As a founding member of the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA), MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) welcomes the creation of the Future International Trade (FIT) Alliance.
Jointly cofounded on 15 February 2022, through the signing of a memorandum of understanding, the Alliance brings together the nine members of the DCSA, BIMCO, FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Association), ICC (International Chamber of Commerce) and SWIFT.
It represents a significant milestone in the DCSA’s ongoing journey to further digitalisation of container shipping technology standards.
These industry players had been in action behind the scenes since early 2021 via a working group aimed at bringing a joint vision into line. Now, the FIT Alliance intends to facilitate acceptance and adoption of electronic bills of lading (eBL) throughout the industry, including by banks, regulators, and insurers.
The Alliance will also cooperate on developing relevant standards, and it plans to generate awareness about the importance of shared and interoperable data processes and legislative conditions across the broader shipping community.
Ultimately, it hopes to accelerate digitalisation, making end-to-end shipping more efficient, more straightforward, and secure for all.
As for MSC, it says that it has long been an advocate of digitalisation in the shipping industry.
MSC believes that for digitalisation to work at its best, everyone needs to be on board, working hand-in-hand establishing a common language, defined by the whole industry
said explained André Simha, MSC’s Global Chief Digital & Innovation Officer and DCSA Chairman, explaining that it doesn’t just begin and end with containers, as the industry has to look at the entire journey and create best practices that work for the customers all along the supply chain.
