Logo of Cloud Logistic in shades of blue.

Project CloudLogistic

Intelligent, decentralized logistics management for the disposition of partial loads

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Project Overview


The CloudLogistic project started on August 1, 2011, and ran over a period of 27 months. It was funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Energy, Industry, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, and Handicrafts of North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as by the European Union. The aim was to develop an innovative IT-supported logistics management system specifically designed for freight cooperations in the area of truck partial loads. The focus was on small and medium-sized freight forwarding companies in road freight transport, whose competitiveness was to be strengthened through the collaborative use of transport capacities.

The project was coordinated by the Chair of Information Management in Mechanical Engineering (IMA) at RWTH Aachen University. Other project partners included the Institute for Corporate Cybernetics e.V. (IfU), Hintzen Logistik GmbH, and itRessort GmbH (now Shift Nine GmbH).

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Vision

The central vision of CloudLogistic was to develop an intelligent cooperation platform through which partial load transports can be managed efficiently, decentralised, and digitally.

To this end, a robust business model was developed that:

  • includes fair billing systems,
  • modern contract concepts,
  • as well as mechanisms for customer protection.

In parallel, an IT-based platform was created to coordinate automated scheduling as well as cross-forwarding collaboration. Also new was the use of geocoordinates instead of postal codes for more precise transport management.

Advantages of Cooperation

The developed solution enables:

  • an optimized cargo space utilization,
  • a reduction of empty trips,
  • resulting in a decreased CO₂ burden,
  • and overall a relief of the road network.

This creates economic, ecological, and social benefits – both for individual companies and for the entire transport sector.

Project Goals at a Glance

  • Development of a decentralized logistics concept for partial load transports
  • Establishment of an IT system for intelligent task assignment and processing
  • Creation of a sustainable business model for the long-term establishment of the cooperation
  • Ensuring the economic stability of all parties involved
Network diagram with green pentagons and gray connections on a beige background. Network diagram with green pentagons and gray connections on a beige background.

Project Progress

Analysis and Decision Phase

Initially, concrete requirements were defined in workshops with forwarding agencies in Cologne and Stuttgart. Based on this, a logistics concept was developed that was realistic and practice-oriented.

Development of the Business Model


The Institute for Business Cybernetics e.V. developed together with Hintzen Logistics and other specialized partners a contract model including

  • Escalation mechanisms in case of contractual breaches
  • as well as controlling methods to ensure sustainability

IT Architecture & System Development

The technical implementation was carried out in several steps:

  1. Algorithm development for route determination and scheduling
  2. Backend development in an agile process (scheduling, control)
  3. Frontend development by itRessort GmbH with a focus on usability, operating logic, and system integration
A graphical representation of wooden pallets connected on a map, with red dots marking locations. A graphical representation of wooden pallets connected on a map, with red dots marking locations.
Illustration of trucks carrying packages, with a red X indicating that the transport is being bypassed to go directly to a person. Illustration of trucks carrying packages, with a red X indicating that the transport is being bypassed to go directly to a person.

Evaluation in the Simulation Game

In conclusion, the platform was tested in a realistic simulation game. Partner forwarding companies provided real transport orders, which were virtually scheduled through the CloudLogistic system alongside daily business operations. The lead was taken here by Hintzen Logistik GmbH.

Conclusion

CloudLogistic demonstrates how digital thinking, cooperation, and modern software solutions can contribute to an efficient and sustainable goods transport. The project set benchmarks – for innovative logistics solutions and forward-thinking cooperation in small and medium-sized enterprises.

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A person is working at a desk with two computers and programming code on the screen. A person is working at a desk with two computers and programming code on the screen.

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Get in touch with us directly – ideally early in the process.

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Image by Marco Schoenen
Marco Schoenen
Managing Director
+49 2403 702920 0 msn@shift-nine.com