Secure Logistics Information Sharing via Blockchain
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Solution Overview
Problem
The current management of communication flows and administrative documentation in international road transportation, particularly in the 'groupage' mode, is inefficient, costly, and lacks secure tracking and compliance with regulations, leading to operational inefficiencies and potential administrative and financial penalties.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a non-editable digital repository and data processing central unit, connected to devices of senders, shipping agents, and logistic operators, for secure sharing of logistic information with digital signatures, ensuring compliance and confidentiality, and utilizing blockchain technology for secure data storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional paper-based documentation and communication methods are used for groupage transportation, then administrative and logistical information can be exchanged between parties, but the process becomes operationally inefficient, costly, and lacks secure tracking capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical paper-based documentation system with a digital information system. Digital copies of administrative documentation (waybills, CMR notes, commercial invoices) are created, stored, and exchanged electronically through a centralized platform, eliminating the need for physical paper handling, manual signing, and physical storage while improving efficiency and security
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital copies of all administrative documentation associated with goods transportation. These digital copies are stored in a centralized repository and can be accessed by authorized parties (senders, consignees, logistics operators, customs authorities) without needing to handle original physical documents, thereby improving tracking capability and operational efficiency
2Productivity
If multiple parties (senders, logistics operators, consignees) are involved in groupage transportation, then goods can be consolidated and transported efficiently, but managing communication flows and documentation becomes complicated and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the documentation management processes of multiple parties into a single integrated digital platform. All waybills, CMR notes, commercial invoices, and tracking information for consolidated goods from multiple senders are combined into one unified electronic system, allowing efficient management of complex multi-party transportation while reducing administrative overhead
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a centralized digital repository and communication platform as an intermediary between senders, logistics operators, and consignees. This intermediary system automatically manages information exchange, document routing, and tracking data sharing among multiple parties, simplifying the coordination complexity inherent in groupage transportation
3Productivity
If digital documentation is implemented for international transportation, then operational efficiency improves, but ensuring compliance with various national regulations (Income Revenue Authority, Customs and Monopolies Agency) becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the digital documentation system with universal functionality to meet multiple regulatory requirements simultaneously. The same digital platform and document formats can serve both domestic and international transportation needs, accommodating different national authorities (Income Revenue Authority, Customs and Monopolies Agency) through standardized electronic interfaces and compliance features
4Loss of information
If commercial confidentiality of individual senders is maintained in groupage transportation, then sender privacy is protected, but secure tracking and verification of delivery become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments information access rights by user role and authorization level. The system divides documentation visibility into different segments: senders can see their own goods tracking information, logistics operators can see operational details, and customs authorities can see compliance data, while maintaining commercial confidentiality of other parties' information. This segmented access model enables delivery verification without exposing confidential commercial data
Data Source
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AI summary
System (1) for secure sharing of information regarding road transport or Roll-on/Roll-off transport, organized by a shipping agent, of goods sent by one or more senders to at least one consignee, through the same type of transport means and through the use of at least one first logistic operator and at least one second logistic operator, the system (1) comprising operatively connected to each other: at least one non-editable digital repository (2); at least one data processing central unit (3); a sender's device (4), for each sender; at least one shipping agent's device (5); one device (6) for said at least one first logistic operator; one device (7) for the second logistic operator; one consignee's device (8); wherein said data processing central unit (3) is configured to:: receive in input a digital signature and the data transmitted by each device (4) of each sender, each device (6) of the first logistic operator, the shipping agent's device (5), the device (7) of the second logistic operator and each device (8) of the at least one consignee and, upon receipt of each digital signature also store the digital signature and the corresponding received data on said non-editable digital repository (2); associate logistic information on the shipment of each sender transmitted by each device (4) of each sender, with logistic information on the shipping agent's shipment transmitted by the shipping agent's device (5), based on the identification codes of the shipment of each sender and one identification code of the shipping agent's shipment received from each device (4) of each sender and from shipping agent's device (5); sharing, with said shipping agent's device (5), based on the identification code of the shipping agent's shipment, a digital signature received from the first logistic operator and from second logistic operator and information on the compliance of the goods, the information transmitted by their respective devices (6,7), stored on the digital repository (2); sharing, with each device (4) of each sender, based on the identification code of the shipment of each sender and the identification code of the shipping agent's shipment, a digital signature received by the first logistic operator and the second logistic operator and the information on the compliance of shipped goods of the senders transmitted by the respective devices (6,7), stored on said digital repository (2)e; as well as upon receipt of each digital signature received by a device (8) of the at least one consignee, sharing the digital signature with the shipping agent's device (5) and, based on the identification code of the shipment of each sender and the identification code of the shipping agent's shipment also with each device (4) of each sender whose goods have been received by the consignee.