Cloud Computing for a Dynamic and Synchromodal Container Consolidation

Since the container became the driver of change in worldwide freight transport, the optimal utilization of container capacities has become a key challenge of the supply chain management. Often, fragments of customer orders arrive at their destination via different, sub-optimal routes which impose increased delivery times, costs and CO₂ emissions to the global supply chain. A barrier to efficient container consolidation at port terminals is the reduced visibility and limited information exchange between stakeholders on real-time location and status of a container and its contents. This is due to a multitude of reasons: the lack of a common standard for information exchange, competition matters, absence of trusted service providers collecting data, information shared on a next carrier basis without disseminating information to the rest of the stakeholders. In addition, multimodal transport involves many carriers until the goods reach their final destination. Well-defined trigger points regarding cargo will allow for better monitoring of shipments and the introduction of key performance indicators (KPIs) for route evaluation and carrier performance. This work proposes a cloud-based information portal as an information and communications technology (ICT) enabling technology used by supply chain stakeholders; the latter will use this portal to feed it with real-time information from existing platforms so that a better visibility for all parties is enabled. This portal will permit better visibility for end-customers, promote standardization of logistics processes, offer an increased profitability for cloud services providers, improve their activities expansion and accelerate customs related process handling.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.2495/UT160081
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.witpress.com/books/978-1-78466-133-5
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from WIT Press.
• Corporate Authors:

  WIT Press

  Ashurst Lodge
  Ashurst, Southampton  United Kingdom  SO40 7AA
• Authors:
  • Tsertou, A
  • Amditis, A
  • Theodoropoulos, T
  • Latsa, E
  • Kanellopoulos, J
  • Kotras, M
• Conference:
  • 22nd International Conference on Urban Transport and the Environment
  • Location: Crete , Greece
  • Date: 2016-6-21 to 2016-6-23
• Publication Date: 2016

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Pagination: pp 83-92
• Monograph Title: Urban Transport XXII
• Serial:
  • WIT Transactions on the Built Environment
  • Volume: 164
  • Publisher: Wessex Institute of Technology
  • ISSN: 1743-3509
  • Serial URL: http://library.witpress.com/pages/listBooks.asp?tID=2

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cloud computing; Competition; Container terminals; Costs; Freight transportation; Logistics; Origin and destination; Profitability; Real time information; Routes; Supply chain management
• Subject Areas: Environment; Freight Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01614763
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9781784661335
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 25 2016 10:00AM