The parent company of beer maker Anheuser-Busch has taken part in a blockchain pilot in a bid to test the tech for global shipping uses.

The company is part of a wider blockchain consortium that experimented with technology developed by consultancy firm Accenture. Other participants included shipping container firm APL, logistics company Kuehne+Nagel, and an unnamed European customs organization.

The pilot saw the companies involved use Accenture’s solution for 12 real-world shipments, all of which were sent to a different jurisdiction that each carried its own particular regulatory requirements. The results “confirmed that blockchain can reduce operating costs and increase supply chain visibility,” according to Accenture.

Danillo Figueiredo, vice president of international logistics for AB InBev:

“We continually evaluate new technologies and innovations to enhance our operations to meet consumer needs and deliver the freshest beer. Blockchain technology will be transformational to our business and the world. It reduces mistakes, digitizes information and improves the supply chain process so we can focus on our core business of brewing the best beers for consumers.”

The pilot marks the latest effort to shift from a traditionally paper-based process to a wholly digitized one, using the tech as part of an effort to streamline the data-sharing process between different stakeholders.

Among the companies that have pursued similar applications are the Japanese shipping firm Mitsui OSK Lines, announced a partnership with IBM in a proof-of-concept that looks to streamline the global trade flow.

Last year, the Danish shipping giant Maersk completed its first live blockchain trial. Like Mitsui OSK, Maersk also worked with IBM, levering the open-source Fabric blockchain software.

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