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15. February 2021EKB Container Logistics, specializing in container transport, is now introducing the digital freight document, making it a pioneer in its industry, as containers have so far been almost exclusively accompanied by traditional freight papers. Blockchain ensures tamper-proof processes. The project holds a savings potential of 2 million sheets of paper per year and accelerates processes.
(Nuremberg/Bremen) EKB Container Logistics is introducing the digital freight document. Project partner is the Nuremberg software and systems house cargo support and their blockchain technology, which ensures the highest security from the very beginning. During the introduction phase, EKB customers have the choice between printed or digital documents. The transition will accelerate and simplify administrative processes and contribute to climate protection: EKB alone saves up to 2 million sheets of paper annually through the digital freight document, which no longer needs to be printed and sent.
Blockchain Technology Ensures Security
“The reservations of freight forwarders regarding the digital freight document stem from the high value of the container shipments, which often reach millions,” explains Ole Heemeyer, authorized signatory and commercial director at EKB. Only the blockchain technology has created the conditions for an absolutely secure use of the digital freight document. Cargo support has defined a process in which each freight document receives a unique hash key, which is transmitted to the blockchain along with a transaction number. A blockchain consists of a large number of computers on which the coded data of the acknowledged freight documents are stored.
The hash key is calculated using a standardized mathematical procedure from the data contained in the freight document and consists of 256 digits. Any subsequent change to the freight document would automatically change the hash key, which would no longer match the values stored in the blockchain. “Thus, the digital freight document is one of the first concrete applications of blockchain for logistics,” emphasizes Ralf Ostholt, head of development and partner at cargo support.
Signature on the Touchscreen
In addition to the blockchain, the drivers’ smartphones are another important prerequisite for the project. The devices are equipped with the app cs drive developed by cargo support, which can display the digital freight document on the screen. Once the recipient has signed on the touchscreen, the file is sent to the headquarters. “This means we have the acknowledged freight documents immediately. They are archived securely and easily retrievable, and the orders can be settled immediately,” reports Heemeyer. In contrast, the previous workflow takes up to three weeks, as drivers are usually on the road for several days and the documents then have to be scanned.
During the introduction phase, the approximately 1,000 drivers will carry both the digital freight document and a printed version. “Our customers have the choice in the first months whether they want to forgo the traditional freight document,” plans Heemeyer. However, he is confident that customers will quickly recognize the administrative advantages of digital freight documents. Further persuasion will be provided by the drivers on-site, who will be specially trained by EKB.
About EKB Container Logistics
EKB Container Logistics GmbH & Co. KG is the only company covering the entire Hamburg-Antwerp range and the associated hinterland. For the fleet of 840 trucks and 1,000 container chassis, 140 commercial employees organize around 1,900 container transports daily. In addition to its headquarters in Bremen, EKB operates branches in Bremerhaven, Duisburg, Fussgoenheim, Gdynia, Hamburg, Leipzig, Luxembourg, Rotterdam, and Wilhelmshaven.
About Cargo Support
The software and systems house cargo support targets service, industrial, and trading companies with its logistics software suite cs connect, which understands the transport of goods as a strategic task. The core of cs connect is the software module cs job, which supports the entire process as a central management and order management system from the offer to billing. Cs plan is the scheduling solution for automated, dynamic, and predictive planning of transports. With cs map, customers maintain an overview of all planned transports with the integrated route planning tool from PTV Map & Guide.
The module cs com is the cross-departmental communication center for short messages, conflict reports, and individual evaluations. Cs drive is a driver app with easily integrable customer-specific order-related workflows. With the customer portal cs web for tracking & tracing as well as document management, cargo support facilitates collaboration with customers. The business intelligence tool cs bi supports the preparation of important data as a basis for decisions. With cs HUB, cargo support offers pre-configured and tested interfaces to external IT and telematics systems and charges a transaction-based price for this.
Photo: © EKB
