The Open Logistics Foundation is calling on companies in the logistics sector to take part in a pilot programme to test its open, vendor-neutral application programming interface (API) for Time Slot Management under real operating conditions. The initiative is intended to address persistent interoperability problems that continue to complicate transport coordination, warehouse operations and appointment scheduling.
The industry is digitalizing, but time slot management is still fragmented. Daily operations are still hampered by waiting times at loading bays, manual coordination and proprietary interfaces, leading to avoidable delays and operational bottlenecks.
The heart of the problem lies in the need to balance two different priorities. Warehouse operators need predictable delivery times and reliable planning, whereas freight forwarders need enough flexibility to respond to changing transportation conditions. These requirements are often managed through separate systems and communication channels, making coordination more complicated than it needs to be.
Nathalie Böhning, Innovation and Project Manager at the Open Logistics Foundation, mentioned that the problem needs a common approach of the industry.
“This is a classic industry-level problem that can only be solved at an industry level. “Open standards and a common foundation are key for digital processes to work across company boundaries,” she said.
Open API for logistics system integration
To address these issues, members of the Open Logistics Foundation have developed an open, vendor-neutral interface which is intended to facilitate the real-time exchange of information between Transport Management Systems (TMS), Time Slot Management Systems (TSM) and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS).
The API provides a common technical framework for systems that otherwise would be forced to rely on separate integration or manual information exchange. The Foundation’s open digital infrastructure approach makes the interface freely available to the whole logistics industry through the OLF Repository.
So far two companies have implemented the open-source API, giving the first testing scenarios a starting point. Early adopters supporting the initiative are Transporeon and TradeLink.
The project is led by Gerry Daalhuisen, Senior Director Dock & Yard/Fleet Products at Transporeon and David Bauske, Principal Software Architect at TradeLink within the Open Logistics Foundation’s Working Group Track & Trace.
But technical development alone does not guaranty the success of an open standard. Whether it is adopted industry-wide and performs reliably in actual operating environments, is the key to its practical value. The Foundation is therefore looking for more partners to test the interface, share operational requirements and contribute to further development.
Pilot programme open to the entire logistics chain
The pilot programme is intended for companies and organisations seeking to test standardised exchanges of transport and time slot information in their existing logistics processes.
Participants will be able to explore different implementation scenarios. These range from direct cooperation between two partners, such as a carrier and a Time Slot Management platform, to more extensive integrations connecting multiple systems across an entire transport and logistics chain.
Participation is open to all organisations involved in time slot management and appointment booking. This includes shippers, freight forwarders, warehouse operators, yard operators, as well as providers of TMS, TSM and WMS solutions.
By testing the API in their own operational environments, participating organisations will gain early insights into how a common interface can improve the integration of existing systems and facilitate collaboration between logistics partners. Standardised exchanges could also reduce the need to develop and maintain separate interfaces for individual business relationships.
The programme also provides an opportunity to work directly with the Open Logistics Foundation’s Working Group, alongside the project leads and early adopters Transporeon and TradeLink. Through this collaboration, participants can assess how the API could support their specific operational processes and identify potential integration benefits.
Industry participation to shape further development
Beyond testing the technology, the Foundation is inviting participants to play an active role in defining its future development. Companies will be able to contribute their requirements, identify practical challenges and help ensure that the interface reflects the needs of organisations operating across different parts of the logistics chain.
The initiative reflects a broader industry challenge: enabling digital systems operated by different companies to exchange information consistently without relying on fragmented, company-specific solutions.
By bringing together logistics operators, transport providers and software developers around a shared standard, the Open Logistics Foundation aims to establish a more interoperable approach to time slot management. The pilot programme will help determine how effectively the API can support real-world coordination, improve system integration and reduce unnecessary friction between transport and warehouse operations.
