Automatic information exchange between interoperable information systems: Potential improvement of access management in a seaport terminal

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore how and when the most beneficial and cost effective information attributes can be automatically exchanged between interoperable information systems of a seaport terminal operator, a road haulier, and a rail operator to potentially improve their access management. The automatically exchange of the attributes is dependent on interoperability between information systems of the involved actors. The interoperability is achieved through a developed application programming interface in this study. This case study adds to prior research by developing a cost-benefits analysis that categorises the attributes (from low cost/low benefit to high cost/high benefit) involving four strategies: data farming, dedicated information exchange, opportunistic information exchange, and avoiding information exchange. These four strategies are important in identifying when to collect the information attributes automatically to facilitate real-time decision-making and in turn potentially improve the access management for the involved actors. is developed in this case study to enable interoperability between the information systems of involved actors. As a change management tool, the cost-benefit analysis can also be used to identify and support transformation of attributes from one category to another. The empirical study included nine workshops resulting in the identification of the most beneficial and cost effective information attributes: deviation information, direction, driver ID, estimated time of arrival, goods priority information, intermodal transport unit (ITU) ID, ITU status, opening hours, shipment ID, and vehicle ID. The attributes must be automatically exchanged according to three identified time phases: one week before, one day before, and two hours before the ITUs are to be picked up at the terminal. By exchanging these attributes between the interoperable actors´ information systems, there is potential for reducing the actors´ turnaround times, increasing their access reliability, access precision, and access flexibility. Finally, two propositions are formulated from the empirical findings and in relation to prior research results.