Recently, digitalisation leaders across the global container shipping industry gathered in Amsterdam for the annual DCSA Week, hosted by the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA). The week brought together ocean carriers, freight forwarders, shippers, terminal operators and logistics players technology providers, logistics players, BCOs, terminal operators and forwarders to accelerate digitalisation and drive ecosystem-wide transformation.An important addition to this year’s agenda was the inaugural Partner Day, which followed the launch of our DCSA+ Partnership Programme earlier this year. DCSA+ expands collaboration beyond DCSA’s core membership to include a broader spectrum of stakeholders across the ecosystem. While DCSA’s members remain integral to the development of foundational digital standards, the programme provides partners with an opportunity to accelerate adoption through greater engagement to help shape implementation efforts across the value chain.During joint sessions, peer-led workshops and curated networking moments, Partner Day served to accelerate transformation, uniting diverse voices from across the industry at the same table, enabling collaborative solutions to tackle industry-wide challenges.As Mariana Bock-Losada, Chief Growth Officer at DCSA, noted "True digital transformation requires trust and transparency across all players in the ecosystem, from carriers and shippers to technology providers and terminal operators. When these stakeholders come together in a collaborative, open environment such as Partner Day, we can create to real impact together. This year, DCSA Week showed what happens when the ecosystem unites.”
Connect: Breaking silos to build shared momentum
The DCSA Week exists to foster meaningful, cross-sector collaboration. Partner Day brought together 130 attendees, including representatives from DB Schenker, Lufthansa Industry Solutions and WNS among others. The agenda combined joint sessions, peer-led workshops, and product clinics to explore real-world implementation issues and advance adoption across operational environments.Participants examined practical challenges such as aligning integration efforts with internal systems, adapting documentation processes, and ensuring compatibility with DCSA standards. The “Connect Corner” provided a space for one-on-one technical consultations with DCSA’s technology partners, while a live panel addressed key enablers and blockers to ecosystem-wide data sharing.Contribute: how partners are shaping the future of standards
A central topic across sessions was the industry commitment to full eBL adoption by 2030. eBL focused workshops explored specific frictions affecting implementation, including documentation sequencing and alignment with current practices. Discussions surfaced both known challenges and new insights, helping to inform future updates to the standards and related guidance materials. Panel discussions demonstrated the progress already underway, while also surfacing what’s missing: clearer guidance, tailored support, and open knowledge exchange.Partner Day made clear that this milestone cannot be achieved without the participation of all industry players. It depends on practical input from those tasked with putting standards into action. In panel discussions and practical sessions, partners had the opportunity to feed into future roadmap priorities and help refine key deliverables.Accelerate: turning shared ambition into faster adoption
If there was one message echoed throughout Partner Day, it was this: the industry cannot afford to wait. While digital standards are gaining traction, the pace of adoption must improve, and collaboration is the catalyst. Partner Day demonstrated how collective action can remove friction, clarify pathways, and accelerate implementation. In place of siloed efforts, participants engaged in real-time problem-solving, sharing concrete lessons from their own adoption journeys.Sessions highlighted where acceleration is already happening and how. During a plenary session, DB Schenker and DSV, for example, outlined the steps they’ve taken to scale digital initiatives away from legacy systems, while maintaining operational resilience and move towards integrating modern standards. Their insights underlined that interoperability is no longer a future goal, but a present requirement and that tangible progress is possible when peers align on shared priorities. By pooling knowledge and highlighting common challenges, the day helped turn intention into momentum. Because when the industry moves together, it moves faster.As Alexandre Sánchez from Port of Valencia reflected, "DCSA Week was an enriching experience that highlighted the transformative power of data sharing. It underscored the importance of collaboration for the Port of Valencia, significantly enhancing the quality and efficiency of the services we provide."Next steps for partners
Partner Day showed what’s possible when we connect across sectors, share our expertise and collaborate together. The DCSA+ Partnership Programme is not just a platform for dialogue, it’s a driver of measurable, industry-wide change. By joining, partners gain access to working groups, early previews, and expert support, along with the opportunity to shape the very standards that will define the future of digital shipping.
Next steps for partners
Partner Day showed what’s possible when we connect across sectors, share our expertise and collaborate together. The DCSA+ Partnership Programme is not just a platform for dialogue, it’s a driver of measurable, industry-wide change. By joining, partners gain access to working groups, early previews, and expert support, along with the opportunity to shape the very standards that will define the future of digital shipping.
