Strategic Evaluation in Digital Trade Facilitation in Maritime: A SWOT-AHP Integrated Approach for Maritime Paperless Cross-Border Trade Systems
Abstract
Paperless cross-border trade systems are increasingly shaping maritime sector, where international trade flows are heavily dependent on ports, customs authorities, and shipping companies. By replacing traditional paper-based documentation such as bills of lading, manifests, and certificates of origin with electronic formats, these systems are redefining the efficiency and transparency of global shipping operations. The rapid digitalization of maritime trade including electronic documents, electronic signatures, electronic customs portals, and single-window platforms promises enhanced efficiency, cost reduction, and transparency in global trade. However, implementation is impeded by legal misalignments, technical infrastructure gaps, and security concerns. In this research, a strategic evaluation of paperless maritime trade systems is conducted by identifying internal strengths and weaknesses and external opportunities and threats through SWOT analysis, and systematically prioritizing these factors based on expert input using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The results reveal that public-private sector integration between ports, customs, and shipping lines and operational efficiency enhancement are the most critical strengths, while legal and administrative harmonization deficiencies pose the top weakness. Sustainability-driven initiatives such as green ports emerge as key opportunities, whereas cyber-attacks on maritime digital systems constitute the foremost threat. The study concludes with strategic recommendations tailored to the maritime domain accelerating maritime single window adoption, harmonizing international maritime digital trade regulations, investing in port IT infrastructure, and strengthening maritime cybersecurity capacity. Overall, the findings demonstrate that the SWOT-AHP integrated approach provides a robust decision-making framework for enhancing paperless trade in the maritime sector, contributing to more resilient and sustainable global supply chains.
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Supporting Institution
Ethical Statement
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Maritime Engineering (Other)
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Gizem Kayisoglu
*
0000-0003-2730-9780
Türkiye
Early Pub Date
October 1, 2025
Publication Date
March 1, 2026
Submission Date
August 7, 2025
Acceptance Date
September 17, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 12 Number: 1
