Digital Transport Systems
Digital transport systems are software and hardware supported solutions where physical transport processes are transferred to digital platforms. In these systems, operations such as transport planning, vehicle tracking, route optimisation, load tracking, document management, invoicing, customer information are carried out in digital environment.
Components of Digital Transport Systems
Digital transport systems are systems developed by using digital technologies in the transport and logistics sector, making transport processes more efficient, traceable, fast and economical. Thanks to these systems, many processes such as transport planning, load tracking, invoicing and document management are transferred to the digital environment. Thus, human error is minimised.
They basically consist of transport management systems (‘TMS’), fleet management systems (‘FMS’), telematics devices, load tracking software, electronic document systems and artificial intelligence supported analysis tools. Thanks to these structures, companies can optimise their transport routes, instantly track the location of their vehicles, and digitally issue documents such as e-invoices and e-dispatch notes. In addition, the information obtained from historical data can be used to analyse costs, evaluate driver performance and take steps to increase customer satisfaction.
Digitalisation saves both time and cost in transport processes, reduces environmental impacts and facilitates legal compliance. Digital transport systems are indispensable technologies that shape the future of the logistics industry and enable a fast and transparent service understanding.
During the digitalisation phase, purchases are made through the system and users can track their products through electronic media such as technology and computers. Goods and service control can be followed instantly before and after sales.
The main components of the digital logistics systems described are given as follows:
- Transport Management Systems (TMS-Transportation Management Systems) determine the most efficient transport routes by providing route optimisation and increase vehicle occupancy rates with load consolidation. It provides calculation and analysis of transport costs with carrier selection and performance monitoring.
- GPS and Location Tracking Technologies play a critical role in modern transport systems. These technologies enable real-time tracking of vehicles and loads, create automatic notifications (geofencing) for specific geographical areas, allow accurate calculation of estimated arrival times and improve both safety and fuel efficiency by monitoring driver behaviour.
- Internet of Things (IoT) Sensors connect the physical transport world with digital data. These sensors monitor environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, vibration, measure the fuel and energy consumption of vehicles with physical condition monitoring in transport, and enable smart containers and loads to monitor and report themselves.
- Blockchain and Smart Contracts provide trust and transparency in transport processes. These technologies enable digitalisation of shipping documents, automatic payments when delivery conditions are met, traceability of products from source to consumer, and secure information sharing between all parties in the supply chain.
Smart Contracts
Smart contracts, which provide advantages by making processes faster, safer and more transparent with blockchain technology, are automatically activated when certain conditions are met and execute transactions without intermediaries. An example of this is the automatic progress of payment transactions when the product reaches the buyer.
Smart contracts are created as software in a digital environment. This software system combines parties from both the buyer and the seller and enables the establishment of a contract through a software. Since the data on smart contracts is a piece of code, it is recorded in an unchangeable way. This reduces the risk of data manipulation and saves time by automating manual processes.
In this way, importers’ customs duties are easily paid via the use of smart contracts. The control of tax payments by customs authorities can also become more practical in this way.
Smart Contracts in the Logistics Industry
It provides transparency throughout the supply chain with smart contracts that make every stage of the transport processes traceable. In customs clearance processes, it facilitates processes by reducing the document processing burden in international trade.
Marine insurance is of great importance in maritime trade. Automatic claims and premiums are provided through blockchain-based marine insurance platforms and smart contracts created according to certain conditions.
Due to the advantages offered by smart contracts in the logistics sector, the movement of goods in the supply chain can be tracked in real time. This enables transparent and traceable process management. It enables digital storage and verification of documents such as customs documents, transport documents and invoices in digital environment.
Smart contracts can be effectively used in multiple areas in the logistics industry. With the integration of IoT systems, the location of goods in freight tracking, ambient temperature and conditions are monitored by live data transfer. It enables electronic verification of documents in customs procedures. In warehouses, stock levels, product number and information, order optimisation are made possible.
Smart contracts have started to be used in the logistics sector over time and are expected to reach widespread use in the near future. However, in this process, legal compliance processes, lack of technological infrastructure investments and the adaptation of sector stakeholders cause the process to slow down and become difficult.
