Freight Exchange Platforms in Bulgaria and Applicable Business Models

The book addresses the business and economic issues related to the deployment of freight exchange platforms. Freight exchange platforms' developments are of crucial importance for the fulfilment of the European Transport Policy Goals, as well as for sustainable transport development. Besides, the necessity of setting up appropriate institutional and financial framework, as well as business models for their deployment, are the most important issues when assessing the existing platforms and their viability. Moreover, the potential stakeholders should be identified and their interests in transport business should be analyzed.

A thorough review of the existing and most used platforms in Bulgaria is presented and a framework for business-models' application is concluded in the book. It consists of five main elements, namely: products and services, infrastructure management, customers' relations, financial aspects and stakeholders' trust. Based on this framework, appropriate e-business models for different priority areas of freight exchange platforms' deployment are systematized. The study on the feasible business models is outlined and expedient approaches for economic research, such as data gathering and processing through questionnaires, interviews and simulation modelling are summed up.

Abstract
Introduction
What is a freight exchange platform?

• Types of business model applicable for freight exchange platforms
• Generic marketplaces
• Specialized marketplaces
• Crowdshipping platforms
• Digital freight exchanges

Framework for developing business models for freight exchange platforms

• Freight exchange platforms in Bulgaria
• "Speditor.NET" platform
• Entry cargo and available truck
• Exchange messages between shippers and carriers
• Login access software and mobile app
• "TIMOCOM" platform
• Shippers services
• Carrier services
• Tenders and bids
• "Trans.eu" road transport platform
• Shippers services
• Forwarders services
• Carriers services
• Exchange messages

Application fields of identified framework of existing freight exchange platforms in Bulgaria

• "Speditor.NET" platform
• "TIMOCOM" platform
• "Trans.eu" platform

Conclusions
Bibliography