Assessment of digital technology application in intermodal freight transport: a low-income country perspective

Helen Zewdie Kine

doi:10.54612/a.5oti07r4fq

Assessment of digital technology application in intermodal freight transport: a low-income country perspective

Bidragets översatta titel: Analys av införandet av digital teknik inom intermodala godstransporter: ett låginkomstlandsperspektiv

Helen Zewdie Kine

Institutionen för energi och teknik

Publikation: Avhandling › Doktorsavhandling

10 Nedladdningar

Sammanfattning

Intermodal godstransport (IFT), där två eller fler transportmedel används för att förflytta gods inom en och samma lastbärare, är ett komplext system med flera intressenter där planering och optimering spelar en avgörande roll. Användningen av digital teknik i låginkomstländer bedöms vara låg, och därmed realiseras inte dess potentiella fördelar för. Denna avhandling syftar till att utforska de potentiella fördelarna med digitala teknologier inom IFT ur ett låginkomstlands perspektiv. Först undersöktes nuvarande tekniktillämpningar och viktiga prestandaindikatorer genom att granska transportkedjan från hamn till torrhamnar och vidare till destinations- och ursprungspunkter i Etiopien. Därefter genomfördes två fallstudier om torrhamnar för att undersöka tillämpningen av digital teknik inom IFT. Forskningsansatsen inkluderade en litteraturgenomgång, kvalitativa metoder såsom kartläggning av affärsprocesser, intervjuer och enkäter, samt kvantitativa metoder såsom multikriterieanalys och modellering. Resultaten visade att användningen av avancerade digital teknik är begränsad, särskilt inom vägtransportsektorn. Förekomsten av grundläggande teknologier hos speditörsföretag visar på potential för ytterligare digitalisering av IFT. Användning av geografiska informationssystem och rumslig data för lokalisering av torrhamnar kan förbättra beslutsfattandet kring optimala torrhamnsplaceringar. Dessutom kan integreringen av digital teknik, såsom online-plattformar för torrhamnars informationshantering och dokumentdelning, förbättra tidseffektiviteten, vilket identifierades som den näst viktigaste prestandaindikatorn i denna studie. Sammantaget bör potentialen hos digitala teknologier för att förbättra nyckelprestandaindikatorer inom IFT i låginkomstländer utnyttjas fullt ut. Samtidigt bör begränsningar i infrastruktur- och personalresurser i dessa ekonomier adresseras för att möjliggöra framgångsrika program för teknikinförande.

Bidragets översatta titel	Analys av införandet av digital teknik inom intermodala godstransporter: ett låginkomstlandsperspektiv
Originalspråk	Engelska
Kvalifikation	Doktor i filosofi
Förlag	Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Tryckta ISBN	978-91-8046-359-1
Elektroniska ISBN	978-91-8046-395-9
DOI	https://doi.org/10.54612/a.5oti07r4fq
Status	Publicerad - 2024

Nyckelord

Intermodal freight transport
digital technologies
digitalization
low-income countries
performance
technology adoption

SLU-serie

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae

Åtkomst av dokument

10.54612/a.5oti07r4fq

FulltextSlutlig publicerad version, 4,85 MBLicens: CC BY-NC-ND

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title = "Assessment of digital technology application in intermodal freight transport: a low-income country perspective",

abstract = "Intermodal freight transport (IFT), involves the use of two or more transport modes to move goods within a single unit, creating a complex, multi-stakeholder system. Digital tools play a critical role in planning and optimisation of this system. However, the current adoption of digital technologies in low-income countries is considered low and therefore, their potential benefits are not realised. This thesis endeavoured to investigate the potential benefits of digital technology in IFT from the perspective of low-income countries. First, current technological practices and important performance indicators were examined by considering the transport chain from seaport to dry ports and to destinations/origin points in Ethiopia. Second, two studies on dry ports were conducted to explore the application of digital technology in IFT. The research approach included a systematic literature review, qualitative methods including business process mapping, as well as quantitative methods such as multi-criteria decision analysis and modelling. The results revealed that adoption of advanced digital technologies in IFT is limited, particularly in the road transport sector. The presence of basic technologies in the surveyed companies revealed potential for the further digitalisation of IFT. Application of geographic information systems and use of spatial data in dry port location analysis could enhance decision-making with regard to the optimal location of dry ports. Furthermore, the integration of digital technologies, such as online platforms for dry port{\textquoteright}s information management and document sharing, have the potential to improve time efficiency, which was the second most important performance indicator identified in this study. Overall, the potential of digital technologies to enhance key performance indicators in the IFT of low-income countries should be fully exploited. At the same time, infrastructural and human resource constraints in these economies should be addressed for successful technology adoption schemes.",

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