KEYSTONE Web Application: Advancing Digital Integration in European Transport
The three interfaces of the KEYSTONE web application.
The movement of goods across Europe continues to face significant challenges, including fragmented information systems, isolated operations among stakeholders, and inefficiencies caused by outdated documentation practices. To address these issues, the KEYSTONE Web Application has been developed as a unified digital solution for seamless data exchange in the transport and logistics sector.
A Unified Digital Platform
The core objective of the KEYSTONE Web App is to enable drivers, logistics managers, port officials, and enforcement authorities to access and share reliable data through a single, standardised platform. Unlike traditional approaches that merely replicate paper-based processes such as CMR waybills, the application establishes interoperable connections based on current European standards and robust APIs. This ensures that each partner—whether a port authority or a logistics operator—can integrate their systems quickly and communicate without technical barriers.
Real-Time Visibility and Efficiency
The platform provides immediate access to key operational details, including delivery schedules and compliance documentation, improving on daily operations pain points like:
Drivers experience fewer delays at checkpoints and port gates.
Logistics managers gain real-time shipment visibility, facilitating optimised planning.
Authorities can access compliance records instantly, accelerating inspections and reducing administrative overhead.
Port officials obtain live operational data, improving traffic flow management and mitigating bottlenecks.
Validation Through Pilot Projects
To ensure effectiveness under real operational conditions, the KEYSTONE Web App has been piloted with Gruber Logistics and CIM Interporto di Novara. These pilots showed how the platform can improve port operations through live data exchange and make roadside inspections faster by giving authorities instant access to driver and vehicle information. Rather than simple trials, these pilots functioned as partnerships, helping shape the app to meet the actual needs of the transport sector.
For testing purposes, a separate database of transport data was also created to replicate existing ecosystems like MoveHub. Since a direct connection to MoveHub was not possible, a “MoveHub emulator” was developed to simulate the type of data that the system provides. This allowed pilot projects to be supplied with realistic, MoveHub-like information and to demonstrate the potential benefits of future integrations with such data sources. In practice, this made it possible to safely test complex scenarios involving compliance checks and data sharing without relying on live operational data.
Technical Architecture and Adaptability
The technical architecture of the KEYSTONE Web app comprises three main blocks:
A Web App frontend that allows seamless running on any type of device (totally agnostic of the operating system). Additionally, the Web App front end can be downloaded as a Desktop App for a better user experience.
The application’s backend is designed with modularity and openness in mind. External logistics systems can integrate via lightweight plug-in adapters.
The KEYSTONE API STANDARD allows harmonisation of all incoming data, effectively creating a universal digital language for European transport, significantly reducing technical incompatibilities and integration costs.
Impact and Outlook
The KEYSTONE Web Application represents a practical response to fragmentation in the European transport sector. By enabling transparent, real-time, and standardised data exchange, it enhances efficiency, compliance, and operational resilience. With its adaptive architecture and emphasis on interoperability, KEYSTONE establishes a foundation for a more connected and future-ready European logistics ecosystem.
Author: Simone Porru (T-Bridge), Jesús Martinez (Etelätär Innovation)