Blockchain and artificial intelligence work best when leveraging common global standards
- 1. Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence work best when leveraging common global standards New technologies only thrive when based on long-established standards Jaco Voorspuij; Senior Manager Transport & Logistics, GS1 28th September 2018; FIATA World Congress
- 2. © GS1 2018 GS1 – the global language of business GS1 is a global standards organisation Neutral and not-for-profit User-driven and governed Global and local Open and collaborative 1.5 million companies use GS1 standards 100 million products carry GS1 barcodes 6+ billion GS1 barcodes are scanned every day
- 3. © GS1 2018 GS1 Standards used widely in Transport across all modes • Carriers like DSV, Dachser, GEFCO, DHL, Bring, DB Schenker and K&N etc. accept or promote GS1 standards • Amazon, 3M, Groupe Casino and other big name companies promote GS1 standards in Transport & Logistics operations • Partner for International Taskforce Port Call Optimization developing Maritime standards e.g. “Functional definitions for nautical port information” endorse Unambiguous identification of locations in ports worldwide using GS1 GLN • GS1 is contributor to the IATA Piece Level Tracking Task Force that developed Recommended Practice 1689, which allows the original shipper to assign an ISO 15459-1 compliant Unique Piece ID that will then be used by all handlers till final receiver for T&T. 3
- 4. © GS1 2018 A FIATA platform for the future 4 A digitalized document Using the same information as in the paper Harmonized semantics and syntax A secured platform Access given to authorized actors with controlled protocols INTERNATIONALISATION DIGITALISATION Interconnection between local and regional databases and IT systems of the actors Efficiency through automatic integration of the DATA in IT Systems Compatible with blockchain INTEROPERABILITY SECURISATION With the support of International standards Harmonized & structured data Global synergy between FIATA and GS1 given by the same global presence
- 5. © GS1 2018 Vision builds on willingness to collaborate Collaboration requires Trust among collaboration partners 5
- 6. © GS1 2018 Harmonized semantics - common language 6 • All automated collaboration must start with agreed terms & definitions • Words like shipment and consignment are NOT used the same way by all stakeholders in the supply chain • Port Call Optimization started with functional definitions to avoid such confusion • Also need Common understanding of how concepts link together Reference Data Models exist for various purposes • UN/CEFACT Multi-Modal-Transport reference model • WCO – Customs Data Model • With agreed semantics we can move into the next stage
- 7. © GS1 2018 Collaboration requires common standards for Identification 7 • You need unambiguous numbers for objects and entities in T&L Collect/Deliver location, Assets, Transport units, Goods, • Unambiguous IDs may be provided by many different organisations e.g. GS1, BIC, IATA, IMO, IRU, UN etc.
- 8. © GS1 2018 Collaboration requires common standards for Marking and Capturing 8 • You need unambiguous numbers to be marked/tagged/labelled on the objects so you can quickly and accurately capture them and then • Use these unambiguous numbers to find • Information you need to decide what to do next with the object you just “scanned”
- 9. © GS1 2018 Collaboration requires common standards for Information Sharing 9 • Scanning the object is an event that may have to be shared • Objects move based on commercial transactions (generally) • Objects/Goods may have to be linked to Master Data
- 10. © GS1 2018 Blockchain technology (BCT) checkpoints 10 • BCT is additional to established information sharing standards Suitable only for final transactions due to immutable record - Current FIATA FBL-pilots (collaboratively and in iterative fashion creating FBL on non-BCT platform) may post FBL once final to blockchain • Master Data and high-volume highly granular events are generally better handled using established (distributed) technologies e.g. EPCIS. • BCTs are NOT directly compatible; UN/CEFACT published paper states “Performing gap analysis to define what is needed in order to have an inter ledger (i.e. inter-blockchain) interoperability framework for supply chains that establishes cross ledger trust in the face of the inevitability of a plethora of blockchain solutions” • BCT has USP that solve problems other technologies don’t; Use BCT for those problems but always check the established technologies first
- 11. © GS1 2018 A few words on Artificial Intelligence AI is a long established technology already • Basic versions have been in operation for decades; e.g. automated guided vehicle in warehousing; motor management systems in our cars • AI originally mostly rule-based (preprogrammed) • Machine Learning enabled finding rules humans could not find (also incorrect ones) by “pattern recognition” • Deep learning allows software to learn as it goes during operations (correct itself) • A specific AI is like “Rain Man”: it is extremely good in a highly specific task but “useless” in all others • Smart people using AI will solve many previously impossible to automate problems also in T&L. In some cases use of common standards / semantics may improve the “pattern recognition” and AI results. 11
- 12. © GS1 2018 Jaco Voorspuij Senior manager Transport & Logistics, GS1 Global Office jaco.voorspuij@gs1.org