News / As DCSA and shippers work to develop eBL standards, forwarders remain wary

© Prasit Rodphan

The Digital Container Shipping Association (DSCA) has attempted to bring electronic bills of lading (eBLs) a step closer, through a new partnership with the European Shippers’ Council (ESC).

Among the ’lowest-hanging fruit’ in digitalising the logistics sector, eBLs would dramatically reduce paperwork and, it is thought, the manpower required to process it. However, a universal standard for eBLs must first be established.

This would include agreement on the necessary details, as well as the software format used to transfer them from one ...