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Dutch take important step towards e-BoL

[ October 30, 2014   //   ]

The Netherlands has become the first country in the world to offer digital signing for receipt of goods by mobile phone, according to the European Shippers’ Council. The Dutch Shippers’ Council (EVO), Transport and Logistics Netherlands and the NBB Dutch Inland Shipping Bureau have put together the necessary infrastructure. ESC says it is watching this development closely, hoping the rest of Europe can follow from example.
Logistics facilitation firm Beurtvaartadres is currently developing the first reliable standardised digital bill of lading: TransFollow and recently displayed, at the ICT & Logistiek trade fair in Utrecht, mobile (NFC) signing for received goods based on international standards. A trial will begin in December with a selected number of logistics service providers, senders and recipients.
Similar systemrs allowing consumers to pay by smartphone already exist, ESC points out..

In many cases a signed bill of lading is needed for invoicing and to comply with (tax-related) laws and regulations, and currently businesses have to wait for the paper version with all the signatures to be returned to it, but TransFollow will allow this to happen in real time. Recipients also get an overview of the exact timing of all the goods to be received.
Currently businesses use millions of paper bills of lading, packing slips and checklists every year and the new system could save €675 million a year.

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