ESSENCE

ESSENCE (Easy eServices to Shape and Empower SME Networks in Central Europe) aims to strengthen the internal cohesion of Central European countries by improving SMEs’ access to innovative ICT solutions. The adoption of these solutions seeks to enhance transport efficiency and reduce environmental impact, while simultaneously addressing SMEs’ current shortcomings and increasing their productivity and competitiveness.

Within the project, each company can customize its network coordination model within a general collaboration framework, as well as freely enter and exit the system without constraints and select and use electronic services of interest as needed. The proposed solution is fully scalable, as each user SME gains immediate benefits upon registering on the nearest regional platform. Many services operate independently of other partner companies’ adoption of eServices, while others offer better solutions and increasing performance as the number of user SMEs grows.

The main objectives of ESSENCE are:

• Development of a comprehensive network management framework that meets SMEs’ needs
• Creation of a dedicated knowledge base and an eService platform to implement the network management framework
• Provision of tailored eServices to a number of SMEs, starting with pilot cases

The framework allows each SME to define its networking model in terms of distributed processes, partner features and scores, make-or-buy choices, dynamic network configuration criteria, and transport cost impact. The knowledge base is a shared repository maintained by user SMEs, including a multilingual catalogue, a multilingual ontology of business documents, and a set of up-to-date performance indicators.

Finally, the eService suite is designed to help each SME shape its supply network, manage it, optimize generated transport activities, and evaluate behaviors to identify inefficiencies.

The expected benefits include:

• Creation of a software environment for network management
• Enhancement of network-based business potential
• Development of ICT-specific functions for business activities
• Development of ICT solutions for logistics operators
• Optimization of transport and logistics activities

Lead Partner:

Marshal Office of the Wielkopolska Region, PL

Partners:

Aufbauwerk Region Leipzig GmbH, DE

Institute for Transport and Logistics Foundation (ITL), IT

Bologna Province, IT

University of Leipzig, DE

Institute for Logistics & Warehousing, PL

SATA srl, IT

AREA m Styria GmbH, AT

Sinergija Development Agency, SI

ICEG, HU