MSC becomes the first operator to fully adopt BIC codes in warehouses



        As the world's second largest shipping company, MSC has fully adopted the BIC facility code (BFC) in all warehouses around the world, and has taken another step forward in promoting communications and digitization in the shipping industry.


   The Swiss airline believes that the entire industry lacks a common language, which leads to inefficient and time-consuming procedures, which leads to uncertainty or delays.


  According to the company’s statement, in response to this, standardized language brings simplicity, improves efficiency, and provides certainty for multimodal or multi-carrier transportation, thereby creating future growth opportunities.


  In daily interactions, this will lead to smoother communication, higher data accuracy and simpler processes. MSC released a report.


   The transition process was completed in 2021, and now all MSC warehouses can be identified with a 9-character BFC, “just like airports in the world with a three-letter International Air Transport Association (IATA) code,” explained the Swiss Box Line.


        MSC Global Chief Digital and Information Officer Andre Simha stated that the company “has been a staunch supporter of coordinated facility codes since the establishment of the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) and has provided support for the project. Important support."


   Simha pointed out: "The adoption of the BIC facility code is a good example of how MSC's various digital workflows work together to advance the digital future of shipping."


   The BIC facility code was adopted by the International Container Shipping Agency (BIC) in November 2020 in the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA).


   BIC Secretary-General Douglas Owen commented: “MSC has always been committed to ensuring that 100% of its global facilities are assigned BIC facility codes, and all MSC systems worldwide have been updated to include coordination codes.”


   "The digital transformation of the container shipping industry is underway, and DCSA and its members are creating a framework for it," said DCSA CEO Thomas Baggeand.


   "The adoption of baseline standards such as location code standards is a mandatory step to establish an interoperable digital foundation, which will simplify the current complexity. Ultimately, customers, stakeholders and the entire industry will benefit," he claimed.