improve sustainability, and digitising documents will increase the accuracy and availability of digital data, which will benefit everyone along the supply chain, including customs organisations,” commented Bagge.
Subsequent releases of DCSA’s e-documentation initiative will include data and process standards for arrival notice and release shipment, according to the association.
