Major intermodal players Hupac and Kombiverkehr bring something new to the market. In collaboration with transport companies Hoyers and Paneuropa, railway undertaking Lokomotion and Kombiterminal Ludwigshafen, they launched the company DX Intermodal to transform data sharing processes and build a cloud network for the combined transport sector.

DXI was founded at the end of June following the research project “Digitalisation of intermodal supply chains – KV4.0”, which created a cross-system data platform for combined transport between 2017-2021. DXI wants to develop this project further and build a shared combined transport data hub utilising the existing digital infrastructure. The company’s target is to “enable all players in the intermodal transport chain to access the data hub” that’ll bring combined transport companies closer together and probably draw the future direction of the sector.

Data exchange means more efficient terminals

“With the help of the DXI hub, transport operators can exchange all data of their intermodal units between the combined transport operators and their own system, including railway undertakings and terminal data,” explained Aldo Puglisi, head of digitalisation at Hupac and one of DXI’s managing directors. We are talking about “an open-data approach that brings benefits for all the players involved,” said Christoph Büchner, head of IT at Kombiverkehr and the other managing director of DXI.

When mentioning data exchange, DXI’s founding partners hardly exclude anything. “Data sharing will allow access to timetables, bookings, terminal status, train journeys and pre and post-carriage on the road.”

“And what is the ultimate goal,” one could wonder. DXI claims to provide data in “real-time and barrier-free, but always within an authorised distribution circle.” In practice, this will directly impact terminal efficiency by improving visibility and planning of available terminal slots. Consequently, the job of railway undertakings will also become easier since they will know in advance if delays occur and schedule their locomotives and drivers accordingly.

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