From Guesswork to Insight: How Better Information Powers Today’s Supply Chains
Written by Alexandra Griffon, CEO at BlueCargo
Global ocean shipping is entering the end of the year with uneven conditions. The gap between global growth and U.S. contraction opened in April and widened to more than 15 percentage points through peak season. While global ocean freight has been running 5-9% above the January baseline for most of the year, U.S. imports have moved in the opposite direction, falling by 9% from baseline in September.
Capacity is set to rise again in 2026 as carriers are taking delivery of vessels ordered during the 2020–2022 order cycle (Covid). Ships already on order and scheduled for delivery will expand the global fleet by about 5% in 2026, with larger additions planned for 2027 and 2028. These deliveries remain at historically high levels. As a result, available capacity is expected to stay above projected demand.
While rates remain volatile, schedule reliability has improved on major trade lanes.
These conditions have pushed Ports and inland operators to tighten the systems that govern data and documentation. Many are keying in on operational changes rather than structural, and have relied on new technology, most notably AI driven, to produce significant improvements for dispatch teams and cargo owners.
A More Coherent Exchange of Operational Information
Terminal systems and digital scheduling tools released new updates. Several Ports reported more reliable container-availability updates through upgraded terminal management systems. Gate platforms expanded the frequency and accuracy of status notifications.
Case studies and industry-reports, including implementations by Blume Global, reveal coordinated appointment systems reduce truck wait times at terminals and cut port-side congestion. Academic and industry research evaluating truck appointment systems at container terminals similarly show substantial reductions in yard turnaround time (e.g., ~ 44 %) and queue length, underlining how better coordination improves overall port throughput.
Freight-dispatch tools give planners clearer release timing and hold information. These changes provided dispatch teams with a more accurate view of when freight was ready for pickup. Location data and gate-arrival tracking, used widely in transportation management platforms, help align driver timing with port availability. The link between port systems and inland fleets is now clearer, and planners spend less time confirming container status via phone calls or manual checks.
These updates give planners and dispatchers involved in the day-to-day operations a more accurate view of when freight is ready while better alignment between port systems and inland tools reduces missed windows and lowers the risk of unnecessary accessorial fees. With clearer, more synchronized data across the supply chain, the industry is also seeing downstream improvements in how ancillary charges are documented and evaluated.
Greater Clarity Around Logistics Charges
Ancillary charges remain a central issue for importers and exporters. Detention, demurrage, chassis fees, fuel adjustments, and storage charges often rely on documentation that has not always been consistent. Several efforts this year improved the basis for reviewing those charges.
The FMCSA introduced a proposal in late 2024 that would require brokers to maintain electronic transaction records. These records include the amounts charged and paid, and are available within 48 hours of request.
Digital Bills of Lading and related documents support the audit process. When documents follow a single standardized format, verification relies on a single record rather than multiple versions of the same file, reducing disputes and shortening review time.
“Freight bills are accurate when the invoice, the contract rate, and the port record all match,” Alexandra Griffon, CEO at BlueCargo, notes. “Discrepancies appear when one of those sources is out of sync.”
That same need for synchronized information is driving the rapid adoption of electronic documents across the supply chain.
Expansion of Paperless Trade Practices
Driven by mounting pressure to eliminate paperwork delays and improve data accuracy, Electronic Bills of Lading (eBoLs) increased in usage across several trade lanes. Industry data placed adoption at 11% by mid-2025. Carriers, forwarders, and shippers continue to integrate digital formats into their workflows. Document transfers can now move in minutes instead of days, which reduces the time containers remain in the yard because of paperwork delays.
Several countries updated their legal frameworks to make eBoLs more accessible. The United Kingdom, India, and multiple EU member states now recognize digital trade documents as legally valid. Other jurisdictions are adopting provisions based on the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records. These steps provide a clearer legal footing for electronic originals in international trade.
Technology providers completed the first standards-based, interoperable electronic Bill of Lading (eBoL) transaction this year, demonstrating that digital documents can move securely across different platforms without requiring all parties to operate in a closed ecosystem. This is significant: interoperability eliminates platform lock-in, reduces administrative friction, and improves data accuracy by ensuring all parties work from the same authoritative record. Industry groups are now accelerating efforts to expand open standards so these benefits can scale across more trade lanes.
Beyond technical compatibility, eBoLs are improving the operational handoff between ports and inland facilities. When holds, inspections, and release statuses are tied to electronic records rather than a mix of paper and PDFs, teams receive updates in real time, leading to fewer paperwork-related delays, reducing the risk of unnecessary storage or chassis fees, and keeping freight moving more efficiently through the supply chain.
A Trade Environment Moving Toward Better Information
The year’s progress shows a clear direction: global trade is shifting from fragmented records toward a shared, data-driven environment. Ports, carriers, and inland operators are no longer just exchanging information—they are aligning around common standards that reduce disputes, accelerate cargo movement, and strengthen audit and review processes.
As market conditions continue to fluctuate, the organizations that invest in digital documentation and interoperable systems will be the ones best equipped to navigate change. Better information is no longer an operational advantage; it’s becoming the foundation for a more predictable, resilient, and efficient supply chain.
About BlueCargo
BlueCargo is a freight audit and spend-intelligence platform specialized in containerized international logistics. The platform helps importers and exporters verify their freight charges, review exceptions, and manage cost accuracy across their global shipments. It supports both operations and finance teams as they move toward digital, structured workflows. BlueCargo provides the foundation to identify optimizations, prevent unnecessary charges, and improve daily planning. To learn more, visit www.bluecargo.io
