ELPIF: An E-Logistics Processes Integration Framework Based on Web Services

In recognition of the increasing importance of globalization and the resulting need for greater, faster and more flexible communications, a framework is required to allow any company to establish itself in no time or make optimum use of their legacy applications and run efficiently with minimal cost input. This paper presents such a framework called ELPIF for e-logistics processes integration based on Web Services via incorporating (1) common alliance layer (2) adaptation layer; and (3) dynamic data binding mechanism. This framework can be adopted as a new service delivery model which uses a design pattern and solution templates. The interaction between the e-logistics processes and business process manager that orchestrates e-logistics processes in an e-business solution will be described in this paper. A transportation planning in the purchase order management process of a B2B solution is used as an example to illustrate the usage of ELPIF by encapsulating United Parcel Service (UPS) on-line XML Tools as Web Services.