IT professionals successfully complete BDI Fundamentals Training

On Thursday, 25 February 2026, the first BDI Fundamentals training of the year was held. Five IT professionals from various organizations within the logistics sector participated in this session, deepening their knowledge of federated data sharing and digital collaboration based on the BDI agreement framework.

Digital collaboration in a changing logistics landscape
The training focused on the increasing pressures facing the logistics sector. Growing cargo volumes, stricter regulations, and inefficiencies such as waiting times, empty runs, and fragmented information exchange highlight that traditional data-sharing methods are no longer sufficient. BDI provides an alternative: an agreement-based framework that allows supply chain partners to share data securely, automatically, and under controlled conditions, while keeping the data at its source.

What makes BDI unique?
BDI Lead Architect Ewout Bouwman introduced participants to the core principles of the BDI concept. At the heart of BDI is its event-driven approach, where logistics events, such as arrival times, inspections, or the release of goods, are automatically shared with authorized parties across the supply chain. This enables real-time digital coordination without requiring full system integration.

Participants explored how BDI facilitates digital collaboration through four key principles:

• Digital trust between supply chain partners
• Notifications of relevant logistics events
• Controlled access to data at the source
• Digital transactions with verifiable proof of actions
  

The training also clarified when BDI is most effective, for example, in collaborations between multiple autonomous organizations without a central database and when alternative approaches might be more appropriate.

From theory to practice
BDI Software Engineer Joost Diepenmaat demonstrated the Trusted Cargo delivery system. In this use case, paper documents, emails, and phone calls are replaced with reliable digital data exchange. The system automatically verifies that the correct shipper, carrier, and driver are involved, improving safety, reducing errors, and streamlining operations across the logistics chain.

Participants also gained insight into how organizations can start implementing BDI themselves from defining a clear use case and data flows to collaborating within the ecosystem and preparing the technical infrastructure.

Certification and Next Steps
At the end of the training, all participants received the certificate: ‘BDI Fundamentals – Federated Data Sharing in Logistics for IT Professionals.'

Interested in this training?
The next session will take place on Thursday, 26 March 2026. Participation is free of charge. Registration is available via the event page. We hope to see you there!