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Towards Rail-Road Online Exchange Platforms in EU-Freight Transportation Markets: An Analysis of Matching Supply and Demand in Multimodal Services

Author

Listed:
  • Anuradha Jain

    (Institute of Management Research, Radboud University, 4125 Riehen, Switzerland)

  • Rob van der Heijden

    (Institute for Management Research, Radboud University, 6500 HK Nijmegen, The Netherlands)

  • Vincent Marchau

    (Institute for Management Research, Radboud University, 6500 HK Nijmegen, The Netherlands)

  • Dirk Bruckmann

    (Faculty of Communication and Environment, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, 47475 Kamp-Lintfort, Germany)

Abstract

The European Union (EU) is confronted with too low a share of inland rail freight transport. The implementation of two-sided online exchanges for rail-road freight transport could increase this share. However, such exchanges focusing on the EU market are mainly designed for single modes of transport. Their matching of supply and demand for multimodal services, especially including rail, is still in its infancy. This paper applies a maturity growth framework to speed up the implementation of such multimodal online exchanges. The framework integrates insights from industrial organization theory, platform economy theory, and maturity growth theory. Online exchanges, summarized in a new taxonomy, are compared to study their practices on matching supply with demand on the exchange, especially for multimodal services. Data is collected from case studies, exchange websites and semi-structured interviews. The analysis shows the emergence of new market actors and business models, including digital freight forwarders. These offer a variety of transport mode solutions for EU inland and EU related global freight transport. Maturity in matching supply and demand appears to result from clear objectives to provide benefits to the exchange participants, notably by digitizing the data for transaction completion and providing real time support for operational issues. In this context of rising online exchanges, especially in road and global multimodal transport (air, ocean, and road), the competition to capture a fragmented freight market seems to steadily increase. A similar maturity analysis of exchanges could not be found.

Suggested Citation

  • Anuradha Jain & Rob van der Heijden & Vincent Marchau & Dirk Bruckmann, 2020. "Towards Rail-Road Online Exchange Platforms in EU-Freight Transportation Markets: An Analysis of Matching Supply and Demand in Multimodal Services," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-28, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:24:p:10321-:d:459883
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter Endemann, 2016. "Online Rail Freight Exchange (ORFE): Better Rail Competitiveness and Acceptance," Contributions to Economics, in: Hansjörg Drewello & Bernd Scholl (ed.), Integrated Spatial and Transport Infrastructure Development, pages 213-228, Springer.
    2. Jean-Charles Rochet & Jean Tirole, 2003. "Platform Competition in Two-Sided Markets," Journal of the European Economic Association, MIT Press, vol. 1(4), pages 990-1029, June.
    3. Anuradha Jain & Dirk Bruckmann & Rob E.C.M. van der Heijden & Vincent A.W.J. Marchau, 2019. "Towards rail-related multimodal freight exchange platforms: Exploring regulatory topics at EU level," Competition and Regulation in Network Industries, , vol. 20(2), pages 138-163, June.
    4. Bo Carlsson, 1992. "Industrial dynamics : a framework for analysis of industrial transformation," Revue d'Économie Industrielle, Programme National Persée, vol. 61(1), pages 7-32.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ruben Tessmann & Ralf Elbert, 2022. "A multilevel, multi-mode framework for standardization in digital B2B platform eco-systems in international cargo transportation—A multiple case study," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(4), pages 1843-1875, December.
    2. Paul Bossong & Anne Reinhardt & Ralf Elbert, 2025. "Adoption drivers and barriers of digital freight transport platforms—An intermodal case study," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 35(1), pages 1-24, December.
    3. Park, Arim & Chen, Roger & Cho, Soohyun & Zhao, Yao, 2023. "The determinants of online matching platforms for freight services," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    4. Marta K. Kołacz & Wouter Verheyen, 2025. "Understanding the legal status of online logistics platforms in Europe: a decision framework for service providers improving legal certainty in the platform context," Journal of Shipping and Trade, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-26, December.
    5. Malgorzata Poniatowska-Jaksch & Katarzyna Nowicka, 2021. "Transport Platforms in the EU towards Sustainable Development," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(2 - Part ), pages 779-797.
    6. Christoph Heinbach & Jan Beinke & Friedemann Kammler & Oliver Thomas, 2022. "Data-driven forwarding: a typology of digital platforms for road freight transport management," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(2), pages 807-828, June.
    7. repec:ers:journl:v:xxiv:y:2021:i:2:p:779-797 is not listed on IDEAS

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