The International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with GS1 – a global standards organisation to provide a framework for further cooperation on digitising FIATA documents.

A joint working group has been set-up, using the GS1 global unique identification system, enabling FIATA forwarder members to become more efficient compared to the former “paperwork” and to improve the services they provide to their customers.

FIATA says the transport and logistics (T&L) industry provides the backbone of global trade by servicing customers and suppliers in global supply and demand chains and processes provide critical links in the global economy, interconnecting countless manufacturers, traders, retailers and service providers as parts of complex networks that serve many industries in all countries worldwide.

The association says as goods move from points of origin to points of destination, logistics services providers (freight forwarders, transporters and other stakeholders) must maintain control and visibility of these movements to make informed decisions that ensure the smooth flow of the goods to consumers.

FIATA says these services are expected to be faster, more reliable, more secure and transparent to satisfy ever-increasing consumer expectations.

Rapid developments in logistics, in response to evolving consumer requirements for real-time visibility across the entire domain of multi-modal transport, call for new solutions and closer cooperation between the two organisations.

FIATA’s Advisory Body Information Technology is following a step-by-step approach for identifying and migrating all of their documents into a digital platform, using the GS1 global unique identification system.

This project will enable the global FIATA community to offer high-quality intermodal solutions for the benefit of all supply chain stakeholders.