LEF perspectives: Building a transportation ecosystem
The DXC Digital Directions series of papers provides insights into achieving new levels of innovation, productivity and investment as companies scale their digital efforts.
Read an excerpt below from the position paper, How intelligent transportation systems are changing the industry.
Imagine that you run a small e-commerce shop and need to ship a parcel. Ideally, there is an API from a transportation provider that can be integrated with your software. You prepare the package, scan a code and receive a notification telling you when the parcel will be picked up.
Now imagine that there is a software company that integrates all the transportation providers. Using that company’s API, you specify what you want to ship where. The company finds the best transport provider and uses individual APIs to connect with the chosen provider.
From your perspective, you are making a deal with the software company; the transportation provider acts as a subcontractor. The software company can switch providers as it wishes, possibly manage the transaction using blockchain — and you, the customer, will not notice. This is especially important when extended to multimodal shipping that could involve airplane, boat, train and truck.
In this scenario, efficiency is what matters. It requires transportation providers to break down communication barriers, consume multiple data sources and feed other providers. Although this must be done with technology, technology alone is not enough. Efficient transportation requires cooperation with many different parties (“leave a parcel in the car trunk or in your nearest grocery store”), and that requires building an ecosystem.
Moreover, if transportation providers focus only on transport, who will create the interface to connect that to your business? Apple? Google? Samsung? If transportation providers try to become true transportation hubs, where you book end-to-end journeys, will this mean they compete with companies offering digital assistants? Can transportation providers play in this arena?
Transportation providers must have a vision of their future selves, as any decisions made today shape the market of tomorrow.
What is your vision for the transportation experience, and what will you do?
Continue reading the position paper, How intelligent transportation systems are changing the industry.
Leading Edge Forum (LEF) is DXC Technology’s independent cross-industry think tank.