Nestlé Hellas as the first company in Greece to use the electronic consignment note in an international road transport operation

Nestlé Hellas as the first company in Greece to use the electronic consignment note in an international road transport operation

April 12^th was a landmark the digitalization of international transport documents in Greece, since the first international transport operation was completed using the electronic consignment note. In particular, Nestlé Hellas used e-CMR for the import of its products from its factory in Spain to its warehouses in Athens. The transport of goods was carried out on behalf of Nestlé Hellas, by MED FRIGO SA, one of the largest international road transport operators in Greece, who delivered the goods at the warehousing facilities of Nestlé Hellas’ 3PL's Partner, DIAKINISIS SA, in Athens. This makes Greece one of the first countries to test the implementation of e-CMR in international transport operations, while Spain, France and the Benelux countries Netherlands have led the way, thus making a major success at a European level.

The shipment of Nestlé Hellas from their factory in Spain to their warehouse in Athens with the use of e-CMR, was 100% successful. At the same time, the real time exchange of electronic data between the stakeholders has in fact brought added value to the services provided. The use of the e-CMR application proved to be particularly user-friendly both to the driver and to the people responsible for the loading/unloading of goods, who were equipped with the application on their smart phones. The project is coordinated at a European level by IRU, and in Greece by OFAE, in the context of the EU project “AEOLIX”.

The delivery of the first international transport operation using e-CMR from Spain to Greece was attended by Mr. Andreas Polakis, General Director of Transport at the Hellenic Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, as well as by Senior Management Executives from Nestlé Hellas, MED FRIGO SA, DIAKINISIS SA, OFAE and OPERATIONS CENTER.

The Hellenic Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is also a partner of AEOLIX and is actively participating in the e-CMR tests with an aim to identify the needs that will leadt to the formulation of the appropriate regulatory framework for the smooth and orderly implementation of e-CMR in Greece. Mr. Polakis said: "our participation in the pilot project is part of the Ministry's broader effort to digitize transport documents and to open the way to the digital transformation of all administrative processes through the use of digital records and applications. Their implementation shall facilitate transport and logistics companies as well as to improve enforcement results in our effort to tackle illegal transport operations".

Also, the representatives of the companies that are participating in the e-CMR pilot project, stated:

Vassilis Pyromalis, Physical Logistics Manager Nestlé Hellas: "Nestlé Hellas's vision is to enhance quality of life and contribute to a healthier future. The elimination of paper use is a very important step in the sustainability and environmental footprint of transport. Also is helping to the digital modernization of logistics with synergies and benefits across the supply chain"

Sotiris Brakatselos, Managing Director of MED FRIGO SA: "MEDFRIGO, as a pioneer in the use of innovative technologies, is participating in the electronic consignment note project with an aim to contribute in the formulation of the necessary European legal framework"

Antonis Kornoutos, Managing Director of DIAKINISIS SA: "DIAKINISIS has participated in many supply chain innovation projects, both in Greece and Europe, with the latest European Union project called SELIS (Shared European Logistics Intelligent Information Space). We are pleased to accept the invitation to participate in the e-CMR pilot project, because we believe in the benefits that arise not only from the automation and digitalisation of the procedures applied across the chain, but also from the environmental benefits of Green Logistics. "