Camunda BPM at DB Cargo • Optimization of European rail freight transport • International communication via digitized processes • Process orchestration as enabler for European booking platform for single wagonload traffic The Background SBB Cargo (Switzerland) and Fret SNCF The Challenge (France) with the goal of establishing a DB Cargo AG is the most productive capacity-tested network for international “As part of the digitization program, freight railway in Europe with 4,520 single wagonload traffic. The IT system DB Cargo is introducing the capacity trains running per day. Located in the Transport Chain and Service Management checked network. This is intended heart of the dense Central European rail (TSM) serves as a platform for connecting to have a sustainable impact on the network in Frankfurt am Main, DB Cargo DB Cargo to Xrail Capacity Booking. attractiveness of single wagonload provides Europe-wide rail transport for transport for customers. The core of business customers from all sectors. DB Systel GmbH supports the this project is the introduction of a new One of the biggest challenges in long- development and integration of this capacity management system which distance, cross-border traffic is fulfilling module into the existing system forms the foundation for both national the transport of cargo reliably and on landscape of DB Cargo as a technical and international transport. With this schedule. To guarantee this, DB Cargo is partner. Accelerated Solutions – Accso – in mind, an architectural approach was part of the European production alliance GmbH, a Camunda partner and BPM initially chosen to connect DB Cargo to Xrail which optimizes cross-border expert, supports the process automation the Xrail production alliance. DB Cargo’s interoperability through the means of a with the Camunda Process Engine which IT architecture was connected to the central broker and agreed on process forms the basis of TSM. central Xrail broker and each system models. had to be individually linked to that The following interview was conducted central broker. As a result, the business The Xrail production alliance consists with DB Cargo project manager Guido logic and technical functions required of the seven freight railways DB Cargo Adolphi, responsible for connecting DB for the Xrail processes would have to be (Germany), Rail Cargo Group (Austria), Cargo to Xrail Capacity Booking. distributed across all involved systems, CFL Cargo (Luxembourg), Green resulting in increased complexity in Cargo (Sweden), LINEAS (Belgium), regard to service orchestration and transformation functionalities. This Initial market research revealed two operations, ranging from scalability seemed to be very inefficient and would potential candidates for consideration and high availability to the pay-per-use have caused negative effects on further as workflow engines for DB Cargo. When payment model are complemented by development of DB Cargo’s business choosing Camunda as the implemen- the use of Camunda’s workflow and logic.” tation platform, the decisive factor was decision engine.” that the workflow engine can be embed- ded in the TSM application. In addition, Why Camunda BPM? Camunda is a lightweight BPMN solution The Impact which can be integrated with common “The findings mentioned above revealed and widely used development tools.” “The basic functionalities of TSM will the need for a central orchestration com- be tested in pilot phases with the other ponent to ensure that the Xrail business Xrail members. The Camunda Cockpit logic can be integrated efficiently and The Implementation application included in the Camunda with reduced complexity into DB Cargo’s Enterprise Platform has proven to be a systems. This orchestration component “TSM is a central system component that valuable tool for efficient analyses. is implemented by the new TSM system. is used to decouple order management from capacity management and provide The service offered is well rounded During the selection process of a the technical interface to the Xrail Broker. because of the fast support by Camunda platform for service orchestration, the The Camunda platform forms the basis and the exchange of experiences within following requirements among others for these ambitions and enables DB the Camunda community. were deciding factors: Cargo to react efficiently to changing conditions even during the course of the Camunda is a driving force for DB Cargo • Flexible integration with legacy project. in the realm of digitalization as process systems and fast adaptability to automation and the information obtained changing conditions. Since 2015, DB Cargo and its technical during process execution supports • Compliance with SLAs for high partner DB Systel have executed continuous process optimization. In the availability (99.98%) and response development projects with agile working future, there will be extensions to the time behavior. methods to ensure the capability of business logic that require adjustments • Visible execution of business continuous delivery. This goal was also of the system landscape and Camunda processes for functional and supported by the decision to operate enables DB Cargo to meet current and technical monitoring. TSM in the cloud. The synergy of cloud future challenges efficiently.” Learn more www.camunda.com Camunda Services GmbH - Zossener Str. 55 - 10961 Berlin - Germany.