A Global Freight Business Ecosystem Based on Low Carbon End-to-End Transport and Logistic Services

Abstract

In this paper the authors present the global freight business ecosystem of the iCargo Integrated Project, that aims at advancing and extending the use of ICT to decarbonize co-modal logistics by enhancing intermodal transport reliability and optimizing environmental performances. iCargo users represent organizations involved in the provision of door-to-door low-carbon logistic services, covering an entire supply chain or a significant portion of it, producing less than alternatives, making use of the iCargo ecosystem to combine services through different transport modes and providers. The iCargo ecosystem actors are clients, like manufacturers and retailers, logistic services providers, including freight forwarders and carriers for the different transport modes, and providers of support services, ensuring access to physical and information infrastructures. The iCargo ecosystem foresees a common representation of door-to-door services with a decentralized architecture. The distinctive elements of the iCargo infrastructure provide uniform and ubiquitous access to the logistic services of ecosystem members. This increases resources utilization and allows more flexible and dynamic plans.

Keywords:

• business ecosystem
• door-to-door services
• co-modal transport
• environment sustainability.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

V. Boschian

Valentina, Boschian graduated in management and logistics engineering in 2008, she obtained her Ph.D. at the University of Trieste in information technology engineering in March 2012 focused on the study of multi-actor systems and of the impact of advanced ICT on intermodal logistic system. She is also working since February 2008 on logistic topics and working in different European projects founded in the 7th EU Framework Program in the ICT area.

P. Paganelli

Paolo Paganelli is an owner and CEO of Bluegreen and graduated in Electronic Engineering at the University of Bologna in 1991. He was contract researcher at the University of Modena from 1992 to 1994. In 2002 he became product manager of Formula’s supply chain management solutions. From 2006 to 2009 he has been Insiel’s head of Logistics Solutions. Paolo has been leading the EURIDICE Integrated Project (FP7 ICT 216271) and the Logistics for LIFE Coordination Action (FP7 ICT 248338). Paolo is technical coordinator of the iCargo integrated project (FP7 ICT 288383).

L. Pondrelli

Lorenzo, Pondrelli is an ICT expert and worked as a consultant, project manager and IT service manager in software houses and consultancy companies. In more than ten years, he has gained direct experiences with important customers and in the management of international working teams devoted to the development and the integration of software products.