Information flows supporting hinterland transportation by rail: Applications in Sweden

Journal article, 2011

This article analyses how information and communication technology (ICT) is used to support the hinterland transport of maritime containers. It focuses on the way information is conveyed between actors using an ICT facility structure, and how integrative information is used by different partners’ information systems to make different transport operations more efficient and to offer improved service. The analysis includes the identification of the actor network and the management components in line with supply chain management perspectives. To support this analysis, a conceptual model showing the relationship between integrative information and integrative technology was constructed and related to business processes and an ICT maturity model found in the literature. Interviews were conducted with actors involved in Swedish hinterland rail transport. The information flows were mapped and the analysis shows that while the current level of integration and ICT maturity is fairly low, several actors are currently modernising their systems. Their main motivation is to reduce the administrative task load, and at the same time achieve better supply chain integration. The actors are focused on their own tasks and do not see the advantages of advanced integration of the information flows. The risk is identified that the IT level is increasing faster than business integration processes between the companies, which might lead to inefficiencies.