The article presents the concept of co-modality and points to its connection with the freight and passenger sectors. The text draws attention to the importance of e-logistics in the pursuit of sustainable mobility, resulting from the European Union’s approach, and provides a critical analysis of the KOMODA project, the main goal of which is to develop a roadmap with proposed actions leading to the definition of an integrated e-logistics platform in Europe. The final part of the article is devoted to presenting the steps necessary to achieve integrated urban traffic management and the key role of the co-modality idea.
Context of co-modality
The concept of co-modality is becoming increasingly important in European transport and logistics due to changes in supply, production, and distribution processes involving manufacturers (B2B) and end customers purchasing goods (B2B, B2C). The main observable trends are: the relocation of production centers and a drastic increase in the importance of e-commerce. Production centers are now spread across Europe and the world, far from the company headquarters where planning and management departments are located. Regarding e-commerce, it should be emphasized that it has not only revolutionized the way goods are sold but also how they are delivered and how the information associated with them must be managed and shared. Beyond introducing the growing importance of a less-than-truckload approach to logistics (from large wholesale shipments to individual distribution or parcels), e-commerce is a key element that fuels the expectations of consumers/end customers in terms of flexibility, affordability, speed, cost reduction, and real-time information availability.
The importance of ICT as a supporting tool
ICT solutions are widely used to support activities related to the management and operation of the logistics chain. Indeed, the use of (e-logistics) technology is a key element that helps meet the need for flexibility, affordability, speed, cost reduction, and real-time information availability.
Real-time in logistics is based on appropriate infrastructures and the use of ICT tools and systems (terrestrial networks, mobile platforms, displays and hand-held devices in vehicles, vehicle positioning systems, monitoring techniques (RFID Tags, barcodes), distribution and planning models and software, messaging tools and services, and information flow rationalization, etc.), which are gradually replacing the EDI system, telephone communication, and faxing of documents.
Co-modality as a response to new user needs and achieving EU goals
It is a fact that only the optimized use of the co-modal chain (supported by ICT tools and systems) can contribute to achieving the goals described above and avoiding severe mobility restrictions, duplication of infrastructure investment, economic savings, and environmental degradation.
The concept of co-modality has been promoted by the European Commission since the Lisbon Agenda as a way to guarantee the sustainable development of competitiveness in Europe. The White Paper “European transport policy for 2010: time to decide” (EC, 2001) identifies the need to develop logistics solutions using integrated transport modes. Additionally, the revised version of the White Paper “Keep Europe moving” (EC, 2006) pointed to the optimization of the use of each transport mode as a way to achieve a simple and efficient transport system. The same document also supports replacing the concept of competition between transport modes with the concept of complementarity. Examples of Commission initiatives promoting the interoperability of a single mode of transport are listed in Directive 2001/16/EC (rail transport services) and in document COM (2004) 392 (inland waterway transport). From this perspective, the coordination of stakeholders is essential to guarantee the quality of logistics systems as a whole. The guidelines provided by the Commission indicate that the use of ICT tools and systems has been identified as a major element contributing to the efficient and sustainable coordination of the entire logistics chain. On the other hand, however, as will be presented below, the increasingly widespread use of ICT tools is one of the weak points hindering the achievement of truly integrated interoperability in the co-modal chain.
The article comes from the “Logistyka” magazine 2/2009.