DOCTAG Knowledge

Which DeCA solutions exist?

Four distinct types of solution have emerged for the digital DeCA in Spain. This overview classifies them and lists the questions you can use to assess any provider.

The choice depends less on feature depth than on one preliminary question: do you want to start an interface project, or work with the documents your system already produces today?

What DeCA requires

A natively generated PDF, not a scan of a paper document.
Availability before departure, containing the mandatory statutory fields.
A QR code or numeric code through which the enforcement authority reaches the document.
An electronic update whenever relevant data changes during transport.

The legal basis is resolution BOE-A-2026-12784 of June 5, 2026, which replaces the 2023 rules. Signatures are not required for basic DeCA validity.

The four solution types compared

Solution type	Typical approach	Suitable if
Standalone DeCA generator	A web form produces the document including QR code, independent of your other systems.	You run few Spanish transports and deliberately want no integration.
Transport management system with DeCA module	DeCA is one feature inside a broader transport platform.	You already use that platform or intend to switch anyway.
Compliance layer via API	Your existing system supplies the data, the provider generates the document from it.	You can allocate development resources for an interface.
Document-centric approach	The PDF you already produce is taken over and published with link and QR code.	You want to start quickly without touching the existing system.

These types are not mutually exclusive. Several providers combine characteristics, and a document-centric start does not rule out a later API integration.

Questions to ask any provider

These questions are vendor-neutral. Ask to see the answers demonstrated rather than confirmed verbally.

Does the QR code lead directly to the document without login, session, redirect or intermediate page?
Is a natively generated PDF delivered rather than a scan of a paper document?
How is the document updated when vehicle, destination or quantity change?
Do the address and QR code remain valid and unchanged after an update?
How long does the document stay reachable, and how long is it retained?
Can it later be traced which document state was available at which time?
What is needed to extend from pure DeCA to a full eCMR process?
What are the prerequisites for driver, recipient and enforcement authority?
Who is responsible for deadlines, retention and releasing the document?

Providers in the market

The market includes specialised Spanish DeCA providers, international eCMR networks such as TransFollow, and transport platforms such as Transporeon, Trans.eu or Alpega that offer document features as part of a larger system. The key difference lies in architecture: central platform versus federated, document-centric model.

This page does not assess individual third-party products. Feature scope, integration depth and contract models differ per provider and change continuously. Please verify details directly with the respective vendor.

Where DOCTAG fits in

DOCTAG belongs to the document-centric type. The document arrives through the mail connection: the finished consignment note is sent as a PDF attachment to a DOCTAG mail address, without an EDI project, API integration or development.

Software-independent: any system that can produce a PDF and send it by email.
Delivered as a PDF via a direct HTTPS URL without login, reachable by QR code.
Every export is documented so the provided state remains traceable.
Extensible from DeCA to a full eCMR process with electronic signatures.
Federated instead of central: documents stay on your organisation’s instance.

Frequently asked questions

Do I necessarily need a new transport management system for DeCA?

No. Only one of the four solution types requires a platform. Standalone generators, API compliance layers and document-centric solutions work alongside your existing system. With DOCTAG, the mail connection with a PDF is sufficient.

Which DeCA solution works without in-house development?

A standalone generator or a document-centric approach. Neither requires programming. The difference: with a generator you re-enter the data, whereas the document-centric approach reuses the PDF your system already produces.

What should I focus on during a vendor demo?

The enforcement scenario: a vehicle change during the trip, updating the document, the authority scanning the QR code, and whether the current state is visible without login. If a provider cannot demonstrate that flow, it is worth probing further.

Is DeCA the same as eCMR?

No. DeCA is an administrative control document for Spanish domestic transport, while eCMR is the electronic consignment note under the Additional Protocol to the CMR Convention. Both can run on the same document basis but must be distinguished legally.