What are the reasons why digital platforms are used in intermodal freight transport – and why not? Paul Bossong , Anne Reinhardt and Prof. Ralf Elbert explored the reasons why by interviewing 21 firms in the intermodal freight transport industry such as platform providers, intermodal operators, freight forwarders, terminal operators and market experts. They shared their findings in their latest research paper, “Adoption Drivers and Barriers of Digital Freight Transport Platforms – An Intermodal Case Study”, recently published in Electronic Markets!

They discovered that, surprisingly, everyone is calling for more digitization but the reasons why platforms are used hesitantly are numerous: large players (like intermodal operators) fear that platforms could create too much transparency by revealing prices and offerings. At the same time, smaller players (like freight forwarders) are struggling with the implementation of digital platforms.

The authors are excited to provide levers that can help to increase platform adoption and, hence, digitization of the logistics sector. Interested in diving deeper? Read the full-paper for free here.

A big thank-you to the House of Logistics and Mobility for funding the ConnectedKV research project, which made this work possible! And to the project partners, Rail-Flow, Infront Consulting & Management GmbH, catkin GmbH and Kombiverkehr GmbH & Co. KG.