Jakarta. State-run bank BNI announced a partnership with port operator Pelindo to boost digital transactions in the logistics sector.

BNI has developed BNIdirect, a digital platform for BNI's corporate and business customers. Both parties are optimistic that the partnership can increase transparency and operational efficiency in the logistics industry. According to BNI's corporate secretary Okki Rushartomo, the partnership between the two companies had been running for over a decade. Pelindo has also used almost all of the bank's business and corporate banking solutions, including BNIdirect cash. This is a cash management service available on the BNIdirect platform.

As of end-2024, BNIdirect cash recorded a transaction volume of Rp 6,680 trillion. This marked a 19.4 percent year-on-year growth. The number of transactions rose 11 percent year-on-year. As of the entire BNIdirect service, transactions were worth Rp 7,931 trillion, up 23.3 percent year-on-year. The number of transactions grew 36.5 percent year-on-year.

"BNIdirect becomes a reliable solution for our customers in the logistics sector, especially its cash management services.  BNIdirect also provides more comprehensive and efficient solutions to business actors in this industry," Okki was quoted as saying in a press statement.

"Our partnership with Pelindo shows how [BNI] remains committed to supporting the Indonesian logistics industry through the use of digital technology," Okki said.

As of the third quarter of 2024, Pelindo reported that its operating income stood at Rp 23.5 trillion, up 4 percent year-on-year. The company attributed the growth to the digital transformation efforts.

As part of the partnership, BNIdirect will help increase the efficiency of the service and payment systems at the ports. BNIdirect cash's auto collection service allows Pelindo to accept payments from partners using its services via auto debit. Billing payments from BNIdirect cash enables Pelindo's partners to make their payments easily. 

BNIdirect cash also makes Pelindo's operations easier with payroll features, vendor payments, notional pooling, taxes, and various other services that further simplify the company's operations.

"BNIdirect has become the right solution for us to optimize the company's financial management and improve operational efficiency for the good of the nation and state," Pelindo's group head corporate secretary Ardhy Wahyu Basuki said.

BNIdirect also said that it would be open to collaboration with other businesses in various sectors.