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Freight Information Network in Europe

Objectif



Objective
The FINE project will provide logistics information, in particular tracking, cargo booking and invoicing, to SME's within the European freight industry. The exchange of information is essential to ensure a continuing role for small and medium sized business players, such as freight forwarders, in the logistics chain. The project will provide freight communities, consisting of small and medium sized operators, with low-cost EDI solutions in order to exchange information within the community and between the community and the major players in the freight forwarding industry.

Background
Within the European freight industry, there is a need for the rapid development of EDI services and access methods to centralised services, such as database and bulletin board services. Many of the major operators have adopted these new technologies within their businesses, but for small and medium sized companies, the costs can be prohibitive. In order that these companies, particularly freight forwarders, can continue to provide a competitive service it is essential that low cost solutions are available to them. The initial developments for the FINE project have been undertaken in conjunction with the BIFA (British Freight Forwarders Association). The service will be extended during the course of the project towards the Benelux, Ireland, Portugal and one of the Scandinavian countries. The extension of the service will be undertaken in collaboration with different user and trade organisations in the different countries (freight forwarders and export associations).

Project Information
The FINE project will concentrate on the further enhancement of the current low-cost EDI end-user solutions, and provide a demonstration level service to the different freight communities. The results of a market and requirements survey will be used in order to enhance the current software and network facilities and to develop the demonstration level service. Functions which will be implemented will cover:

- booking information
- shipping instructions
- status information
- movement information
- invoicing and freight charging information.

The demonstration level service will form the basis of an awareness programme within the different participating countries. The awareness programme will consist out of demonstrations and trials with the FINE system and the organisation of seminars in order to introduce the technologies involved. The results of the awareness programme will form the basis for further exploitation and identifies the benefits, opportunities and future requirements of the FINE system.

The "Community Approach"
The growth and the application of EDI in the freight industry can be seen pre-dominantly within freight communities. Freight communities can be defined as a number of freight forwarding companies within a geographical location (i.e. port communities), or a number of companies grouped within or around a common forwarding concept (e.g. EDIShip). It is the intention of the FINE project to develop EDI services to those freight forwarding communities as part of a total EDI Facility Management strategy. The tools being developed within the project will result in the offering of standard low-cost solutions for those freight communities.

Technical Environment
The end-user will be able to access the system by using a standard 386-PC system with a dial-up modem. The PC will be equipped with:

- communication software in order to access the FINE Message Handling System. This software will be implemented transparently to the end-user,
- graphical user interface in order to prepare messages for sending and to read incoming messages. The user-interface in order to prepare messages for sending and to read incoming messages. The user-interface will user the forms which are currently being used. Incoming and outgoing information will be stored in a local database for purposes of re-usability.

The network is based on an existing international X.400 system, with a EDI Messaging Engine located within the premises of the co-ordinating partner CNS in Southampton. The usage of the international X.400 system will ensure that international coverage is provided (with interconnectivity to a suite of different networks), but with local access points in order to reduce the costs of accessing the network.

Partnership

The current consortium has securely been built up around the expertise and user area's which is needed for the development, demonstration and validation of the system.

The networking capabilities and software developments will be provided by CNS (UK), as the co-ordinating partner of the consortium and INET (IRL).

Substantial user involvement and representation is provided through the participation of the British Freight Forwarders Association (UK), Portuguese Freight Forwarders Association (P), the Irish Exporters Association (IRL). The selection of the freight communities will be undertaken in co-operation with these associations. The associations will monitor the results of the demonstrations and will be able to use the results of the evaluation and assessment for their own internal usage.

The project management is provided by A. Brand Consultants (NL).

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Régime de financement

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinateur

COMMUNITY NETWORK SERVICES LTD
Contribution de l’UE
Aucune donnée
Adresse
4 BRUNEL WAY
PO15 5TX FAREHAM
Royaume-Uni

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Dernière mise à jour: 8 Février 1996

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/4074/fr

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