SAP Research & Linfox: Future Logistics Living Lab project

SAP Research and Linfox start first Future Logistics Living Lab project

SAP Research, the global technology research unit of SAP AG, announced today that Linfox, a supply chain solutions provider, is one of the first companies to test and evaluate ‘Holodeck’*, a brainstorming mobile application prototype, developed by SAP Research in Australia.

The collaboration between SAP and Linfox was initiated during a Future Logistics Living Lab workshop in April this year, when SAP Research presented its current research work to Living Lab participants and selected SAP customers and partners. Linfox expressed interest in the technology and is now one of the first companies to validate the prototype in their day-to-day business.

SAP Research Holodeck project is an application that supports brainstorming and business modeling across locations in a completely novel way. By using an iPhone connected to a standard projector, Holodeck transforms any flat surface into a virtual smart board.

The Holodeck project enables participants to collaborate from different locations by capturing content from the meeting using the iPhone's camera. The application extracts objects visible on the whiteboard (post-it notes, drawings, etc.) and distributes them to other participants via broadband, creating a virtual whiteboard session.

The application is integrated with SAP StreamWork which allows users to save and access the results after the meeting, as well as share it with other StreamWork users.

“SAP Research Holodeck project gives Linfox the potential to brainstorm ideas between team members located at various sites,” said Chris Hemstrom, Linfox’s Group Manager, Supply Chain Solutions. “We will use it when initially scoping and determining the direction of projects, as well as for strategy development. Linfox will also use Holodeck for value stream mapping for projects that run across multiple sites. We are currently trialing the use of Holodeck on several projects.”

SAP Research architect Dr Marek Kowalkiewicz, who is leading the Holodeck project team, said: “We are thrilled to co-innovate with Linfox on our prototype. While our colleagues from Linfox get the chance to test Holodeck in their business environment, we expect to gain feedback on usability, receive ideas for possible new features and identify problems with the application.”

Based in the Australian Technology Park in Sydney, the Future Logistics Living Lab is the first such laboratory in Australia and the only Living Lab in the world with university and industry participation dedicated to logistics. It provides a physical platform for industry and research to work together, to investigate and overcome real world logistics issues, and to demonstrate and test innovative technology that will provide transport and logistics solutions for the future.
Participant companies help shape the future of logistics through the collaboration and sharing of knowledge and experience. The collaboration supports the development, testing and demonstration of prototypes of new products and services.

“The spirit of the Living Lab concept is about co-innovation,” said Dr. Karsten Schulz, Vice President and Practice Lead at SAP Research. “The Living Lab provides a means for participants to create, to test and to demonstrate prototype technologies prior to commitment to real products.”

*Holodeck is a working name. It is currently an iPhone application, but it is planned to create versions of Holodeck for other mobile platforms.

The Living Lab and Holodeck were represented during the SAUG Summit 2011 that took place on 2 - 4 August in Sydney. The Holodeck project will also be shown at SAP TechEd this year.

For more information on The Future Logistics Living Lab: http://www.futurelogisticslivinglab.com.au/

About SAP
SAP is the world’s leading provider of business software(*), offering applications and services that enable companies of all sizes and in more than 25 industries to become best-run businesses. With more than 102,500 customers in over 120 countries, the company is listed on several exchanges, including the Frankfurt stock exchange and NYSE, under the symbol “SAP.” For more information, visit www.sap.com.

About SAP Research
SAP Research is the global technology research unit of SAP. SAP Research spreads its research and development activities around the globe. Currently, their thriving network comprises of 19 locations worldwide, including their headquarters in Walldorf, and numerous partners from the business and academic worlds. (Additional information is available at www.sap.com/research.)

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