NLIP: Neutral Logistic Information Platform (NLIP)

With a yearly turnover of 40 billion euro and employment for 750,000 people, logistics is an important economic

Pillar in the Netherlands

In November 2009, the Strategic Platform Logistics (SPL) was established to work together with the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment on a vision for the logistic sector.

NLIP is a state-of-the-art service-hatch of information. By using NLIP, parties provide information only once. This information will be shared with all necessary offices which are required in the logistic flow. The owner of the information determines with who and under which conditions the information will be shared and stays in control at any time. The objective is to have data available as much as possible for all relevant parties.

The government and market are taking this joint initiative to consolidate the Netherland’s leading position

in the European logistic sector in 2020. Financially this will result in a 5 billion euro business case.

Since 2011, SPL act as Topteam Logistics. The Topteam Logistics has three main objectives:

NLIP is using the knowledge and experience of already existing and successful information platforms at Schiphol (Cargonaut), the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam (Portbase) and the government (Digipoort) and will be extended with new platforms. All those platforms “talk with each other” and this should finally lead to one integrated platform.

NLIP is neutral and without financial gain. NLIP is accessible for everybody at equal conditions. There are no parties dominating NLIP.

Policy Context

The Neutral Logistic Information Platform (NLIP) is developed to create facilitate activities in the logistics sector in the Netherlands. With NLIP, information will be provided and shared in a smart way through the whole chain. This will make this sector more reliable, more efficient and more competitive.

The whole logistic chain can take advantage of NLIP. From government to logistic service providers, shippers and main ports. The success of NLIP will be achieved through collaboration, confidence and openness. Costs and administrative burden will be substantially reduced when all participating parties only need to provide information once.

NLIP is using the knowledge and experience of already existing and successful information platforms at Schiphol (Cargonaut), the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam (Portbase) and the government (Digipoort) and will be extended with new platforms. All those platforms “talk with each other” and this should finally lead to one integrated platform. NLIP is neutral and without financial gain. NLIP is accessible for everybody at equal conditions. There are no parties dominating NLIP.

Partners of NLIP are:

• Ministery of Economic Affairs
• Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment
• Ministry of Finance – Customs
• ACN (Air Cargo Netherlands)
• EVO (Dutch Shippers Council)
• TLN (Transport and Logistics Netherlands)
• Cargonaut
• Portbase
• Port of Rotterdam
• Port of Amsterdam
• Schiphol Airport
• Fenex (Shipping Agents)
• VRC (Association of Rotterdam Shipbrokers and Agents)
• VRTO (The Rotterdam Terminal Operators‘ Association)

Description of target users and groups

The main target groups of users find themselves in both the public sector and the private sector.

Description of the way to implement the initiative

The implementation will be executed bottom up, starting with small business cases. Each business case should be compliant with all prerequisites of NLIP, such as the sharing of information and contributing significantly to the estimated overall business case of 5 billion euro. This incremental approach would lead NLIP through the following three stages:

• Source of information: NLIP will act on a demand-driven basis. The market and/or government takes the initiative for improvement of efficiency and effectiveness in the logistic chain. NLIP will support and make recommendations concerning data exchange and the organisation of this. The cloud with data will grow incrementally.
• Initiator: NLIP will take action on request or on own initiative to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the logistic chain by using data (exchange), the organisation of data exchange and introducing new technologies. The cloud with data will be actively and incrementally enlarged.
• Manager of the platform: NLIP organises, develops and manages the constraints for sharing data concerning improvement of efficiency and effectiveness of the logistic chain and to prevent multiple data entry. NLIP initiates standards, arranges multi modal and intra segmental authorisations, monitors quality, etc. The cloud with shared data is integral available.

Technology solution

An important prerequisite for collaboration and sharing of information is the use of the same standards. One of the activities of NLIP is to collect and share existing standards to remove the obstacles for efficient collaboration. NLIP will make no differentiation between standards or even state preferences to stay neutral.

Technology choice: Standards-based technology, Mainly (or only) open standards

Main results, benefits and impacts

Provide information once which can be re-used by all relevant parties, will have the following advantages:

• Improved planning
• Improved predictability
• Improved utilisation of transport means and infrastructures
• Improved information makes chains manageable, reliable, flexible, cheaper and transparent = chain optimisation
• Less regulations, less administrative burden and compliance costs
• An efficient and cost effective government
• Less paper transaction costs by digitalisation
• Efficient risk management and less audits
• Higher level of safety and improved disaster management
• Environmental benefit by higher capacity density
• Competitive advantage
• Image reinforcement
• Customer relations (improved service)

Return on investment

Return on investment: Larger than €10,000,000

Track record of sharing

Not available yet.

Lessons learnt

• It is nearly impossible to “reach the dot on the horizon” in one go. An incremental approach, bottom up is required to avoid discussions about topics which will be very theoretical with a very probability, but will block next steps in the programme.
• Projects based on a business case will catalyse take-up as participants have a greater incentive to participate.
• Also the amount of public money will be very limited. Participants will get time to adjust to the changes due to the programme.

Scope: International, National, Regional (sub-national)