Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
the responsibilities for each LSP. Beside the actual transportation of the good, the data
regarding to the good must be processed as well. The lower part of the data flow layer
exemplifies the data sources within a logistics service (ERP, RFID, Barcode). These
examples should clarify that there are a multitude of data sources with their own
characteristics, which must be linked with the 4PL system. By using CEP it is
possible to link nearly every data source in a short space of time, because CEP is
loosely coupled. Thereby the 4PL gain situational awareness, because a high variety
of data sources - internal and external (e.g. traffic systems) - can be linked rapidly.
Moreover, CEP can handle the rising velocity of data while processing them in real-
time, which will lead to a better availability and visibility of data. Using e.g. RFID
leads directly to the challenge that a flood of data is generated. Moreover, companies
are only interested in information with a high value. Therefore, it is necessary that a
dispatcher does not receive messages such as “good_1 was read at reader_1 at 12:45
UTC”. According to that, CEP provides filtering mechanism so that all redundant
messages will be percolated, which will reduce the volume of data. The result is that
only one message is received by the dispatcher. Moreover, it can be stated that the
message “good_1 was read at reader_1 at 12:45 UTC” does not have a high
information value. CEP offers the opportunity to aggregate data to obtain a higher
information value. By using these mechanisms it is possible to aggregate technical
data (e.g. RFID reads) to business processes, whereby the message is transformed to
“good_1 for Mr. X left the warehouse at gate 2. The delivery is delayed for 45
minutes”. This message is used to evaluate the performance of the logistics service
(see e.g. LSP1.LS2 in Fig. 4) in form of service profiles. The profiles of each offered
and operated logistics service are aggregated again to achieve an overall performance
profile of every logistics service provider (provider profile). Furthermore, these
benchmarks can be aggregated again to achieve a profile for the whole network
(network profile). All of these profiles represent an essential input for other tasks like
provider selection or simulation of newly planned logistics systems.
Fig. 4.
Exemplified material and data flow of a logistics service instance
