How can Internet of Things (IoT) enable more time-efficient documentation handling within intermodal freight transits? Examples from a Swedish road-rail intermodal terminal

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to identify possible improvements within intermodal freight transport transits, with a focus on documentation generated by the movement of digitalization, the emerging revolution Industry 4.0 and implementation of Internet of Things (IoT) and Internet of Logistics (IoL) in the transport industry. Research question: “How can Internet of Things (IoT) enable more time-efficient documentation handling within intermodal freight transits?” Methods Qualitative method, literature review and interviews. Main findings The implementation of Internet of Things (IoT) and Internet of Logistics (IoL) services have together with the fourth industrial revolution changed the environment of performing business. IoT solutions are automatizing business processes and connects the real world with the Internet. IoL solutions are changing the logistics industry and are aiming for seamless chains and transparent information flows. Within intermodal freight transport the concepts of IoT and IoL are used mostly in order to create more efficient solutions in goods handling. An exception is the intelligent video gate (IVG) that is a physical station using radio frequency identification (RFID) to identify and structure the data the goods and vehicles are generating. The technology is currently running in Germany and the implementation results show that IVG have enabled more efficient documentation handling in intermodal freight transport transits. The technology is now implemented in a Swedish intermodal terminal (road-rail) and this research investigate the results in documentation handling within the terminal. The results are positive and a reduce in time during documentation handling identified.