Elena Mereanu from Transport4 presented the PIDX Downstream standards, a free-to-use XML/XSD Schema that can be downloaded from the PIDX Standards home page.
Like other PIDX standards, the downstream suite adds industry-specific
terminology that is absent from generic B2B XML standards. The
Downstream group collaborates with its EU LEAP
equivalent to co-develop international standards and is currently
working on barge demurrage. A new initiative, Industrial Data Exchange
(IDX) is a new data exchange platform for PIDX. The cloud-based,
API-driven platform is to share strategic data across the PIDX
ecosystem of operators, suppliers and IT companies. Interested parties
can sign up with the development team.
Kris Pronske (DTN) explained the rationale for PIDX product codes for terminal master data. These provide a unique product ID, a numeric code and short product description. Product type (aviation, ethanol … gasoline) and more slots for cetane/octane, oxygenated, sulfur and volatile content. To date the system has been abused with inconsistent or supplier-created codes. PIDX is working to increase awareness of the official code base. When required, new codes can be added requested for approval by PIDX. An API-driven solution for codes from a PIDX clearing house/master list is under development.
Hanno Schwarz (BP) gave an overview of PIDX 5.02 and showed how harmonized communications between oils, terminals and clearing houses are used to announce and authorize product loading at a terminal. The Bill of Landing/TDXS system supports planned movement announcements and response and receipt of delivery.
Neil Grime showed how Shell uses PIDX in Project Chinook/Sirocco to exchange data between bulk fuel terminals around the globe. Project Chinook is to remove a ‘costly third party application’ from the Shell system landscape. The app in question was a business critical system for distribution running between SAP and the Terminal Automation System (TAS). Shell has now developed ‘VirtualTAS’ running in the cloud, ‘built on PIDX standards’. BizTalk also ran. Chinook stared in 2017. Worldwide rollout is ongoing.
More from the PIDX events home page.
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