ECoNet Platform for Collaborative Logistics and Transport

Abstract : The development of the Port Community System (PCS) concept, as a single access point to a port, offering integrated logistics and transport services, is a complex and challenging endeavour. Effective value creation in PCS requires the integration of stakeholder’s internal processes with the collaborative activities/processes, under an open framework. The establishment of such community thus requires a well-founded collaborative framework to integrate and coordinate the diverse IT-systems of the participating stakeholders. These IT-systems, in most of the cases, were not designed and developed for a cooperation context, leading to a complex overpriced web of disconnected systems that are difficult to manage, maintain, and adapt to the fast evolution of technologies and collaboration models. In this context, an enhanced Enterprise Collaborative Network platform is presented and discussed as an approach to support PCS.