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25. November 2020The BdKEP – Federal Association of Courier, Express, and Parcel Services e.V. launches the initiative kep-OS.de for the standardization of data. 16 medium-sized KEP companies form the core group, along with 30 additional companies as associated partners, aiming to establish open standards. They seek to create the best conditions for efficient shipment exchange and bundling.
(Berlin) More than 40 medium-sized companies in the courier, express, and parcel industry (KEP) want to create the conditions for smooth data and shipment exchange between independent KEP service providers as well as with senders and recipients through open standards. This would allow senders to more easily input their shipments directly with regional KEP service providers. Deliveries in urban and rural areas can be better bundled this way.
Core group of sixteen companies
At the invitation of the Federal Association of Courier, Express, and Parcel Services (BdKEP), sixteen companies formed a core group in mid-November. An additional 30 companies have joined as associated partners. “The initiative for open KEP standards is open to additional participants across industries; membership in BdKEP is not required,” emphasizes Andreas Schumann, Chairman of BdKEP and spokesperson for the initiative.
The basis for the work in kep-OS is the SSCC shipment number (Serial Shipping Container Code) developed by the standardization organization GS1. The SSCC ensures compatibility with internationally existing CEN and ISO standards. It represents an inter-company open standard and unfolds its effect when supported by as many systems as possible. Other industries, such as the freight forwarding industry and retail, have already realized the advantages of the GS1 numbering systems.
SSCC shipment number
“The SSCC shipment number does not replace the existing proprietary shipment numbers of the service providers,” explains the spokesperson for the initiative, Andreas Schumann. “However, the SSCC number is technically ‘married’ to the existing shipment numbers so that all shipments and associated data can be identified and processed using both the existing and the SSCC shipment number.” This means that existing label and numbering systems do not need to be modified.
Participants in the Open KEP Standards initiative (kep-OS) will integrate the SSCC shipment numbers into their IT systems in 2021. Applications that successfully complete the transition will receive the label “KEP-OS ready.” “This signals to senders and partners in the logistics industry that they are using the SSCC shipment numbers, have new services on offer, and are open to building innovative networks and customer relationships,” explains Schumann.
Funding by the Federal Ministry of Economics
The foundations for the kep-OS project were developed in a project funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics. This project aimed, among other things, to establish conditions for the delivery of goods to the end customer at the desired time and location based on a platform solution for all process participants.
Photo: © Mika Baumeister on Unsplash
