New ICC case studies provide guidance for trade digitalisation  

The ICC Digital Standards Initiative has launched a report, featuring 22 case studies that illustrates how supply chain actors have successfully leveraged digital tools and interoperable global standards to address challenges in their supply chains.

Case studies in the “Key Trade Documents and Data Elements on the Frontlines” report cover both private and public sector actions across four critical areas of digitalisation:

• Shipping and logistics, focusing on electronic Bills of Lading (eBL) and other tools to reduce transaction times, enhance data integrity, and improve operational efficiency.

• Commercial documents and product-related information, using technologies like blockchain and digital identity to increase transparency, reduce costs, and improve traceability and trust.

• Cross-border regulatory compliance, featuring implementation of national single windows and streamlined customs procedures to enhance compliance and operational efficiency.

• Financial services and fraud prevention, where innovations in trade finance, digital identity, and consent-based data sharing have increased security, speed, and accessibility, benefiting both financial institutions and small businesses.

The case studies demonstrate that digitalisation can begin at any point in the supply chain, and be supported by off-the-shelf, proprietary, or a combination of internal and external resources. In addition to localised benefits, digitalisation also brings unexpected advantages, including increased employee engagement, customer loyalty, and innovation opportunities. They also show that a continuous, iterative approach with ongoing learning can maximise benefits over time.

The case studies loosely build on the Key Trade Documents and Data Element (KTDDE) Framework, launched in April 2024, which proposes a unified approach to aligning data across key trade documents, to promote interoperability and data sharing.

Pamela Mar, Managing Director of ICC DSI, said:

“Our goal is to motivate businesses to advance their digitalisation efforts by showcasing diverse paths to transformation. This report provides concrete examples that can widen the circles of action.”

“This report is crucial as it provides actionable insights and real-world examples that can guide organisations through the complexities of digital transformation,”

said Stephan Wolf, DSI Industry Advisory Board Chair, and Robert Beideman, DSI Industry Advisory Board Vice Chair.

“It moves us from strategic vision to practical implementation.” 

Raphaelle Hemmerlin, Chief Transformation Officer at SUCAFINA SA and a contributor to the report, added:

“Standardised data elements have streamlined our shipping processes, reduced email exchanges and processing times, and allowed us to focus on continuous improvement rather than administrative tasks.”

To explore the key findings from the report and learn more about the KTDDE Framework, visit the ICC DSI website.