Digital Operations

On this page you will find information about the research topic Digital Operations.

Short Description

Production, logistics and transport processes benefit from a comprehensive information supply. Digital technologies are the key to accelerate and innovate processes as well as making them more cost-efficient. However, disillusionment is spreading when we consider the lack of use of standardized digital technologies by most manufacturing companies, logistics service providers and transporters. The question arises whether, how and in what form digital technologies can become more prevalent in the future. Industry 4.0, Big Data and Cloud Computing promise great potential for smooth intra- and interorganizational collaboration in and between the players in supply chains. But which fundamental changes can disruptive technologies really bring? And what forces stand in the way of change?

  • What measurable benefits do digital key technologies bring to logistics and transport chains?
  • Who invests and who benefits from digital key technologies?
  • How does the availability of information and the resulting transparency made possible by digital key technologies influence the behavior of logistics experts?
  • What acceptance problems do digital technologies cause among employees in production and logistics?
  • What disruptive potential do digital key technologies have for logisticians?
  • Glock, C.; Grosse, E. (Eds.) (2017): Warehousing 4.0: Technische Lösungen und Managementkonzepte für die Lagerlogistik der Zukunft, Lauda-Königshofen, Deutschland: B+G Wissenschaftsverlag, 2017.
  • Elbert, R. ; Pontow, H. ; Benlian, A. (2017): The role of inter-organizational information systems in maritime transport chains, Electronic Markets, 27 (2), pp. 157-173.
  • Elbert, R.; Scharf, K. (2016):The impact of order changes on the order process efficiency in the maritime transport chain., Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), Hamburg, Deutschland.
  • Bier, T. ; Lange, A. (2016): Structure-based Risk Identification in Supply Networks: A Systematic Review, in: Proceedings of the 28th NOFOMA Conference, 9-10 June 2016, Turku, Finland
  • Baumgarten, P. ; Malina, R. ; Lange, A. (2014): The impact of hubbing concentration on flight delays within airline networks – An empirical analysis of the US domestic market, in: Transportation Research, Part E, 66, 104-113
  • Elbert, R. ; Walter, F. (2014): Information flow along the maritime transport chain – A simulation-based approach to determine impacts of estimated time of arrival messages on the capacity utilization, in: Proceedings of the 2014 Winter Simulation Conference, 1795-1806
  • Elbert, R. ; Oezgen, A. ; Walter, F. (2010): Modelling freight flow information within the maritime transport chain: Benefits and effects of „estimated time of arrival“ (ETA) messages, in: Blecker, T. ; Kersten, W. ; Lüthje, C. (Eds.) (2010): Innovative process optimization methods in logistics. Emerging trends, concepts and technologies. Berlin: E. Schmidt (Operations and Technology Management, 13), 193-206
Research Partners: Practice Partners:
  • Cass Business School, City University of London
  • Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences
  • TU Berlin
  • Hochschule Rhein- Main
  • DB Schenker
  • Continental
  • Prof. Ralf Elbert (main contact)
  • Prof. Christoph Glock (main contact)
  • Prof. Alexander Benlian
  • Prof. Alexander Kock
  • Prof. Dr. Andreas Pfnür
  • 2017: Research project “LogIn analysis of the acceptance of cross-stakeholder Cargo Community Systems (CCS) in air freight”.
  • 2017: Research project “RelKV – Simulation-based decision support in combined traffic”.
  • 2017: Research project “Multiproject Management” (Prof. Kock together with TU Berlin)
  • 2016: Research project “Time slot management in road freight transport – increasing efficiency by integrating time slot specifications into planning and scheduling processes”
  • 2016: Research project “KRITIS – Cooperation for Critical Infrastructure Protection”
  • 2015: Research project “Pro See – Rhein Main: Analysis to increase process efficiency in the seaport hinterland”
  • 2014: Research project “SeeLog – Increasing the transparency of seaport processing”
  • 2011-2013: Research project “VESUHV – Improving data flow along the transport chain in rail-based hinterland transport”
  • 2012: Research project “Data flow in the maritime transport chain”.