Development of electronic data exchange structures for the transport and logistics sector suitable for exchanging via mobile communication technologies
other
Project Details
Project Purpose
The purpose of this project is the specification of the business requirements and essential data items suitable to be transferred using mobile technologies during the delivery of transport services. A transport services provider (carrier or freight forwarder) when contracted by a transport services buyer (consigner or consignee) is committed to deliver the contracted consignment to a designated consignee via any named contractual locations. In reality, as a result of the diversified nature of the modern intermodal, synchromodal and multimodal transport infrastructures, the actual routes deployed often vary from the contractual arrangements. The reasons for these deviations are very varied but most often result from operational considerations. However, changes in itineraries during transport movements can also be pointers to security and other risks of interest to cross-border agencies. In both cases, the tracking of the trade items is made more difficult with every operational route change and all the parties concerned are needing new methods by which they can be informed of all such changes in safer, more precise and prompt ways. Modern communication methods such as those based on mobile technologies can assist in providing real-time information to keep all interested parties up to date along the transport chain. However, these new communications methods are not suitable for exchanging large-scale amounts of data and therefore the key data requirements need to be identified to support short, sharp efficient data deliveries at regular intervals. This project will base its work on the Multi Modal Transport (MMT) reference model and will analyse the required subset business process scenario and identify the relevant data items and structures needed for supporting real-time mobile technologies.Project Scope
The update to Recommendation 16 will address the following questions that have emerged in recent years: 1. What is the precise definition of a location? Is it a point or an area? Which entities should be allocated a UN/LOCODE? 2. What are good, unambiguous definitions for the existing Function Codes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, B? Should new function codes be added? 3. What is the process to handle locations which have multiple names – either from different languages or otherwise? 4. How should political change when locations change hands or new countries emerge be handled? 5. Should there be changes to the Status of location codes? For instance, do we need a better process and definition for “Request under consideration” given that there is currently no workflow to move these from “under consideration” to “approved”? 6. What is the policy around changing or removing codes which had been previously published and are already in use? When a code has been deprecated, is it acceptable to reassign the code to another location? 7. Is there a need to limit the number of requests made for new codes or changes to existing codes from a single entity for a given cycle? 8. Should precision of coordinates be improved from minutes to seconds? 9. Should new attributes be added, for example, time zone? In addition to answering the above questions, comments will be solicited from participating experts from standards bodies, logistics providers and industry in order to address challenges they have with the use and maintenance of the UN/LOCODE standard.Project Deliverables
The project deliverables are: a) Revised Recommendation 16 Recommendation & GuidelinesExit Criteria
a) Revised Recommendation 16 Recommendation & Guidelines • Internal and external review logs showing how comments have been addressed • Final draft text ready for publicationProject Team Membership and Required Functional Expertise
Membership is open to experts with broad knowledge and experience in the area of transport, clearance, supply chain and related activities as well as in recommendation drafting. In addition, Heads of Delegations may invite technical experts from their constituency to participate in the work. Experts are expected to contribute to the work based solely on their expertise and to comply with the UN/CEFACT Code of Conduct and Ethics and the policy on Intellectual Property Rights.Geographical Focus
The geographical focus of the project is global.Initial Contributions
• UNECE Recommendation 16 • UN/LOCODE Advisory Group Terms of Reference • UN/LOCODE Focal Point Terms of ReferenceResource Requirements
Participants in the project shall provide resources for their own participation. The existence and functioning of the project shall not require any additional resources from the UNECE secretariat. The project will be prepared in between Forums, principally using conference call facilities.Project Leadership
Project Leader: Alper KEÇELİ Lead Editor: TBDProject Proposal Files