TradeLens
Sector: Tertiary sector · Industry: Freight forwarding and transport · Organisation: Maersk und IBM · Maturity level: Production
TradeLens was a blockchain platform by Maersk and IBM for digitizing the global supply chain in shipping and logistics. The platform aimed to create transparency and efficiency in maritime freight by tracking and documenting cargo movements in real-time. During a twelve-month test phase, over 154 million shipping data points were captured and transit times were reduced by up to 40%, resulting in savings of several thousand US dollars.
Documentation status
- Project status: Production
- Evidence: Evidence high
- Editorial review: Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026
Description
From the freight forwarders' perspective, TradeLens was revolutionary: instead of endless email chains and phone calls, freight forwarders could track the status of their shipments in real time on a blockchain-secured platform. The BVMC (Federal Association for Materials Management and Consulting) analysed TradeLens in a whitepaper as a benchmark for blockchain in supply chain management.
For freight forwarders, TradeLens is primarily a data transparency issue: a bill of lading typically changes hands 5-7 times from exporter to end recipient; each transfer requires papers, emails, phone calls. TradeLens digitised this process: all shipment events (departure, arrival, customs status, storage) are immediately recorded on the blockchain; all authorised parties see the same status. IBM documented network growth in several articles: CMA CGM (the world's third-largest shipping company), PIL (Pacific International Lines) and Hamburg Süd joined; over 600 million shipment events were documented until discontinuation. The BVMC whitepaper (2020) analysed TradeLens as one of the most important blockchain-SCM use cases worldwide and drew conclusions for German logistics companies. Discontinued November 2022: the main reason was the governance problem — shipping companies did not want to share data on a Maersk-controlled platform.
Perspectives
B2B — organisations perspective
Freight forwarders learn from TradeLens: Blockchain-based shipment transparency works flawlessly from a technical perspective — the key to success is neutral governance, in which all competitors can participate on an equal footing.
B2C — consumers perspective
End customers would have indirectly benefited from faster and more reliable deliveries as well as potentially lower costs due to efficiency improvements in the supply chain. The improved transparency would also have enabled consumers to trace goods.
Employees perspective
Employees in the logistics sector would have benefited from reduced manual administrative tasks and improved data availability, allowing more time for strategic tasks. At the same time, the new technology required further training and adaptation to digital working methods.
Benefits
General
- Reduction of transit times by up to 40% through optimised processes and improved coordination among all parties involved.
- Elimination of paper-based processes and replacement by digital, immutable blockchain documentation.
- Increased transparency and traceability of goods along the entire supply chain for all parties involved.
B2B — organisations
- Cost savings of several thousand US dollars per delivery through reduced administrative costs and faster processing.
Employees
- Reduction of manual paper administration and more time for strategic logistics planning.
Challenges
General
- Lack of industry-wide acceptance despite technical successes led to the project's discontinuation at the end of 2022.
- High complexity in integrating various systems from shipping companies, ports and customs authorities into a common platform.
B2B — organisations
- Difficult coordination between competing companies when sharing a unified platform.
Employees
- Need for extensive training to handle new blockchain-based systems.
Technology foundation
TradeLens used IBM Blockchain technology based on Hyperledger Fabric, a so-called permissioned blockchain. This technology is particularly suitable for enterprise networks as only authorised participants have access and sensitive business data can remain protected.
Implementation examples
TradeLens pilot project with over 94 partners
Global container shipping suffered from a lack of transparency, paper-based processes, and inefficient communication between the various actors in the supply chain. TradeLens was intended to solve these problems through a shared, blockchain-based platform and to digitise the industry.
Maersk and IBM developed TradeLens as a joint blockchain platform for global container shipping with over 94 industry partners.
The TradeLens project was launched in 2018 and involved a partnership between the world's largest container shipping company Maersk and the technology corporation IBM. The platform connected over 94 companies including major shipping lines such as Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, MSC and Ocean Network Express as well as more than 20 port and terminal operators from over 100 countries. Additionally, customs authorities from the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Australia and Peru as well as various banks participated in the initiative.
Reduction of transit times by up to 40% and savings of several thousand US dollars per delivery during the test phase.
The platform addressed the fragmentation of the logistics industry and enabled, for the first time, end-to-end digital tracking of containers across all stages of the supply chain. Additionally, paper-based documentation processes were replaced by immutable blockchain entries.
Tags
Supply chain, Container logistics, Transparency, Digitalisation, Sea freight