Enigio’s trace:original is now compliant with BIMCO’s standard for e-bill of lading

Published: January 24, 2023
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Standards and interoperability are key factors to achieve efficient trade processes, as there are several parties involved in export or import transactions. Enigio welcomes standards and are pleased to confirm that trace:original supports BIMCO’s open standard for electronic bills of lading for bulk shipping.

Enigio’s trace:original is able to digitise any trade document, including negotiable instruments like bills of lading. It is designed to comply with current legislation and is fully aligned with UNCITRAL’s Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) and it provides a fully digital workflow that is faster, safer more cost-efficient and sustainable than paper. trace:original bills of lading can be sent, received, and managed by everyone in the trade process, from large exporters to freight forwarders and local agents in emerging markets. It is only the one creating a digital original document that needs to be a customer of Enigio. Once a document has been created it is free to use and manage for anyone the same way as a paper document. The only requirement is a computer and internet access. trace:original does not require sensitive, commercial data to be stored in a central platform, which is a concern raised by many parties in the trade chain.

BIMCO is the world’s largest international shipping association, with around 2,000 members in more than 130 countries, representing over 60% of the world’s tonnage.  The global membership includes shipowners, operators, managers, brokers, and agents. Facilitating trade is at the very heart of their business, and since 1905, they have helped members keep world trade moving. BIMCO is a non-profit organisation.

“BIMCO believes that the widespread adoption of open standards is a critical step towards digital transformation and establishing efficient trade processes in shipping. We very much welcome and encourage the adoption by solution providers, like Enigio, of our open standard for electronic bills of lading used in the bulk sector” says Grant Hunter, BIMCO’s Director of Standards, Innovation and Research.

“All parties in trade will benefit from standards and at Enigio we are currently working with several corporates, banks, and freight forwarders in order to digitise export and import documents. The standard developed by BIMCO is of great importance as carriers are initiators in making trade transactions more efficient, less risky, more environmentally friendly and inclusive for all parties”, says Ulf Eggefors, Enigio’s Head of Sales Transport & Logistics

 

Links to interesting reading:

Use case trace:oiriginal bill of lading

Article in Trade Finance Global Talks Digitising trade: the solution is in plain sight