Analysis: A new dawn for electronic bills of lading

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Electronic bills of lading (eB/Ls) have existed for several decades but their take-up has been slow. That is, until the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic which has considerably accelerated digitalisation globally, shipping being no exception.

Measures introduced by governments to slow the spread of Covid-19 brought numerous unintended consequences for the delivery of cargo. Restrictions on movement significantly delayed the delivery of the bills of lading and led to an increased incidence of vessels arriving at the discharge port before the ...