DDG Users Association

The essDOCS Databridge Development Group, or DDG, is our Users Association. It was established with the purpose of driving the universal adoption of electronic documents (eDocs) in international trade, as well as supporting the adoption and improvement of CargoDocs.

The DDG provides a secure environment for its Members to:

• Prepare to adopt Paperless Trade by interacting with trade partners and other members, learning about the current status of digital trade adoption globally and familiarising themselves with our solutions in order to gain confidence in their ability to address their needs.
• Adopt Paperless Trade by sharing information required to assist in the smooth implementation of solutions, such as delivery documentation and training materials, and hosting informational workshops in order to obtain participants’ feedback prior to adopting.
• Improve the solutions our Users receive by actively taking part in guiding the functional and operational direction of all essDOCS solutions, including the DSUA Users Agreement.

The DDG is governed by an Executive Committee which is responsible for its overall management and control, consisting of a representative from essDOCS and each of the main User types. The DDG Team acts as a secretariat and carries out the day-to-day work of the DDG.

User Conferences are held on quarterly and/or bi-annual basis, providing progress reviews and insights into the near and medium-term direction of the DDG.

There are three levels of membership:

• Standard
  Automatically provided to all essDOCS Customers: allows members access to relevant DDG information, essDOCS annual IT audit, participation in relevant DDG events by invitation, vote at the Annual DDG User Conference and free license to use essDOCS standard templates.
• Strategic
  Open to any essDOCS Customer: allows members to all the same benefits as a Standard member plus sit on Strategic Workgroup, chair or participate in relevant User Workgroups, and attend all DDG events
• Observer
  Open to non-user Stakeholders: allows observers to participate in DDG event by invitation and attend the Annual DDG User Conference.

The DDG includes all essDOCS Customers plus 15+ non-user stakeholder members, including key industry regulators and NGOs such as the World Customs Organisation, UNCTAD, FIATA, Bimco and Intertanko.