Evergreen Line has announced it will introduce a paperless Bill of Lading (in partnership with trade finance digitization solutions provider Bolero International in an aim to enhance connectivity for exporters and importers with Customs and port authorities, banks, insurers and regulators.
Evergreen is the first container carrier to integrate with Bolero’s electronic Bill of Lading (eBL) solution into high-volume container trades, which will make data transfer more accurate, efficient, reliable and secure.
Evergreen also stated that an advantage for its container shippers will be the rapid issuance and transmission of the i-B/L.
This will be particularly helpful for short-sea shipments when a paper Bill of Lading can sometimes arrive later than the vessel, making it difficult for importers to pick up cargo on a timely basis.
The paperless services will also allow reviews and alterations to be undertaken online, as well as speed up cash-flow by avoiding the delays associated with traditional documents.
Carriers can also release goods, and banks can release payment to shippers far more quickly.
Evergreen’s ShipmentLink digital portal will integrate with Bolero’s eBL technology, which includes i-B/L (intelligent Bill of Lading) and i-Dispatch, a solution that delivers documents associated with such transactions.
The new i-Dispatch function will facilitate the electronic exchange of the wide range of documentation associated with shipments in addition to the B/L, such as packing lists, commercial invoices, certificates of origin and other customs-related credentials, licenses and inspection reports.
This will help avoid the dangers of loss, fraudulent copying and errors associated with paper documents.
Ian Kerr, CEO of Bolero, said: “We are delighted that such a major global container carrier is partnering with us to help transform an industry on which world trade depends.” “With Evergreen we are taking a very significant next-step in the digitization of world trade by putting our technology at the disposal of a wider community of container shippers and NVOCCs.”