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Annex 1
Research questions/statement expressed by the participants
The participants of the online survey added a large number of statements,
listed below, on the trends, possibilities, risks, opportunities and vision of an
integrated eLogistics system.
A common sub-contractor system will come to the fore that will enable
tracking, proof of delivery (POD) “Sign on glass) etc that will provide a single
interface in to the major clients.
eLogistics will be developed: between logistics operators and infrastructure
managers; between producers and freight operators.
There will be a consolidation/reduction of railway actors (in 1-3 years).
There will be a standardised rail data exchange (TAF/TSI) (in >5 years).
New intermodal business models (3PLs--) will lead to new requirements on
ICT.
Different modes have different requirements. I think having one system for all
modes makes it very big/complex and a user will always use a little part of it.
Smaller companies won’t apply or can’t afford systems with ERP (e.g. SAP,
Oracle, Baan) like complexity.
eServices to address low ICT adoption in SMEs are fundamental.
The secret will be to demonstrate to companies that they can work together
particularly if they are in different sectors and be shown their (freight) corridors
are the same.
There will be fewer infrastructure bottlenecks.
We shall see increasing use of RFID from improvements in the technology.
There will be continuing innovation by software companies to produce
software which meet company’s commitments to corporate social
responsibility (CSR) and the environment.
No large scale integration between actors across modes and roles is likely.
There will be less transparency in transport and logistics service offering and
pricing.
Global logistics hubs are likely to become leaders in enabling eLogistics
services.
More mobile and wireless technologies will be used.
There will be less ICT developments generated by increasing demand.
Semantic interoperability will overcome the present barrier to integrate
heterogeneous information system.
Software as a service on a common user platform to access several dozen
open source packages is the one direction that will MOST integrate small and
medium operators and customers,
Companies will stay with ERP systems and not move to software on a
common user platform
Technology improvement will facilitate tracking and tracing on parts level on a
much more global scale.
In the near future freight without ICT could not exist because it could not be
competitive.
There will not increased usage of traffic information (system) for transport
logistics systems
The economic downturn will slow eLogistics system development.
In future an integrated eLogistics system will have a top-down approach with
centralised data and service provision management processes.
The future eLogistics system will rely on the decentralised, more autonomous
information access and communication processes.
One main requirement for the future eLogistic system is the future eLogistics
system is the improvement of standardisation for interfaces, data exchange,
software development etc.
An integrated eLogistics system with an overall approach is visionary. But
data security requirements and the handling of mass storage will hinder a
mesh network system for the different actors within the logistics chain.
Competitive and sensitive commercial data should be excluded in an open
eLogistics system due to the privacy and security reasons.
The implementation of an integrated eLogistics system Europe wide is far
away form reality.
The steps and the path for such a solution cannot be achieved throughout the
entire supply chain.
An integrated eLogistics system:
should be an initiator for interconnected national eLogististics platforms
for pan European coverage,
should only be targeted to SMEs,
should focus on the provision of standards (in processing, technology,
message formats & administrative documents formats) for the
development of ICT for logistics in Europe instead of providing real
logistics solutions, and
should focus on the provision of certain existing standards and future
national eLogistics systems.
should be an open online platform,
does not need interfaces with the proprietary applications,
should be able to substitute for proprietary eLogistics applications,
should use an international open application standard,
should publish available logistics services across Europe,
should comply with European transport regulations, and
should encompass financial incentives for the users (tax incentives,
administrative facilitations, toll free passages).
should emerge from a Public-Private Partnership,
should be operated and managed by a neutral organization,
should become mandatory for all supply chain partners,
does not need standardized transaction formats,
should encompass operational incentives for the users (priority
services to terminals, access to transport information etc), and
should be built in stages starting with, for example, port/terminal
community.
will distort competition in the field of logistics ICT,
will create additional costs in the management of transport chains,
will not be accepted by large companies,
will expose sensitive commercial data on-line,
will reduce investment costs for logistics ICT platforms, and
will increase power of larger companies over SMEs.
The following six areas of eLogistics applications were added by the
participants:
Supply chain execution systems;
Supply chain planning systems;
Port Community Systems;
Warehouse management system; and
Customs Clearance;
Cargo tracking and tracing;