Business Collaboration in Food Networks: Incremental Solution Development

The paper will present an approach for an incremental solution development that is based on the usage of the currently developed Internet based FIspace business collaboration platform. Key element is the clear segmentation of infrastructures that are either internal or external to the collaborating business entity in the food network. On the one hand, the approach enables to differentiate between specific centralised as well as decentralised ways for data storage and hosting of IT based functionalities. The selection of specific dataexchange protocols and data models is facilitated. On the other hand, the supported solution design and subsequent development is focusing on reusable “software Apps” that can be used on their own and are incorporating a clear added value for the business actors. It will be outlined on how to push the development and introduction of Apps that do not require basic changes of the existing infrastructure. The paper will present an example that is based on the development of a set of Apps for the exchange of product quality related information in food networks, specifically addressing fresh fruits and vegetables. It combines workflow support for data exchange from farm to retail as well as to provide quality feedback information to facilitate the business process improvement. Finally, the latest status of theFIspace platform development will be outlined. Key features and potential ways for real users and software developers in using the FIspace platform that is initiated by science and industry will be outlined

Food Chain Innovation: Reviewing 35 Use Cases to Identify Business Model Success Patterns

A team of 8 organisations from Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands and Turkey supported over 40 teams and preferably startups to realise food chain innovations. Over a period of 2 years, a programme was developed and realised to select and support teams from the ideation to the commercialisation phase. The teams were usually working in close collaboration with a business partner, were supported in the usage of reusable software components for Internet based solutions and got direct assistance to address potential customers especially in the area of fruit and vegetables.Embedded in a larger initiative with use cases from different business domains, a set of metrics was developed to assess the teams and solutions that were characterised by different maturity levels, size and market potentials. The objective was to rank the teams for being able to focus support on the best performing solutions. Subsequently, it was discussed, if there are potential success patterns that could help to assess team performance at an earlier stage and possibly facilitate the forecasting of potential investment risks at an earlier stage. Finally, the objective is to use those results for being able to analyse and technologically assist future use cases that are currently set-up in the scope of a Large Scale Pilot initiative. The objective is to use the results for facilitating future selection of food chain innovations that could complement the set of 19 use cases currently being developed

Realising Future Internet Potentials for Food Chain SMEs: A Hierarchy of Needs

The EC funded FI‐PPP programme is currently elaborating a large set of enabling technologies that shall help to overcome challenges towards a sustainable networked society of tomorrow. This up‐front investment can highly facilitate access to such Internet potentials by food chain SMEs. Nevertheless, SMEs require a systematic support for being able to decide on which technological enablers are relevant at which moment of their business evolution. To characterise a decision reference, a hierarchy of needs of food chain SMEs is presented that can serve asbaseline when aiming at the usage of the FI‐PPP results in an SME environment

Business Collaboration in Food Networks: Incremental Solution Development

The paper will present an approach for an incremental solution development that is based on the usage of the currently developed Internet based FIspace business collaboration platform. Key element is the clear segmentation of infrastructures that are either internal or external to the collaborating business entity in the food network. On the one hand, the approach enables to differentiate between specific centralised as well as decentralised ways for data storage and hosting of IT based functionalities. The selection of specific data exchange protocols and data models is facilitated. On the other hand, the supported solution design and subsequent development is focusing on reusable “software Apps” that can be used on their own and are incorporating a clear added value for the business actors.It will be outlined on how to push the development and introduction of Apps that do not require basic changes of the existing infrastructure. The paper will present an example that is based on the development of a set of Apps for the exchange of product quality related information in food networks, specifically addressing fresh fruits and vegetables. It combines workflow support for data exchange from farm to retail as well as to provide quality feedback information to facilitate the business process improvement. Finally, the latest status of the FIspace platform development will be outlined. Key features and potential ways for “real users and software developers” in using the FIspace platform that is initiated by science and industry will be outlined

Accelerating System Development for the Food Chain: a Portfolio of over 30 Projects, Aiming at Impact and Growth

Supply of fresh food is of vital importance to feed Europe in a healthy way, while Europe has also an important role in feeding the world. Food products and other perishables such as flowers impose very challenging demands on the management of its supply chains. Food networks are struggling with an integrated usage of information and communication technology (ICT) that enables the heterogeneous stakeholders in the food chain to exchange information in real-time and control workflows based on requirements with respect to quality, costs and schedule. Innovative ICT systems that are addressing such challenges are currently being developed by a large European initiative, called FIWARE. Within this paper, we will discuss a portfolio of 31 projects that are realising solutions for the food chain in close collaboration with supporting business partners. Diverse food related topics are addressed, such as logistics, transport, planning & control, tracking & tracing, information management as well as new ways to realise e-commerce within the chain as well as for consumers.The FIWARE initiative is accelerating startups and supporting SME type technology developers that are realising solutions for real world business cases, which are serving as reference customers and test cases to assure an end-user acceptance and valid business models. This paper discusses the main food chain related topics and innovation potentials that are addressed as well as outlining the related methodological and technological approaches that are used to facilitate the realisation of impact and growth for commercial exploitation

Accelerating System Development for the Food Chain: A Portfolio of over 30 Projects, Aiming at Impact and Growth

Supply of fresh food is of vital importance to feed Europe in a healthy way, while Europe has also an important role in feeding the world. Food products and other perishables such as flowers impose very challenging demands on the management of its supply chains. Food networks are struggling with an integrated usage of information and communication technology (ICT) that enables the heterogeneous stakeholders in the food chain to exchange information in real-time and control workflows based on requirements with respect to quality, costs and schedule. Innovative ICT systems that are addressing such challenges are currently being developed by a large European initiative, called FIWARE. Within this paper, we will discuss a portfolio of 31 projects that are realising solutions for the food chain in close collaboration with supporting business partners. Diverse food related topics are addressed, such as logistics, transport, planning and control, tracking and tracing, information management as well as new ways to realise e-commerce within the chain as well as for consumers.The FIWARE initiative is accelerating startups and supporting SME type technology developers that are realising solutions for real world business cases, which are serving as reference customers and test cases to assure an end-user acceptance and valid business models. This paper discusses the main food chain related topics and innovation potentials that are addressed as well as outlines the related methodological and technological approaches that are used to facilitate the realisation of impact and growth for commercial exploitation

Systematic Heterogeneity: How to combine Smartphone related Apps with FIspace

FIspace represents an Internet based B2B collaboration platform that can be used by actors along the supply chain, and specifically the agri-food chain, facilitating the design and usage of inter-organisational workflows. The FIspace platform was developed by using FIWARE, a European initiative to develop technologies for a Future Internet. At the same time, the requirements of actors from an agri-food related B2B environment were analysed. One of the key requirements was the demand for smartphone-based apps that can be easily used by any actor at any time in the scope of a B2B relationship of different organisations. However, realising inter-organisational workflows with a combination of smartphones and a platform for B2B collaboration raises business related requirements that are specifically in relation to interoperability and security. Therefore, the architectural principles of FIspace supported ecosystems are presented and the concept of developing FIspace software applications is detailed. The latter provides domain specific features and enables a systematic usage of heterogeneous components in business related ecosystems. Furthermore, different development strategies for smartphone apps are analysed to discuss the related implications with respect to effort, costs and interoperability when aiming at a combination with a FIspace supported ecosystem. This is compared with the general principles to develop features within a FIspace ecosystem to systematically identify the implications when integrating heterogeneous software and hardware solutions. The purpose of this paper is to present those design principles that shall help to systematically analyse end-user requirements, which need to be taken into account when developing or designing changes and extensions of a FIspace supported business ecosystem with the help of smartphone apps. Therefore, the paper addresses specifically software developers intending to use FIspace as well as business architects intending to change or design an ICT supported collaborative ecosystem

Systematic Heterogeneity:How to Combine Smartphone Related Apps with FIspace

FIspace represents an Internet based B2B collaboration platform that can be used by actors along the supply chain, and specifically the agri-food chain, facilitating the design and usage of inter-organisational workflows. The FIspace platform was developed by using FIWARE, a European initiative to develop technologies for a Future Internet. At the same time, the requirements of actors from an agri-food related B2B environment were analysed. One of the key requirements was the demand for smartphone-based apps that can be easily used by any actor at any time in the scope of a B2B relationship of different organisations. However, realising inter-organisational workflows with a combination of smartphones and a platform for B2B collaboration raises business related requirements that are specifically in relation to interoperability and security. Therefore, the architectural principles of FIspace supported ecosystems are presented and the concept of developing FIspace software applications is detailed. The latter provides domain specific features and enables a systematic usage of heterogeneous components in business related ecosystems. Furthermore, different development strategies for smartphone apps are analysed to discuss the related implications with respect to effort, costs and interoperability when aiming at a combination with a FIspace supported ecosystem. This is compared with the general principles to develop features within a FIspace ecosystem to systematically identify the implications when integrating heterogeneous software and hardware solutions. The purpose of this paper is to present those design principles that shall help to systematically analyse end-user requirements, which need to be taken into account when developing or designing changes and extensions of a FIspace supported business ecosystem with the help of smartphone apps. Therefore, the paper addresses specifically software developers intending to use FIspace as well as business architects intending to change or design an ICT supported collaborative ecosystem

Internet of Things Strategic Research Roadmap

Internet of Things (IoT) is an integrated part of Future Internet including existing and evolving Internet and network developments and could be conceptually defined as a dynamic global network infrastructure with self configuring capabilities based on standard and interoperable communication protocols where physical and virtual “things” have identities, physical attributes, and virtual personalities, use intelligent interfaces, and are seamlessly integrated into the information network

Food Chain Innovation: Reviewing 35 Use Cases to Identify Business Model Success Patterns

A team of 8 organisations from Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands and Turkey supported over 40 teams and preferably startups to realise food chain innovations. Over a period of 2 years, a programme was developed and realised to select and support teams from the ideation to the commercialisation phase. The teams were usually working in close collaboration with a business partner, were supported in the usage of reusable software components for Internet based solutions and got direct assistance to address potential customers especially in the area of fruit and vegetables. Embedded in a larger initiative with use cases from different business domains, a set of metrics was developed to assess the teams and solutions that were characterised by different maturity levels, size and market potentials. The objective was to rank the teams for being able to focus support on the best performing solutions. Subsequently, it was discussed, if there are potential success patterns that could help to assess team performance at an earlier stage and possibly facilitate the forecasting of potential investment risks at an earlier stage. Finally, the objective is to use those results for being able to analyse and technologically assist future use cases that are currently set-up in the scope of a Large Scale Pilot initiative. The objective is to use the results for facilitating future selection of food chain innovations that could complement the set of 19 use cases currently being developed