Freight transport

For MÁV Zrt, MÁV CARGO Zrt., GYSEV, other railway companies and road and water freight transport companies, their operations depend upon complex processing of the information which underpins their core business processes. Freight transport processes consist of the commercial, freight handling, delivery and payment and clearing sub-processes needed to meet freight companies' needs. This means that in order to keep track of the entire process, solutions are required which consist of a number of different but interdependent IT systems.

At the beginning of the process, there are modules which handle quotations, contracts and orders for commercial services. Freight requires coordinated processing of handling, delivery conditions and orders. In Hungary, the information technology system for the standard/broad gauge transhipment area at Záhony is of particular importance. This system is also important in terms of the entire national economy, since without it, transfer between broad and standard gauge rail would be incapacitated, creating a serious bottleneck for East-West commerce.

Restructuring at Hungarian Railways (MÁV) arising as a result of market liberalisation legislation has lead to significant change in the field of railway-related information technology. Firstly, international regulations and business models have changed. This is intended to intensify competition in the area of freight and will push companies towards customer-orientated communication. As a result, accurate and timely exchange of information is going to provide a competitive advantage. Secondly, the system which has been in place within MÁV Rt. up until now - of payments being made between business divisions - is to be replaced. Under the new system, independent, legally distinct companies are to be set up. These will request services from one another and make payments against completion certificates. This motivation to change will bring with it the motivation to modernise rail freight administration.

Consultants and developers at MÁV INFORMATIKA Kft. follow freight trends on a day-to-day basis and track the changes in regulations and procedures arising as a result. It is this kind of knowledge which is so essential for developing up-to-date freight information systems.