A Framework and Prototype for Using Web Services to Support Distribution Logistics

摘要

As a promising technology for integrating applications over the pervasive World Wide Web, Web services may be useful for supporting logistics management, which usually involves interaction and collaboration among multiple business partners. In this paper we propose a Web-service-based framework and the corresponding software prototype to support distribution logistics, which is a key sub-field of logistics management. With the overall system being comprised of loosely-coupled Web services, this framework supports two vital activities in distribution logistics, namely distribution route planning and cargo tracking during actual transportation and distribution. As a pilot study, the presented work shows that it would be beneficial to apply Web services to logistics management.