Autor: Martina Romer

Regarding to a lack of transparency, expert interviews have shown that many activities in load-carrier-management in companies are performed manually and are prone to errors. The consequences are overstock or more severe understock of load carriers. This article presents the concept of the data-based service “automated monitoring of stock levels”. The service is based on the integration of technologies for identification, communication and localization into conventional load carriers and the generation of data during the logistic process. The data are processed in a cloud-based service-system that triggers supply chain events in case of potential understock of load carriers to prevent supply chain disruptions.

The transformation of business models, based on the digitalisation of products, is becoming more and more in the focus of the companies and is also affecting the Load Carrier branch. Intelligent components are integrated into the products, to collect and analyse data in order to create new services. The digital transformation of intelligent products into cyber-physical-systems, which includes a setup of a cloud-based Service System, enables traditional Load Carrier manufacturer to develop new business areas to optimize the supply chain of their customers by offering new services.