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- The objective of the Polish Digital Logistics Operator (PCOL) project is to improve and facilitate TSL industry processes and ensure safety of the Polish transport market.
- The project is co-financed by NCBiR with PLN 5,400,511.49.
- The research and development part of the project is estimated at PLN 9,304,459.85.
- PCOL is a reference project of the “Synergia” team established at the Ministry of State Assets.
The agreement with NCBiR concerns the co-financing of the project “Development of the Polish Digital Logistics Operator - PCOL” in an amount of PLN 5,400,511.49, which is equal to 58.04% of total expenditures eligible for support in the research and development part of the project estimated at PLN 9,304,459.85.
“The innovative PCOL platform developed in the project will be based on machine learning and artificial intelligence, Big Data analytics, graph theory, deep learning, and telemetry, which will allow for presentation of a matching list of possible optimal routes, faster than in the case of manual search, according to client requirements. The PCOL platform will make it possible to handle spot orders and optimise freight by synchronising orders,” said Marek Harasny, coordinator and co-author of the PCOL concept.
The objective of the PCOL platform is to automate and digitise processes for the Transport-Logistics-Shipping (TLS) industry and to ensure the security of transport document flows. The project is launched in response to the needs of the industry of key importance to the Polish economy.
“PCOL is a very innovative idea. Its distinguishing characteristics include: automatic and digital optimisation of time and cost parameters of transport services thanks to an automatic transport order selection module; optimisation of transport load selection in order to minimise the number and length of routes, minimise transport costs and empty runs; electronic transport documentation flows; eliminating paper documentation; provision of e-services in ancillary processes in a one-stop-shop model; downloading input data for order and load optimisation from multiple external data sources,” said Marcin Wolak, PCOL Project Manager.
The target groups for PCOL include public and private companies commissioning transport, as well as transporters/carriers on the European market. In addition, the platform will cooperate with partners such as banks or insurance companies in order to offer additional services, such as quick factoring or preferential insurance terms.
“We are very pleased that the framework of the Polish Digital Logistics Operator, an initiative so important for the entire industry, was presented at our fair. It is the largest event of its kind dedicated to transport and logistics companies in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe as it brings together over 200 exhibitors and more than 8,000 participants. Such a large project rightly arouses huge interest in the market, and it is already considered an opportunity for the entire TSL industry. We will carefully follow the implementation of the project,” said Paweł Konowałek, TransLogistica Poland Fair Director.
The PCOL project has been created in order to protect the Polish logistics and transport chain against the pressure exerted by foreign capital which could reduce operating costs of Polish companies and potential revenues of the Treasury. Other important aspects of the project include cost optimisation for State-owned companies in areas related to the provision of transport and logistics services while protecting profit margins of Polish transporters.
“For large market players, such as our group, optimisation of the transport chain opens the possibility of potential considerable savings and additional protection of the logistics and transport chain,” said Paweł Gruza, KGHM Vice-President and co-author of the PCOL concept.
By covering new transport segments (road, rail, sea, air) and types of transport (general cargo, full truck loads, containers, wagons), and by successively expanding activities (from freight forwarding and carriage of goods, distribution, freight management, through warehouse logistics to customs services) for State-owned companies and firms operating on the Polish logistics market, the Polish Digital Logistics Operator may become one of the leading logistics operators within five years thanks to its know-how and national resources.
“GPW has 30 years of experience in the creation and development of trading platforms as well as the resources and technology necessary for secure execution of transactions and settlements, handling large data sets in real time and ensuring the highest level of data security. In the PCOL project, we will gain access to road, rail, and air transport. The project will eventually be dedicated to the entire TSL market. In view of the size of the market and the sensitivity of the processed data, it is an important project for the economy and Poland’s transport safety,” said Marek Dietl, President of the GPW Management Board and co-author of the PCOL concept.
Further digitisation will enable the collection of data on transport corridors and services for Polish reloading terminals while the implementation of electronic national and international waybills will reduce activity in the grey economy. In addition, the new services will allow for the VAT system to be tightened by facilitating transport controls. PCOL will also offer the opportunity to implement monitoring of waste transport in Poland.
“The Polish Digital Logistics Operator project creates new value by means of synergies. Based on innovative technology provided by the Warsaw Stock Exchange as a reliable and independent partner, 17 market operators will gain a range of benefits. Furthermore, the State will benefit from the tightening of the tax system and a strong Polish industry will gain additional tools to protect itself against unfair competition. The best ideas always emerge at the cross-section of various needs where there is space for discussion and cooperation. The “SYNERGY” programme creates such a platform. I congratulate you on a good project, wish successful implementation and further innovative ideas strengthening cooperation within the Polish economy,” said Dr Wojciech Kamieniecki, Director of NCBiR.
The project is the result of work of the “Synergy” team established at the Ministry of State Assets. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State Assets Jacek Sasin has repeatedly emphasised the importance of supporting activities which deploy synergies of State-owned companies and aim to maximise the use of public resources. He has also pointed out that the activities of the “Synergy” team are an important element of economic patriotism, which is one of key manifestations of the development of mature economies.
“The Polish Digital Logistics Operator is the first implementation resulting from activities in the Synergy Programme. It also proves that the State is able to effectively support sensible and market-oriented projects even outside current politics. We support PCOL in contacts at the administrative level because, irrespective of the business of GPW, it has very important functions for the State. The project can really help to tighten up the tax system and help identify waste shipments entering Poland, as well as help implement the EU regulation which requires digitisation of documents in logistics. PCOL will also protect the Polish economy by preventing multi-billion dollar capital outflows in the form of margins and sensitive information on transports outside the country for the benefit of foreign operators,” said Łukasz Turkowski, Ministry of State Assets Synergy Programme Co-ordinator.
The companies which have expressed interest in cooperating within the PCOL as part of the work of the Synergia team are the following: Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa S.A., Grupa Lotos S.A., Gas Trading S.A., Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa S.A., Grupa Azoty S.A., PKP S.A., Totalizator Sportowy, Enea S.A., Polski Holding Nieruchomości S.A., Exalo Drilling S.A., Polski Holding Hotelowy S.A., Bank Polska Kasa Opieki S.A., Poczta Polska S.A., Powszechna Kasa Oszczędności Bank Polski S.A., Powszechny Zakład Ubezpieczeń S.A., KGHM Polska Miedź S.A., Polska Grupa Lotnicza S.A., and Trans.eu Group S.A.
The strategic initiative “Polish Digital Logistics Operator” (PCOL) is yet another element of GPW’s diversification. The Polish transport, logistics and shipping market is estimated to be worth around PLN 140 billion annually.
