Colombian Customs has begun accepting electronic Bills of Lading (eBLs) for the first time, marking a significant shift toward paperless trade.
Enabled by IQAX eBL and GSBN's blockchain-backed infrastructure, the move—carried out in collaboration with COSCO—is powered by GSBN's newly launched Document Viewer App, which allows customs officers to verify eBLs instantly via QR code.
Colombian Customs, which previously relied solely on paper-based Bills of Lading for clearance, has begun validating IQAX eBLs issued by COSCO. The shift marks an initial step toward digital documentation and may signal wider adoption of electronic workflows in the region.
Up until now, Colombian Customs required paper-based Bills of Lading for clearance. By validating IQAX eBLs issued by COSCO, Colombian Customs is moving from paper-only processes to a trusted digital workflow—setting a precedent for broader eBL adoption across Latin America and beyond.
GSBN said in a statement that around 80% of world trade moves by sea, and in container shipping alone, more than 45 million Bills of Lading are issued annually. Yet, it noted that the process remains dominated by paper.
"Without a simple, reliable way to confirm authenticity, customs officers have no choice but to request paper Bills of Lading, creating administrative bottlenecks whilst exposing the system to fraud, errors, and costly delays," GSBN said in the statement.
It added that with its Document Viewer App, this process is simplified and secured. "When consignee presents the eBL PDF, custom officers simply scan the embedded QR code with the app to directly access the official eBL issued by COSCO via IQAX eBL - an IG P&I Club approved solution on GSBN blockchain. Every document is directly issued by Carrier and immutable.
"By anchoring verification on this trusted channel, customs can now significantly reduce time and cost, while mitigating the risks of fraud and human errors," GSBN said.
It added that this simple approach, which does not even require API integration, can be easily replicated by other customs authorities around the world (Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia).
"GSBN looks forward to working with its Carriers Members and IQAX eBL to enable better flows for customs officers globally and drive eBL adoption."
Bertrand Chen, CEO at GSBN, said customs authorities are a key cog in global trade, yet they continue to be weighed down by the burden of paper-based bills of lading.
"Without a simple way to verify a document's authenticity, inefficiency, risk, and avoidable costs persist across the system. The GSBN Document Viewer App offers a trusted, digital channel to view eBLs, helping customs work smarter and reinforcing the foundation for more transparent, efficient global trade," he said.
George Guo, CEO of IQAX, also signaled commitment to giving stakeholders across supply chains greater choice and innovation in how they make decisions.
"Colombia's recognition of IQAX eBLs is a practical demonstration of our vision for digital trade. Built on interoperability and anchored on blockchain-enabled infrastructure, our eBL helps customs verify authenticity instantly, gives banks and cargo owners a secure, auditable record, and reduces delays tied to paper handoffs."
Guo noted that this blends ease of use at the border with the integrity and traceability that decision makers require.
"Together—with GSBN and our carrier, logistics, and financial partners—we will continue expanding eBL coverage and use cases to reduce risk, streamline clearance, and accelerate the shift to paperless trade," he added.
The launch of the GSBN Doc Viewer App reflects GSBN’s ongoing efforts to apply digital tools to streamline trade documentation and improve coordination among industry participants.
