Sharing resources, especially data, will make logistics more efficient, cost-effective, transparent and climate-friendly, say researchers at Fraunhofer Austria.

Today's logistics are about to change rapidly. The goal of climate neutrality makes it necessary to rethink established forms of mobility and logistics systems. In addition, the need to create transparency along supply chains and the shortage of skilled workers are further challenges for the logistics industry. Researchers at Fraunhofer Austria have now looked at what the logistics of the future must look like in order to combine sustainability with security of supply and to maintain prosperity. In its recently published Position Paper "Shared Logistics", the team presents six fields of action that, when combined, form a solution strategy. A central element of this is the collaborative and cross-company use of both - physical resources and data.

Data ecosystems as a basis

The fields of action defined by the researchers include, for example, cooperative logistics networks and horizontal collaboration in freight transport, resource-saving logistics infrastructure with optimal automation technology as well as attractive and future-proof work design in warehousing and logistics. However, they are all based on the cross-company use of data.

"We see that companies are already using data on a large scale to optimize their business processes and make strategic decisions. However, they almost exclusively use the data that they have collected themselves and are still very reluctant to share their own data," explains Matthias Hayek, author of the position paper and project manager at Fraunhofer Austria.

This is set to change in the future, as shared data is a prerequisite for sharing physical resources. The basic prerequisite for this are data ecosystems, as these allow data to be stored securely, confidentially and in a way that cannot be compromised.

Not a cubic centimeter of air

Empty truck runs are the best example of how the concept can work: according to studies, 45 percent of all trucks on the road in Austria in 2022 were making empty runs. Many of these could be converted into lucrative transports when the right information is available.

"With shared logistics, we are aiming for a win-win situation. Filling a cubic meter of air in the truck with goods brings profit. Using data that have already been recorded brings speed to the market. Making better use of resources is always a monetary benefit for companies and at the same time a benefit for the climate and society. Ideally, there won't be a single cubic centimetre of empty space left in any mode of transport," explains Sebastian Schlund, Managing Director of Fraunhofer Austria and professor at TU Wien.

Business and research partners wanted

The fields of action defined in the position paper are now to be researched, further developed and transferred into industrial practice by Fraunhofer Austria in cooperation with research and corporate partners. The researchers are looking forward to working with interested companies.

"Shared logistics is a beacon that we want to strengthen together with partners in Austria and Europe. Our vision is that the AI-supported, shared use of data will manage the logistics supply chains of the future. Through close cooperation with companies and research partners, we want to make this vision accessible to the Austrian logistics and transport industry," says Fazel Ansari, Head of Strategic Projects at the Center for Sustainable Production and Logistics at Fraunhofer Austria and professor at TU Wien.