This project deals with the development of an embedded information system which tries to support the operative and strategic transport distribution planning in supraregional delivery service cooperations of small and medium-sized enterprises. A better utilization of the transport capacities of the single suppliers should be reached with intelligent data processing supported coordination and consolidation. In addition to this, the project encourages the penetration of the market and the competitive position of the suppliers. Core of the solution method is the simultaneous transport planning of the internal and external operated transport both in long distance transport and in the regional delivery. A decentralized approach with multi agent systems and neighborhood search algorithms ensures the autonomy of the involved companies with a high solution quality. A simulation and evaluation component enables the decision maker to systematically analyze strategic transport alternatives with respect to cost reduction potentials.

This project is financed by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology over a period of three years (11/2007 to 10/2010).