Supply chain visibility supported by easy access to, and exchange and use of relevant and abundant logistics-related information is an important prerequisite for the deployment of pan-European logistics solutions that are needed to increase efficiency and productivity, and to reduce environmental impact. Although there is a proliferative development of logistics-related data stores, information channels, information management systems and data mining facilities, with both international and intermodal focus, this multitude of solutions exhibits a high degree of fragmentation, due to differences in user requirements, data models, system specification and business models. This legacy situation severely hampers the optimal use of logistics-related information.
To overcome this fragmentation and lack of connectivity of ICT-based information systems for logistics decision making, AEOLIX will establish a cloud-based collaborative logistics ecosystem for configuring and managing (logistics-related) information pipelines. This digital business ecosystem will create visibility across the supply chain, enabling more sustainable and efficient transport of goods cross Europe. An essential element of the approach is to ensure that for logistics actors connecting to and using the ecosystem in undemanding and has a low level of complexity. We envision the ecosystem enabling the integration of supply-chain-related transport business processes through logistics software solutions for cloud-based connectivity and interaction, in order to support more efficient collaboration in the logistics supply chain than exists today.
By enabling low-complexity and low cost connectivity of local ICT platforms and systems and thereby scalable, trusted and secure exchange of information, AEOLIX will improve the overall competitiveness of goods transport in the supply chain, while simultaneously targeting sustainability from environmental, economic and social perspectives.
Objectives
✓ Gain a thorough insight in the lessons learned, needs and requirements in the domain of ICT applications for logistics
✓ Design an architecture for a collaborative IT infrastructure for operational connection of logistics information systems
✓ Implement an appropriate data access management model
✓ Build a common but user-tailored interface and tools to enable the IT infrastructure
✓ Test, validate and implement the AEOLIX prototype in 11 living labs of logistics business communities across Europe
✓ Monitor the impacts of AEOLIX based on environmental, economic and social impacts
✓ Develop an exploitation business model to enable roll-out and deployment of the concept across Europe, and possibly rest of the world
AEOLIX will develop a solution for connecting logistics information systems of different characteristics, intra- and cross-company, for immediate (real-time) exchange of information in support of logistics-related decisions. The ambition is to develop architecture for a distributed open system for exchange of information among key logistics actors (commercial companies as well as relevant authorities), enabling increased use and impact of such information in the value chain.
During the project, logistics related business issues have been selected as use cases to be researched at different Living Labs to validate and demonstrate the benefits of the platform.
