There is still a lot of space in the logistics sector to use digitization to achieve more transparency and, particularly, more efficiency.

ABN AMRO, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Samsung SDS, the logistics and IT arm of Samsung, have joined forces to launch a pilot based on blockchain technology. The pilot starts in January next year, and the results will be announced in February 2019. The ultimate goal is for a complete, paperless integration of physical, administrative and financial streams within international distribution chains.

"The transportation, monitoring and financing of freight and services should be just as easy as ordering a book online."

"Currently payments, administration and the physical transportation of containers still take place entirely via separate circuits," explained Paul Smits, the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s Chief Financial Officer. "This results in inefficiency as many parties are involved and everything is organized via paper documentation. For instance, an average 28 parties are involved in container transport from China to Rotterdam. The transportation, monitoring and financing of freight and services should be just as easy as ordering a book online."

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