Is it realistic to achieve interoperability in the supply chain?
06 Aug 2026
The digitization of road freight transport documentation—driven by the mandatory use of the digital control document (DeCA)—has brought to the forefront an issue of particular importance to the success of this transformation: interoperability in the supply chain.
In recent years, many companies have made progress in digitizing their internal processes. However, the real challenge begins when information needs to be shared across different organizations, systems, and platforms.
Because a digitized supply chain is not necessarily a connected supply chain.
For digital transformation to have a real impact, information must be able to flow smoothly among all parties involved in operations: shippers, carriers, logistics providers, customers, technology providers, and government agencies.
Without that communication, digitization runs the risk of creating new information silos: modern but isolated systems; valuable data that is inaccessible to those who need it.
Thus, communication between digital solutions is key to achieving the goals of modernization, security, and an open ecosystem. All links in the supply chain must be able to communicate and share information seamlessly, without technological barriers.
The supply chain consists of different links, involving various stakeholders at different levels. Furthermore, depending on the industry and the product, the complexity of the supply chain varies.
Given this convergence of stakeholders, it stands to reason that the most important asset for the proper functioning of the supply chain is information—data.
However, each company uses a different digital solution for traceability, dock management, transportation, routing, and more. These solutions generate highly valuable data for organizations, but in many cases, the true value of this data is realized when it is shared with partners, suppliers, and customers.
This is where interoperability comes into play. Solutions must be able to communicate with one another, enabling all stakeholders in the supply chain to communicate, in order to streamline the entire supply chain and make it more resilient.
In short, interoperability is the ability of different platforms to exchange information and use it effectively, regardless of who developed each solution or where it is hosted.
When true interoperability exists, information accompanies the goods throughout the entire process. Each stakeholder can access the data they need at the right time, without duplication, delays, or unnecessary manual processes—and, moreover, in a secure manner that ensures data governance.
Most companies have already come a long way in their internal digital transformation.
Processes are more automated, document management is more efficient, and there is greater capacity to analyze and leverage the data generated by day-to-day operations.
But what happens when you have to share data with others? This is where the main obstacle to true digital transformation in transportation lies.
Among the main reasons are:
In the case of road freight transport, this lack of interoperability is a major barrier to digitization. Transportation is the sector that generates the most data, where all stakeholders converge, and it is here that information must flow freely rather than act as a barrier.
For this reason, interoperability cannot remain merely a technological promise or a feature included in a sales presentation.
It must become a practical capability that enables the automatic, secure, and standardized sharing of information among all stakeholders and solutions.
The good news is that interoperability is no longer just a theoretical goal. Advances in technology standards, APIs, collaborative platforms, and digital ecosystems are enabling more and more organizations to connect processes and share information without having to give up the tools they already use.
Thus, the challenge is not a technological one, but rather a matter of the tech companies’ willingness . The challenge lies in adopting open models that prioritize collaboration over closed environments.
As we saw in the post “FIELDEAS Joins the IRU-Led Expert Group to Promote eCMR Interoperability,” interoperability has evolved from being just an idea and an intention to becoming a real project.
The International Road Transport Union (IRU) and various technology partners in the transportation sector, including FIELDEAS, have created a new technical expert group to drive the complete digitization of road freight transport by promoting eCMR interoperability.
The main objective of this expert group is to develop a new B2B standard for the transportation industry that is open, scalable, and globally interoperable.
Interoperability is often understood as a technological capability. However, its impact extends far beyond systems and integrations.
When information flows among all participants in the supply chain, the benefits translate directly into operational improvements, greater control, and more efficient decision-making.
One of the main challenges in the supply chain is having a comprehensive, real-time view of what is happening at any given moment.
When systems are interoperable, the information generated by each party can be shared and accessed in real time. This makes it possible to track the status of different shipments without having to rely on manual information exchanges.
The result is a more transparent supply chain with greater foresight.
By definition, the supply chain is a collaborative ecosystem.
Shippers, carriers, logistics operators, consignees, and technology providers need to coordinate constantly to ensure the continuity of operations.
Interoperability breaks down communication barriers and makes it easier for everyone to work from a shared operational reality, reducing misunderstandings, duplication, and delays.
In many organizations, a significant amount of time is still spent manually entering data or transferring information between different systems.
When platforms exchange information automatically, these processes are eliminated or significantly reduced.
This allows:
Interoperability makes it possible to detect incidents more quickly and share up-to-date information among all stakeholders.
This streamlines decision-making, improves operational coordination, and reduces the impact of potential delays or deviations.
Interoperability eliminates friction between processes and organizations.
By reducing wait times, manual exchanges, and redundant tasks, operations become more agile.
This results in better use of resources, greater planning capacity, and more efficient management of day-to-day operations.
Data is one of an organization’s most valuable assets. But for it to generate value, it must be shareable.
Interoperability makes it possible to consolidate information from multiple sources and transform it into useful knowledge for decision-making, operational analysis, and continuous improvement.
Interoperability makes it possible to consolidate all the milestones that occur throughout a transportation operation—shipments, status changes, incidents, deliveries, proofs of delivery, and associated documentation— into a single information flow .
This allows every participant in the supply chain to access a complete and up-to-date history of the operation, ensuring the traceability of the goods and the associated processes from origin to destination.
This comprehensive visibility improves operational control, facilitates incident management, and brings greater transparency to the entire supply chain.
Adaptability has become a strategic priority.
Having connected and accessible information allows companies to respond more quickly to changes in demand, operational disruptions, or new regulatory requirements.
The better the data is connected, the greater the adaptability of the entire supply chain.
At FIELDEAS, we understand that interoperability is not merely a accessory of digital transformation, but rather its essential prerequisite.
That is why our platform Supply Chain Visibility, FIELDEAS Track and Trace, has been designed using an open model, capable of integrating with any technological solution within our customers’ ecosystem.
Guided by the philosophy ” FIELDEAS IS OPEN,” we are committed to digitalization based on collaboration and the elimination of technological barriers.
Because we firmly believe that digitalization only makes sense when it connects people, businesses, and platforms.
Information has no value if it is not shared. Digital transformation only makes sense if all technological barriers are removed, so that information can flow through every link and level of the chain.
Marketing Manager at FIELDEAS
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Register for the event to present the Second Study on the Digitization of Road Transport Documents