Kombiverkehr and Bertschi exchange initial data on KV4.0

The two companies Bertschi AG and Kombiverkehr KG have exchanged the first bookings via the KV4.0 data hub. Last Wednesday, intermodal transports in the network of the Frankfurt operator were successfully booked through the new IT solution for the first time. Order data from the Swiss freight forwarding and logistics company was transmitted to the data hub in EDIGES-4.1 format via an interface and was then automatically retrieved by the Kombiverkehr capacity and train management system for further internal processing.

(Frankfurt/Dürrenäsch) Already today, Kombiverkehr KG provides other users with schedule, train run, and booking data through the data hub. Terminals and railway companies have also begun in recent weeks to integrate their transport data into the hub and can share this data with authorized third parties in the future. This includes, for example, data on the Estimated Time of Pick-up. In the future, all other status messages generated along the intermodal transport chain will also be exchanged via the data hub.

“What once began with a joint research project, we have turned into reality this week,” says Christoph Büchner, Head of IT at Kombiverkehr, about this significant milestone in the digitalization of intermodal transport. “Together with all the other companies that have worked intensively on this, we demonstrate that a stronger standardization of business processes among all actors in the intermodal transport chain can indeed be achieved. The advantage for each company is clear: With just one technical interface and a uniform data format, we significantly reduce the efforts of implementing and maintaining interfaces. One single interface is sufficient to technically connect with a multitude of partners and exchange transport data.”

Simplified exchange will increase visibility

“We are pleased that we can take this important step towards standardization and digitalization in combined transport as part of the KV4.0 project together with Kombiverkehr and other stakeholders,” confirms Sandra Stierli, Team Leader Software Development Transport Europe at Bertschi. “The simplified and faster exchange of data through a central hub will further enhance the visibility of the transport chain.”

System enables access to schedules

With the help of the KV4.0 data hub, freight forwarders can exchange all data of their intermodal transports between the combined operators and their own in-house system, including all railway and terminal data. The system enables access to schedules, bookings, terminal status messages, train run data, as well as pre- and post-run information on the road. Data exchange occurs in real-time and barrier-free, but always exclusively within an authorized distribution circle. The hub is marketed by DX Intermodal GmbH.

Photo: © Kombiverkehr