Hans Moonen

Coordination as a service to enable agile business networks

This paper surveys the current organizational requirements of agile business networks and then studies how emerging ICT are addressing the needs. The paper concludes that while several requirements are covered by novel cloud and Saas offerings, several requirements related to service coordination, collaboration, risk management and relation management are not properly addressed by ICT offerings yet. The paper proposes coordination as a service (CAAS) to fill this gap and outlines the key characteristics of CAAS.

Agent-based modeling of third-party logistics performance indicators

Monitoring of relevant performance indicators can greatly contribute to the success of a logistics service provider. In practice, however, this is often done in an ad-hoc manner, leaving huge potential for improvement through adequate IT support. This paper proposes an approach to build an agent-based information system with emphasis on the interaction between the operational and strategic goals of the company. We present an example of the applied approach for the context of schedule generation and selection.

Agent technology in supply chains and networks an exploration of high potential future applications

This work reports on an ongoing research project that is aimed at evaluating how software agents can improve performance of supply chains and networks. To conduct this evaluation, first a framework is developed to classify potential applications of software agents to supply networks. The framework was used in workshop sessions with logistics and information systems experts from industry, software/consultancy and academia to identify promising areas for agents. Based on the framework and the outcome of the workshop sessions, This work presents promising application areas for the near future and beyond.

Building a Supply Chain Ecosystem: How the Enterprise Connectivity Interface (ECI) Will Enable and Support Interorganisational Collaboration

This chapter proposes a model how to setup IT supported interorganisational collaboration in the current world where IT and business collaboration is intertwined. Businesses have been struggling to achieve supply chain integration for both technical and organizational reasons. This hinders effective collaboration with partners: vertical collaboration with suppliers and customers, as well as horizontal collaboration with competitors. This paper gives a literature overview of the current challenges within supply chain collaboration. The suggested Enterprise Connectivity Interface approach is inspired on the popular API model that enables connectivity between software systems. We reflect how such quick connectivity can be applied also on a business level.

Transportation Performances Measures and Metrics: Overall Transportation Effectiveness (OTE): A Framework, Prototype and Case Study

Transportation is essential to global economy. Nevertheless, Logistic Service Provisioning (LSP) is an industry with typically low margins. Competition is fierce and processes often inefficient, one example being a high percentage of empty miles (for trucks) resulting in unnecessary costs. Collaboration and better information exchange between LSPs and their supply chain partners are perceived to be essential in reducing empty miles. As a basis for collaboration initiatives, it is important to identify how LSPs currently perform. There is an urgent need for performance measurement. Business Intelligence (BI) matured over recent years and provides methods and tools for the construction of performance measurement dashboards. Still, LSPs struggle to identify accurate and effective performance indicators and face difficulties to implement these in a BI dashboard. To address this problem, we follow a design science approach to develop an Overall Transportation Effectiveness (OTE) framework using an extensive literature analysis and an analysis of current performance measurement practices. The OTE framework is implemented in a BI dashboard, which we piloted and evaluate in the Dutch branch of one of Europes largest LSPs. The paper concludes with a discussion of our findings and an outlook on potential future work.