Development of a Multi-Vendor Logistics Integration Platform for Freight Marketplaces

The client faces difficulties in creating an efficient, resilient system capable of communicating with multiple third-party logistics service providers. The existing system lacks advanced algorithms, user role differentiation, and a scalable architecture, leading to inefficiencies in pricing, bidding, and dispatching processes amidst large data volumes and dynamic market conditions.

A mid-to-large sized logistics company aiming to enhance its B2B freight marketplace capabilities by integrating diverse third-party service providers and optimizing transportation operations.

• Build a scalable, microservices-based architecture for stability and resilience.
• Implement a comprehensive backend with algorithms for dynamic price formation considering tariffs, bids, and various factors.
• Create multiple user roles (customer, carrier, admin) with specific permissions and capabilities.
• Enable real-time bidding through an English auction mechanism for freight tenders.
• Develop a transportation management module with features for route optimization, geolocation tracking, and transshipment points.
• Integrate with external data sources such as enterprise resource planning systems for dynamic tariff updates, ensuring data reflects real-time market conditions.
• Implement detailed logging, query tracing, and anomaly detection for system reliability.

• User role management enabling customers, carriers, and administrators to access role-specific features.
• Order placement system for customers to create shipments with preferred pricing parameters.
• Tenders module with English auction bidding process for carriers to compete on freight offers.
• Transport assignment and fleet management including driver and vehicle allocation.
• Sophisticated price formation algorithms considering tariffs, bids, seasonality, distance, cargo type, and other factors.
• Integration with external systems such as ERP or internal databases for up-to-date tariff updates.
• Geolocation tracking and route optimization using GPS and map APIs (e.g., Google Maps).
• Support for transshipment points and dynamic route adjustments based on real-time data.
• Comprehensive logging, query tracing, and anomaly detection mechanisms.

• ERP or internal data systems for automatic tariff updates
• Geolocation and mapping APIs for real-time tracking and routing (e.g., Google Maps)
• Tachograph data systems for accurate geodata and compliance
• Notification services for real-time alerts to users

• System must handle high data throughput and support rapid bidding response times
• Ensure system resilience with minimal downtime, aiming for 99.9% availability
• Implement strict role-based access control and data security measures
• Maintain detailed logs with query tracing for troubleshooting and audit purposes
• Support scalability to manage increasing user and transaction volumes

The new platform aims to significantly improve operational efficiency by enabling real-time bidding and dynamic pricing, reducing freight costs through competitive tenders, and enhancing transparency across the logistics value chain. Expected outcomes include increased transaction volume, improved system resilience, and better utilization of transportation assets, leading to higher profitability and client satisfaction.