Use Case: Supply Chain Data Transparency and Permission
Enabling transparent, permission-based, multi-party data sharing across complex logistics operations.
Overview
In global logistics, shipment and cargo management involves data from many organisations and individuals — from shippers and consignees to customs agents, carriers, and intermediaries.
This Use Case demonstrates how a logistics enterprise can use DataPal and the IEEE 7012 MyTerms consent framework to orchestrate multi-party data sharing, increase trust and visibility, and reduce operational bottlenecks — all while giving data contributors granular control over how their data is shared and used.
Context
Modern supply chains require real-time access to diverse data streams: booking details, shipment status, ports of loading/unloading, customs declarations, invoice and documentation exchanges, carrier ETAs, and compliance checkpoints. These data flows are scattered across systems and stakeholders, producing friction, manual reconciliation, and increased risk.
Challenge
Despite heavy investment in logistics IT systems and APIs, shipping operations still struggle with:
• Fragmented data silos where each stakeholder owns separate records.
• Lack of transparent consent mechanisms, especially where multiple parties contribute or require data about one shipment.
• Manual processes to gather documentation, verify identities, or share status updates.
• Compliance complexity across jurisdictions, where data-sharing must meet privacy and regulatory standards.
A one-size-fits-all “share everything” model (e.g., blanket access to ERP or TMS systems) is impractical and risky, especially in B2B environments with sensitive commercial data.
Solution
DataPal Supply Chain Data Transparency uses the DataPal platform and the IEEE 7012 MyTerms standard to create a trusted consent layer on top of heterogeneous logistics data.
This enables data contributors — whether corporate users, partners, or individuals involved in a shipment — to share precisely what’s needed, with defined purpose, duration, and revocability, while preserving an auditable trail that supports compliance and operational efficiency.
How It Works (Flow)
Data Contributor Registration: Users and partner systems are invited to share specific shipment-related data (e.g., booking reference, bill of lading segments, customs IDs) via DataPal.
MyTerms Permission Contracts: Each contributor sets fine-grained consent terms (what data, who can access it, for what purpose, and how long).
Data Normalisation & Linking: DataPal ingests and standardises incoming records from disparate sources (TMS, ERP, customs portals), mapping them to unified shipment views.
AI-Assisted Enrichment: Machine learning enhances records with inferred metadata (e.g., tagging transit exceptions, risk flags, carrier performance scores).
Selective Sharing: Logistics planners, carrier partners, and compliance teams receive exactly the data they need — nothing more — based on contributor consent.
Governance & Audit: All access is logged, traceable, and revocable at any time, enabling transparent governance and regulatory defensibility.
Actors
Shippers / Data Contributors: Provide shipment data (bookings, invoices) and set consent terms via MyTerms.
Carriers / Logistics Partners: Request access to necessary data to plan transport, update status, or file documents.
Internal Teams (Ops / Compliance): Access enriched, consented data to execute logistics and meet regulatory requirements.
DataPal Platform: Manages ingestion, consent enforcement, enrichment, and auditing.
AI Agents / Developers: Build value-added analytics, anomaly detection models, and automated workflows using enriched data.
Benefits
We can outline the benfits to each stakeholder both in the immediate short-term and the longer-term:
Shippers & Partners: Have control over shared data; reduced rework and dispute resolution. Improved trust and stronger long-term partner relationships.
Logistics Operations: Have rapid access to verified, consented data; with fewer manual reconciliations. Leading to higher throughput, with fewer exceptions, and improved SLA compliance in the long-term.
Compliance & Legal Teams: Have clear audit logs, bounded consent, reduced regulatory risk. With stronger governance posture and scalable compliance workflows in the long-term.
Developers / Ecosystem: Have a platform for building analytics, ETA predictions, and process automation. Creating an ecosystem growth around interoperable, consented logistics data in the long-term.
Outcomes
Reduction in manual data reconciliation time (e.g., >60% reduction).
Decrease in operational exceptions due to incomplete or inconsistent data.
Higher partner satisfaction scores, reflecting clarity and trust in data sharing.
Improved compliance audit efficiency, with clear consent logs and data provenance.
Alignment with MyTerms (IEEE P7012)
• Personal Data Terms Contracts: Each data share is governed by explicit consent terms — purpose, duration, scope.
• Fiduciary Consent Layer: DataPal acts as the trusted intermediary, enforcing access based on contributor terms.
• Auditability: A complete audit trail helps satisfy internal governance and external regulatory requirements.
• Granular Control: Contributors share exactly what is needed — no over-provisioning.