Smart Container Chain Management

The two Corridor Demonstrator Projects have provided test beds to demonstrate in a real-life environment its developments that enable improved security, efficiency, increased visibility and reduced costs of the global container chain operation. These improvements relate to organisational, technological, operational and business matters. Flows have been covered from the point of stuffing (loading) and stripping (unloading), in other words from door-to-door as far as the use of containers is involved, and have involved all actors active in or serviced by the demonstrator scenario. Several thousand container trips have been covered throughout the project.

The benefits of the implementation of the SMART-CM project for the supply chain stakeholders can be significant. The level of significance though, depends on the restructuring of an interested company and the process it follows in such a way that the SMART-CM technology can be fully integrated.

Technical Implications

The robustness of SMART-CM solutions was validated in the context of real trade lane operations from China, Thailand and India to EU ports. The exploitation potential of these solutions was confirmed by the industrial parties and the consortium members that invested in them.

Policy implications

The step towards vast implementation requires further cooperation and agreement among the public and private actors involved in global transport, regarding the new roles that emerge and the globally accepted standards on key performance indicators of the technological solutions for security.

Policy objectives

• An efficient and integrated mobility system: Service quality and reliability
• The external dimension