FAQs

Product Information
What is WaveBL?

WaveBL is a digital platform using proprietary blockchain technology to transfer trade

documents electronically. It enables the instant, encrypted, and authenticated transfer of
electronic Bills of Lading and related trade documents. The platform is designed to meet
the needs of all parties involved in trade, including Ocean carriers, shippers, consignees,
freight forwarders, agents, and banks.

Which document types does WaveBL support?

WaveBL supports all types of trade documents that are part of the trade process, including
Original, Master and House Bills of Lading, certificates, and other documents required for
trade and trade finance. To learn more, click here.

Does WaveBL comply with regulations and industry standards?

Yes, WaveBL's solution complies with applicable industry standards and global trade
regulations, including the IGP&I, DCSA, IFTA, ICC, UNCITRAL, and ISO 27017.

What does an electronic bill of lading issued on WaveBL look like?

It is important to know that the front and back of an eBL look exactly the same as a paper
BL. The only difference is the additional text "Issued electronically on WaveBL", which is
automatically added to the issued BLs for legal reasons.

Is an electronic Bill of Lading (eBL) issued on WaveBL recognized the same way as a paper-
based Bill of Lading?

Yes, an eBL issued on WaveBL is legally recognized and carries the same significance as a
traditional paper-based Bill of Lading. WaveBL's electronic documents comply with the
requirements of various international regulations and conventions, such as the UNCITRAL
Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records and the Rotterdam Rules. The eBL issued on
WaveBL includes all the necessary information and functionalities required for trade and
trade finance, ensuring smooth transactions and legal validity.

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How does WaveBL compare to paper-based processes?

WaveBL's platform eliminates the need for physical transfers and manual tasks involved in
paper-based processes. Transactions with Wave eBL take approximately 8 minutes,
whereas a traditional paper-based process can take 10-14 days.

What support does WaveBL provide?

WaveBL provides 24/7 global support as well as onboarding assistance in English, Spanish,
Chinese, French, Portuguese, Hindi, German, Korean, and Hebrew. WaveBL assists through
the entire Wave eBL experience, from onboarding to usage. You can reach out to
support@wavebl.com for any assistance.

What are the main benefits of using WaveBL?

WaveBL is the largest eBL issuer working with all the trade parties in over 100 countries in
any scale. By using WaveBL, you can experience faster and safer global trade, eliminate the
need to wait for paper documentation, reduce costs, errors, and disputes, and contribute
to sustainability by reducing paper usage and carbon emissions.

Can I work with all my trade parties on WaveBL?

Yes, you can. Ocean carriers, beneficial cargo owners, freight forwarders, NVOCCs, banking
institutions, agents, business units, etc. all use the WaveBL platform.

Is it necessary to expand my network on WaveBL?

Yes, by connecting with a broader range of trade parties, you can access more business
opportunities, enhance collaboration, and streamline your trade processes. Expanding your
network allows for greater flexibility, improved access to trade partners, and potential
growth opportunities.

How can I expand my network?

You can expand your network by onboarding additional partners using the most innovative
and easy-to-use WaveBL's onboarding features. Contact us to learn more.

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How does WaveBL revolutionize the global trade industry?

WaveBL provides a trusted multi-carrier platform that fosters trust and collaboration. All
issued and transferred eBLs on the WaveBL platform are verified and authenticated,
enhancing transparency and efficiency in global trade.

Is WaveBL a trusted solution?

WaveBL guarantees trust through its patented blockchain-based technology. With over 100
countries and the support of major shipping lines such as MSC, ZIM, ONE, and Hapag Lloyd,
WaveBL is a proven and trusted solution that eliminates the risks of forgery, loss, or theft.

Solution
What is an eBL?

An eBL, or electronic bill of lading, also known as an electronic BoL or B/L, is a digital
version of the traditional paper-based bill of lading. It serves as evidence of the contract of
carriage, receipt of goods, and document of title to the goods.

Why should I switch to electronic bills of lading (eBLs)?

Traditional paper-based logistics processes can be slow, inefficient, and prone to errors.
Switching to electronic bills of lading (eBLs) enables a streamlined process with reduced risk
and increased efficiency. With eBLs, transfer time is reduced to minutes, and it aligns with
the digital transformation in the trade industry.

Is the shipping industry switching to electronic Bills of Lading?

Yes, the adoption of e-BLs is gaining momentum in the shipping industry. Nine leading
ocean carriers have committed to converting 50% of their bill of lading activities to digital by
2027, with full conversion by 2030.

What is LightWave?

LightWave is our app to help you take the most common eBL actions in a fast and simple
way. It allows for LightWave, the feature for streamlining your eBL actions, regardless if you
are a shipper or consignee. With just a few clicks, you can open, send, amend, or surrender
your eBL, eliminating the need to log in to the platform.

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Can documents be amended on WaveBL?

Yes, they can be amended if necessary. WaveBL mirrors the business process that the
industry is used to. Issuing, amending, transferring, and surrendering a document via the
WaveBL network follow the traditional process of paper documents - but much faster,
securely, and cost-effectively.

Does WaveBL support trade finance tools?

WaveBL enables the exchange of all documents for all purposes. Documentary credit,
collections, and receivables are just a few examples of the trade finance tools supported by
our network.

Are electronic signatures incorporated in the system?

Yes, they are. When they first activate the WaveBL application, users generate their own
electronic signatures. These are used to sign, endorse, add signed comments to, and
surrender electronic documents.

Why is WaveBL built on blockchain?

WaveBL utilizes blockchain technology to enable parties to track and manage the originality,
title, and transaction history of the documents exchanged via the WaveBL network. The
decentralized architecture of blockchain ensures an equal level of control for all involved
parties, similar to a physical paper document.

Does WaveBL support interoperability with other systems?

Yes, WaveBL collaborates with other eBL platforms to ensure interoperability. This means
that WaveBL allows business partners to transfer eBLs between trade partners using
different platforms, facilitating seamless communication and document exchange.

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Account & Payment
What is WaveBL's pricing model?

We offer two plans for eBL transactions.

● Pay-as-you-go: Best suited to users responsible for small or unpredictable numbers

of eBL transactions. Customers are charged per eBL transaction and billed on a
monthly basis at the end of each month. A pay-as-you-go plan covers one year of
usage.
● Subscription: Best suited to users expecting to cover at least 100 transactions per
year. If a customer runs out of eBLs on their package, they may purchase
supplementary packages for the remainder of their contract term. This option is
billed in advance and covers one year of usage.

Who pays for each eBL?

The party that pays for an eBL transaction is defined by the Incoterms agreement between
the importer and exporter. Overall, only one party pays for each transaction all other
parties can use the services without any additional fee

Do WaveBL's eBL charges replace the shipping line's fees?

No, WaveBL is a third-party service company and is not included in shipping line fees.

Privacy & Security

Are electronic documents secured/encrypted during transmission?

All documents transferred on WaveBL are encrypted. This means that only the intended
recipient, and no one else, can decrypt the document.

How can I be sure that a title document I have received in WaveBL hasn't been changed
from the moment of issuance?

When someone issues a document via WaveBL, they sign it, which includes a reference to
that signature in a record called the issuance blockchain transaction. Anyone who holds the
document later can be sure that it hasn't been altered since it was issued by checking the

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special code included in the issuer's contact information and the issuance blockchain
transaction.

How can I be sure that a surrendered document will not be used again?

After a document is surrendered, the issuer can send a copy of the surrendered document
with an added surrender acceptance signature, which is validated once.

Is the identity of each of my contacts verified?

Yes, it is thanks to the WaveBL contact verification process, which verifies the contact
information that you have imported to WaveBL. This ensures that the contact information
of the user whom you are communicating with via phone, email, SMS, or other methods is
verified.

Are the business transactions conducted via WaveBL private?

Yes, they are. Since WaveBL uses blockchain technology, all blockchain identifiers are used
only once and cannot be linked to the organization they belong to by analyzing the
blockchain ledger.

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