1. Chalmers University of Technology
Smart Transportation Management Systems
to Support Different Types of Information and
Functions in a Supply Chain
Vahid Mirzabeiki
Division of Logistics and Transportation,
Chalmers University of Technology
Göteborg, Sweden
Transportforum 2010, 13-14 januari i Linköping
Vahid Mirzabeiki
Division of Logistics and Transportation

2. Chalmers University of Technology
Agenda
 Purpose of the research
 Scope
 Methodology
 Frame of references
 Analysis
 Conclusions
Vahid Mirzabeiki
Division of Logistics and Transportation

3. Chalmers University of Technology
Purpose
 To evaluate how much the Smart Transportation Management
(STM) systems are supporting different valuable supply chain
information types and their related functions for partners of the
supply chain.
 In other words, to identify how is the performance level of STM
systems regarding different types of information and functions in
supply chain.
Vahid Mirzabeiki
Division of Logistics and Transportation

4. Chalmers University of Technology
Scope
 The information types analyzed in this research are the
information that are mainly used for transportation and material
handling operations in supply chain.
 Large Swedish industrial and retailing companies are studied.
 In this study support of information means preparing, exchanging
or making the information more accurate or timely.
 A simplified form of a supply chain shown in below is used for
analysis in this paper.
Supplier Manufacturer LSP Retailer Consumer
Vahid Mirzabeiki
Division of Logistics and Transportation

5. Chalmers University of Technology
Methodology
 Literature studies were conducted to identify the STM systems
and different services related to them according to definition of the
STM. The valuable supply chain information types (SCITs) are
identified out of the literature studies.
 Direct observations, documents and interviews with company
representatives during the exhibitions are accomplished to identify
the STM systems and the information and functions supported by
them.
 Questionnaires and interviews with logistics managers of
Swedish industrial and retailing companies were conducted to
evaluate how much different information types and functions are
supported by using the STM systems.
Vahid Mirzabeiki
Division of Logistics and Transportation

6. Chalmers University of Technology
Value-adding Supply Chain Information Types (SCITs)
According to Lumsden and Mirzabeiki (2008) transportation related
information types that create value for different partners of the
industrial supply chain are:
 Location of the products in the supply chain.
 Condition of products in shipment.
 Positioning and sequencing of products in shipments or inventory.
 Inventory level and point-of-sale of retailer for each item.
 Suppliers available for each product in the market.
 History of sales for each item.
 Warehouse operation information
 Available items of companies for the customers.
 Shipment quantity information in transportation.
Vahid Mirzabeiki
Division of Logistics and Transportation

7. Chalmers University of Technology
Smart Transport Management (STM) systems
According to Stefansson and Lumsden (2009), STM systems is a new kind of transportation
management system that moves data and information more effectively between partners, increases
freight visibility, monitors involved activities in a better way, and increases interaction with infrastructure
information to enhance dynamic routing and methods to increase transportation security.
System STM systems
Infrastructure
Cornerstones Freight Information
Systems (FIS)
Vehicle Information
Systems (VIS)
Information
Systems (IIS)
- Route planning
- In-truck goods
Example - Auto identification (ID)
systems for goods
management
identification
- Navigation tracking
- Missing goods
notification
services - Goods tracking - The truck and driver
information
- Transport delay
notification
- Arrival notification
The cornerstones of the STM systems and their example services
Vahid Mirzabeiki
Division of Logistics and Transportation

8. Chalmers University of Technology
Empirical study
Degree of support for different types of information from the STM systems according
to the practitioners interviews.
 Group 1: Information related to location and condition
 Group 2: Mostly related to warehousing and inventory management
 Group 3: Sales information
Vahid Mirzabeiki
Division of Logistics and Transportation

9. Chalmers University of Technology
Conclusions
 Having real-time information regarding the location of the products through the supply chain and
condition of the goods in shipments are the information that the current STM systems have focused on
supporting them more than the other value-adding SCITs. The functions supported by using such
information is shown on the table below:
 The results of this research is helpful for practitioners at logistics companies to identify the
advantages of using the STM systems.
It is helpful to identify the information gaps and function gaps that could be fulfilled by further
developments of the STM systems.
Vahid Mirzabeiki
Division of Logistics and Transportation

10. Chalmers University of Technology
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to the Swedish Road Administration (Vägverket) for
financing this research.
Vahid Mirzabeiki
Division of Logistics and Transportation

11. Chalmers University of Technology
Thanks for your attention 
Vahid Mirzabeiki
Division of Logistics and Transportation