On June 2, 2026, the Chairman of the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) delivered an important speech at the opening ceremony of the Tianjin International Shipping Expo, deeply elaborating on the core path for digital transformation in the freight forwarding industry. The Chairman emphasized that in the wave of global supply chain digitalization, standardization and trust are the two cornerstones of industry transformation and upgrading, and neither can be absent.
FIATA, as the most influential international organization in the global freight forwarding industry, covers more than 130 countries and regions, with annual freight volume exceeding 40% of the global total. This statement from the Chairman is widely regarded as a "风向标" (weather vane) for the global freight forwarding digitalization process.
The Chairman highlighted FIATA's flagship project — the Electronic Fiata Bill of Lading (eFBL). Traditional paper Bills of Lading, as core documents in international cargo transport, have a nearly 100-year history. Pain points such as low circulation efficiency, ease of forgery, and cumbersome cross-border procedures have long troubled the industry.
eFBL aims to build a decentralized electronic bill of lading system through blockchain technology, enabling digital transfer of cargo ownership. Compared with traditional paper documents, eFBL offers the following core advantages:
| Comparison Dimension | Traditional Paper Bill of Lading | eFBL Electronic Bill |
|---------------------|----------------------------------|---------------------|
| Issuance Cycle | 3-5 business days | Immediate issuance |
| Circulation Efficiency | Average 5-7 days | Real-time delivery |
| Forgery Risk | High | Nearly zero |
| Cross-border Recognition | Varies by country | Internationally standardized |
| Storage Cost | High (physical archiving required) | Extremely low (cloud storage) |
As of May 2026, eFBL has completed pilots in 32 countries and regions worldwide, covering major ports in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The Chairman revealed that FIATA is working closely with customs authorities, port administrations, and financial institutions in various countries to promote legal recognition of eFBL in more nations. It is expected that by the end of 2027, eFBL will cover major global shipping routes.
The Chairman pointed out that standardization in the freight forwarding industry encompasses three levels:
The Chairman specifically mentioned the synergistic value of AI technology and standardization. He pointed out that the premise of AI technology application is high-quality, structured data, and standardization is precisely the guarantee of data quality. FIATA is exploring embedding AI technology into freight forwarding operating systems to achieve intelligent pricing, route optimization, and risk early warning functions.
In the digital age, "de-trust" has become a core selling point for blockchain and other technologies. However, the Chairman believes that the digital transformation of the freight forwarding industry cannot go to the extreme of "de-trust" — on the contrary, industry digitalization requires a higher level of trust mechanisms.
Freight forwarding business involves multiple parties: shippers, carriers, consignees, customs, financial institutions, etc. In the traditional model, parties establish trust through paper contracts and long-term cooperative relationships. In the digital model, new trust systems need to be constructed through technical means (such as smart contracts, blockchain traceability).
The Chairman summarized the trust system in the freight forwarding industry into three dimensions:
1. Technical Trust: System stability, data security, and network reliability. This is the infrastructure for digital transformation.
2. Institutional Trust: Support from international conventions, domestic regulations, and industry standards. New documents like eFBL need to operate within legal frameworks.
3. Commercial Trust: Business reputation, historical cooperation records, and dispute resolution mechanisms. This is the soft power for the industry's long-term development.
The Chairman highly evaluated China's important position in the global freight forwarding industry. He pointed out that China not only has the world's largest export trade volume but also has accumulated rich experience in cross-border e-commerce logistics and port digitalization. Tianjin, as China's largest northern port city, is building an international shipping center, providing an ideal testing ground for global freight forwarding digitalization.
For Chinese freight forwarding companies, FIATA's digitalization strategy is both an opportunity and a challenge. The opportunity lies in Chinese enterprises having the chance to participate in international standard-setting and play a greater role in global industry governance. The challenge is that digital transformation requires substantial investment, including system upgrades, talent training, and process reengineering.
The Chairman suggested that Chinese freight forwarding companies start from the following three aspects: accelerate internal digital system construction; actively participate in standard-setting work of international organizations like FIATA; strengthen data interconnection with upstream and downstream enterprises.
The Chairman painted a picture of the post-2026 industry landscape at the end of his speech: standardization and digitalization will reshape the value chain of freight forwarding. Traditional information asymmetry advantages will give way to data analysis and supply chain optimization capabilities. Enterprises that complete digital transformation first will gain the upper hand in the new round of competition.
FIATA will continue to play the dual role of "standard setter" and "industry advocate," promoting high-quality development of the global freight forwarding industry. The Chairman's statement has pointed the direction for industry digital transformation and provided an action guide for Chinese freight forwarding enterprises.
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