Since 2019, a project to implement electronic bills of lading (eTTN) is still ongoing in Ukraine. It is jointly implemented by the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development and the Ministry of Digital Transformation. The partner of the project is a public organization “Institute of Analytics and Advocacy”.
ETTN will become mandatory for businesses after the end of martial law. The eTTN system is currently being tested. What steps does the state need to take in order to fully implement it? What has already been implemented? How is business preparing for innovation? Let’s talk about that in this article.
How the state will regulate the exchange of ETTNs
According to Anatolii Komirnyi, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, the state is now actively working in two directions – legal and technical – to implement the eTTN.
Specifically, it is necessary to fix the status of eTTN at the legislative level. The Verkhovna Rada has registered the draft amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Road Transport”. It will help to settle many controversial issues and create a legal basis for the implementation of eTTN.
On a technical level, the work is focused on the development of an eTTN system that can be used by all participants of cargo transportation, the SSTS (the State Service of Ukraine for Transport Safety) inspectors and the state control agencies. Anatolii Komirnyi notes that the system was tested and transferred to the state balance sheet.
The eTTN system: how does it work?
The central database is the key component of the eTTN system. Via this database, users will exchange data on cargo transportation, and government agencies will verify the validity of electronic TTNs.
In the future the central database will be integrated with the register of the State Tax Service. This will eliminate the need for specialized TTNs for transportation of excisable goods (alcohol, alcoholic beverages, petroleum products, etc.).
An inspector’s office will be designed within the system, a feature that will enable employees of the SSTS to check the eTTNs of drivers.Thanks to it, drivers will no longer need to carry a paper copy of the TTN.
The role of providers in the exchange of eTTNs
To exchange electronic eTTNs via the central database, users are required to sign a contract with an official provider. These are companies that provide e-document workflow services. Currently, more than 20 providers participate in the project. Among them is the Vchasno service.
Providers develop software solutions that make logistics processes as simple as possible. Specifically, Vchasno is developing a web service to allow the participants of cargo transportation (senders, carriers and recipients) to work with electronic TTNs from a computer, laptop or tablet. The service is currently under beta-testing.
A mobile app for drivers and warehouse keepers will be developed as well. It will have a simplified functionality and interface, so even those workers who have no experience with computer programs will be able to use it.
Vchasno.TTN service is tailored to the specifics of cargo transportation. Its functionality is being developed to meet all of the government's requirements for ODE providers. It will support all the business requirements for the processes that the government wants to implement to work with eTTN.
The service functionality addresses the main tasks of the participants of cargo transportation, in particular:
- creation and signing of eTTN by participants of transportation (sender, driver, cargo recipient);
- creating and signing statements on the basis of the eTTN;
- informing all participants of transportation about eTTN updates.
Users can add support documents in .pdf format to the eTTN. They will be displayed in attached files.
For companies using the Vchasno.EDI service in their business, internal integration will be implemented so that this eTTN can be created directly in the EDI service. There will also be internal integration with the Vchasno.ODE service – the electronic TTN will be submitted here for signing.
Customers using account systems can integrate via API. In this way, employees can exchange eTTNs in a user-friendly interface.
Compatibility of eTTN services
One of the key tasks that providers perform under the eTTN implementation project is to ensure interoperability between services. The Vchasno.TTN service will have a roaming function with other accredited electronic TTN services. Full interoperability will be possible when providers receive access keys from the government.
Documents will be transferred directly between eTTN services. Only metadata processed by the government control agencies (information about the vehicle, participants in transportation, etc.) will be processed in the central database.
What’s next
According to Anatolii Komirnyi:
The government has plans to take the system into the balance sheet in the near future (this is necessary in order to officially launch it) and to develop special forms for certain categories of goods (bread, milk, petroleum products, etc.). The eTTN format will be approved after the end of the testing period, considering the requirements of Ukrainian realities and current international standards.
All standardized formats will be displayed in the Vchasno.TTN service. A prototype of the user’s account, which reflects the main processes of working with eTTN, is already available.
Everyone can join the beta-testing of the service. In this regard we are looking for cooperation with transport and logistics companies and all whose business is related to the transportation of goods.
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