Maersk focused too much on technology instead of business in major blockchain project Tradelens, states the chief executive of Chinese rival GSBN, Bertrand Chen, to Danish business daily Børsen, assessing that Maersk’s digital solution didn’t make enough sense for companies to make them share their data.

”I think the main reason why Tradelens failed is that Tradelens had a bigger focus on technology than business. Blockchain, blockchain, blockchain, but which problem does it solve? If it does not resonate with end users, it won’t work,” says Chen to the media.

Maersk drops blockchain platform

Maersk has explained that Tradelens, which was launched in partnership with IBM in 2018, was abandoned due to lack of support from industry players.

”For us, it’s not about other solutions versus Tradelens, but a question of unwillingness among central players to share the necessary data to make that type of industry standard (and business) live,” wrote Maersk’s press division in an email to ShippingWatch.

If not careful, GSBN’s platform – which is used by carriers such as Cosco, Hapag-Lloyd, and CMA CGM – could face a fate similar to Tradelens, acknowledges Chen to Børsen.

English edit: Kristoffer Grønbæk

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