The consignment note is what makes the administration of Europe-wide transport possible in the first place and was previously used in paper form and in quadruplicate. This resulted in almost six million paper pages at LKW Walter alone, one of the leading European transport organisations from Austria. These will now be replaced by a fully digital solution. Krone, one of the leading German trailer manufacturers, is a partner in the development and roll-out of the eCMR. With the Europe-wide introduction of the digital consignment note eCMR, Krone and Lkw Walter are implementing a revolutionary innovation in the transport industry.
Easy access via QR code on the trailer
Max Birle, Head of Krone Telematics & Digital Services: “Innovative logistics, digital excellence and customer-orientated solutions define Krone Trailer. Our commitment to being a digital pioneer is reflected in the continuous improvement of our company’s environmental values, with digital innovations making a significant contribution. The “Smart Assistant” is an important part of our digital transformation fields at the trailer – comparable to a powerful operating system. It has revolutionised the document management of all Krone trailers by radically simplifying the handling of vehicle documents such as eCMR and other services without the need for additional apps. This is the most straightforward offering on the market and provides real added value to our customers on a daily basis, making the difference in the logistics world.“
Krone has already equipped the first Lkw Walter trailers with a QR code for Krone Smart Assistant, which now also serves as access to the eCMR. The QR code on the trailer can be conveniently scanned using a smartphone or other digital device. This gives everyone involved easy access to the eCMR, the trailer’s vehicle documents and the Walter driver app. The Walter Group already processes numerous processes, such as load securing, in the “Loads Today” app. “With the eCMR, we are the first transport company to digitise the most important accompanying document for all transports. Thanks to this innovation, our carriers will save time and money and make administration easier for their drivers. In addition, millions of pages of paper will be eliminated, which will also benefit the environment. For us as a company, eCMR not only sets new standards for efficiency and transparency in the supply chain, but also emphasises our commitment to environmentally friendly processes,” explains Michael Gschwandtner, Director Digital Business at LKW Walter.
Industry-wide standard of the Open Logistics Foundation
Together with partners from the Open Logistics Foundation, the foundation stone of the eCMR was laid and a common standard for this innovation was defined. In close cooperation between Lkw Walter and Krone, the digital eCMR was finally realised. It revolutionises overall communication within the supply chain by acting as a central interface and ensuring that all parties have the same level of information. This not only leads to more efficient transport processing, but also marks the end of potential sources of error in the documentation process. “The eCMR consolidates our pioneering role in the industry and underlines our endeavour to offer customers simple solutions and to shape the logistics landscape sustainably through innovation,” concludes Michael Gschwandner.