Following more than a year of intensive execution, the eFTI4EU Project is now entering to the piloting stage. This significant achievement comes after a long period of planning by project participants throughout Europe in anticipation of national eFTI deployments. One of the main components of these efforts is the careful organization of eFTI pilots, which are intended to test the system and collect feedback from important stakeholders including competent authorities and economic operators.
By the end of 2023, every project beneficiary has completed their first pilot plans, which specify the goals and parameters of each pilot. These plans were explicitly included in the project deliverables by February 2024. The project includes 8 international pilots within a total of 20 pilot frameworks. These pilots focus on the authority side, particularly the eFTI Gate, but they also include economic operators and other related systems, such as eMSW. In addition, pilots cover all transport modes and most of the modes will be piloted by several beneficiaries.
In 2024, the main emphasis will be on getting ready for the pilots, however a few proof-of-concept projects are already planned to go live. All project participants will start full-scale pilot operations in 2025 with the aim of moving from national to international pilots. This progression will enable rigorous testing of gate-to-gate data exchange capabilities, a crucial step in enhancing eFTI interoperability across Europe.
With the eFTI4EU project, a strong foundation for the advancement of eFTI systems is about to be established. While acknowledging that different countries have different ways to implementing eFTI—from introducing completely new systems to modifying current digital logistics platforms—the initiative emphasizes the value of agile development processes and interstate cooperation. These tactics are necessary to guarantee interoperability across Member States.
Interested parties are urged to follow the project’s social media platforms and newsletters for additional updates on eFTI pilots and project advancements. Specific inquiries can also be sent to project representatives or national eFTI contacts.
