Overview
The project was about the interoperability between e-freight systems that had been developed in previous EU projects as well as in those developed in commercial undertakings.
It showed how the following e-freight systems would be integrated: Logit 4SEE (resulting from Freightwise), Smart-CM Neutral Layer and ICS-SEAP (from Smart-CM), SICIS (from Integrity), Port Community Systems (e. g. from Descartes) and commercial platforms (e. g. from DHL).
Based on this interoperable set of e-freight systems, shippers, beneficial cargo owners, LSPs as well as customs authorities were offered information that was to make logistics chains have shorter lead times and higher reliability. The project was to unlock valuable information that was available somewhere throughout the logistics chain. There were many data sources available which were aggregated: data from container security devices, port communities, logistics network, terminal operators, etc.
To support decision processes in the logistics chain, the project combined data sources and consolidated these data to valuable information. Having common project members, here COMCIS will use the approach developed earlier in the Freightwise project.
Interoperability between systems is only useful if it leads to improved processes. COMCIS therefore focused on better integration of customs processes, better interfaces between sea and hinterland, as well as better controls on the hinterland part of the logistics chain, which has often been the largest cause of variability.
For communication between the above mentioned e-freight systems, the common framework was used which was developed in cooperation amongst EU projects (Freightwise, e-Freight, Smart-CM, Integrity, Euridice, etc. ) as well as industry driven initiatives like LIM of GS-1. Demonstrations took place in 3 business cases through ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam.
Funding
Results
Project Results:During the first year of the project, COMCIS implemented the building blocks to meet the project objectives. These tasks focused on the definition and the development of the three business cases.
The criteria for services used with the COMCIS project were identified as follows:
1. the service had to be commercially viable. Within the project the focus was on larger industrial parties but the viability could also be valuable if it was oriented to smaller companies as well.
2. the services had to run in a fully operational mode for the industry to be able to validate the practical uses of it as part of an operational business process. The scale was therefore also important.
3. interoperability between services had to be proven in the project, although that did not imply that this was an objective for each service itself.
Two tracks were started to achieve the objectives of COMCIS in the best way possible:
1. Track one: Full operational deployment of services which were working in an interoperable modus. There was a clear business case for these services to allow for them to be taken up by the industry.
2. Track two: A focus on further developing the existing or new services, where other criteria were also relevant for the industry, such as standardisation services that allowed a faster deployment, services for an extended user community etc. It was however not necessarily the intention to prove only the functional relevance of services that have been demonstrated before in other projects.
A summary on the status of the work was given in line with the objectives:
- Objective one: Integrate processes
The scenario descriptions of the three business cases described the respective supply chain processes and how the integrated COMCIS solutions supported these processes.
The requirements analysis of each business case described in detail the solution, its components, and the message flows.
- Objective two: Exchange data according to the common framework
COMCIS used the common framework, which supported interoperability between ICT systems in logistics and provided a basis for semantic (i.e. content-related) standards in the transport and logistics sector. Key elements of the common framework were part of the UBL version 2.1 standard. A link was established between the common framework and the GS1 logistics interoperability model.
The COMCIS services use the common framework to exchange inf