Presentation at FIATA World Congress 2018 New Delhi

1. Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence work best when
leveraging common global standards
New technologies only thrive when based on long-established standards
Jaco Voorspuij; Senior Manager Transport & Logistics, GS1
28th September 2018; FIATA World Congress

2. © GS1 2018
GS1 – the global language of business
GS1 is a global standards organisation
Neutral and
not-for-profit
User-driven
and governed
Global
and local
Open and
collaborative
1.5 million companies use GS1 standards
100 million products carry GS1 barcodes
6+ billion GS1 barcodes are scanned every day

3. © GS1 2018
GS1 Standards used widely in Transport
across all modes
• Carriers like DSV, Dachser, GEFCO, DHL, Bring, DB Schenker and K&N etc. accept
or promote GS1 standards
• Amazon, 3M, Groupe Casino and other big name companies promote GS1 standards in
Transport & Logistics operations
• Partner for International Taskforce Port Call Optimization
developing Maritime standards e.g. “Functional definitions
for nautical port information” endorse
Unambiguous identification of locations
in ports worldwide using GS1 GLN
• GS1 is contributor to the IATA Piece Level Tracking Task Force that developed
Recommended Practice 1689, which allows the original shipper to assign an ISO 15459-1
compliant Unique Piece ID that will then be used by all handlers till final receiver for T&T.
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4. © GS1 2018
A FIATA platform for the future
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A digitalized document
Using the same information
as in the paper
Harmonized semantics
and syntax
A secured platform
Access given to
authorized actors with
controlled protocols
INTERNATIONALISATION
DIGITALISATION
Interconnection between local and
regional databases and IT systems
of the actors
Efficiency through automatic
integration of the DATA in IT Systems
Compatible with blockchain
INTEROPERABILITY
SECURISATION
With the
support of
International standards
Harmonized & structured data
Global synergy between FIATA and
GS1 given by the same global
presence

5. © GS1 2018
Vision builds on willingness to collaborate
Collaboration requires Trust among collaboration partners
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6. © GS1 2018
Harmonized semantics -
common language
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• All automated collaboration must start with agreed terms & definitions
• Words like shipment and consignment are NOT used the same way by
all stakeholders in the supply chain
• Port Call Optimization started with functional definitions to avoid
such confusion
• Also need Common understanding of how concepts link together
Reference Data Models exist for various purposes
• UN/CEFACT Multi-Modal-Transport reference model
• WCO – Customs Data Model
• With agreed semantics we can move into the next stage

7. © GS1 2018
Collaboration requires common standards
for Identification
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• You need unambiguous numbers for objects and entities in T&L
Collect/Deliver location, Assets, Transport units, Goods,
• Unambiguous IDs may be provided by many different organisations
e.g. GS1, BIC, IATA, IMO, IRU, UN etc.

8. © GS1 2018
Collaboration requires common standards
for Marking and Capturing
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• You need unambiguous numbers to be marked/tagged/labelled on the
objects so you can quickly and accurately capture them and then
• Use these unambiguous numbers to find
• Information you need to decide what to do next with the object you
just “scanned”

9. © GS1 2018
Collaboration requires common standards
for Information Sharing
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• Scanning the object is an event that may have to be shared
• Objects move based on commercial transactions (generally)
• Objects/Goods may have to be linked to Master Data

10. © GS1 2018
Blockchain technology (BCT) checkpoints
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• BCT is additional to established information sharing standards
Suitable only for final transactions due to immutable record
- Current FIATA FBL-pilots (collaboratively and in iterative fashion creating FBL
on non-BCT platform) may post FBL once final to blockchain
• Master Data and high-volume highly granular events are generally better
handled using established (distributed) technologies e.g. EPCIS.
• BCTs are NOT directly compatible; UN/CEFACT published paper states
“Performing gap analysis to define what is needed in order to have an inter
ledger (i.e. inter-blockchain) interoperability framework for supply chains that
establishes cross ledger trust in the face of the inevitability of a plethora of
blockchain solutions”
• BCT has USP that solve problems other technologies don’t;
Use BCT for those problems but always check the established technologies first

11. © GS1 2018
A few words on Artificial Intelligence
AI is a long established technology already
• Basic versions have been in operation for decades; e.g. automated guided
vehicle in warehousing; motor management systems in our cars
• AI originally mostly rule-based (preprogrammed)
• Machine Learning enabled finding rules humans could
not find (also incorrect ones) by “pattern recognition”
• Deep learning allows software to learn as it goes
during operations (correct itself)
• A specific AI is like “Rain Man”: it is extremely good
in a highly specific task but “useless” in all others
• Smart people using AI will solve many previously impossible to automate
problems also in T&L. In some cases use of common standards / semantics
may improve the “pattern recognition” and AI results.
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12. © GS1 2018
Jaco Voorspuij
Senior manager Transport & Logistics,
GS1 Global Office
jaco.voorspuij@gs1.org