In the latest contribution to the »Silicon Economist´s Blog«, Ralf Düster, co-founder and chairman of the successful medium-sized software company Setlog in Bochum, recommends the use of open source software in logistics. Logistics still lives in a world of silos, closed systems and media disruptions. However, more than ever it is collaborative cooperation that counts, says Düster, whose company is both a founding member of Open Logistics e. V., the sponsoring association of the Open Logistics Foundation and the International Data Spaces Association IDSA. His mission which he presents in his blog contribution is as follows: open source software, in particular standardized interfaces, can help logistics IT service providers – especially small and medium-sized companies – improve their own solutions.
The article states: »Integrating partners on platforms has become more and more complex in recent years, and the effort to connect with interfaces has increased accordingly. Today, it is about refining interfaces so that data can flow faster and coordination processes can be accelerated« and: »For nobody in logistics – neither for the logistics companies nor for the IT service providers – interfaces are the »Holy Grail«, for the intelligence is still in the software itself.« Düster is convinced that the Open Logistics Foundation, which was founded basing on an initiative of Fraunhofer IML and the Silicon Economy project, will support logistics on its way to standardization, especially in the area of interfaces.
At the same time, the successful software entrepreneur gets in line with the prominent supporters of the Silicon Economy (»I am a silicon economist«): »Those who isolate themselves will lose: open source software, in particular standardized interfaces, can help logistics IT service providers – especially small and medium-sized companies – improve their own solutions.«
Photo: Setlog
