Advancing Secure Digital Messaging in Logistics and Construction with Harmony eDelivery Access
Learn how Finnish technology company DBE Core uses Harmony eDelivery Access to support secure, scalable B2B messaging across logistics, construction, PEPPOL, and cross-border projects.
Traditional methods of data exchange are no longer sufficient for industries like logistics and construction, where data must flow freely and securely among a network of suppliers, contractors, and regulatory bodies. So, as supply and value chains become more interconnected, communication across nodes and borders alike must be secure and seamless. The rise of digital interoperability frameworks
In that sense, the European Commission’s eDelivery Digital Building Block already responds to the rise in digital interoperability frameworks. This is changing the landscape for business-to-business (B2B) communication, allowing organisations to exchange data with greater flexibility and security.
For DBE Core, a Finnish technology company and academic spin-off, adopting Harmony eDelivery Access helped the firm’s operations meet the demands of the European business ecosystem. eDelivery is part of the Digital Europe Programme’s collection of Digital Building Blocks and is designed to support asynchronous information exchange across various sectors and policy domains.
With Mika Lammi, CEO of DBE Core, we find out how the company recognised the need for a domain-neutral messaging solution and integrated Harmony eDelivery Access into its day-to-day business at scale.
“When Harmony came along, it was like a breath of fresh air. Everything that was difficult about Domibus, Harmony had streamlined into an automated process. I fell in love with it immediately.”
A Company and A Complex Chain of Business Nodes
DBE Core was established by four founding members with backgrounds in research and development projects for the public sector. Their expertise spanned several domains, including logistics, supply chain messaging, and blockchain technology. As Lammi, being one of the company’s founders, explains: “We were all working on similar projects, tackling business-to-business messaging issues in logistics, and realised that our combined expertise could address a much broader market need.”
DBE Core’s activities started with a focus on optimising B2B messaging and logistics processes, particularly around UBL (Universal Business Language) messaging standards and their integration into supply chains. In this way, the company became a player in developing systems that streamline communication between businesses, particularly those managing complex logistics networks. “Our flagship project was focused on blockchain networks for logistics, and that’s where we first saw the potential for integrating secure digital messaging with technologies like eDelivery”, Lammi says.
Dynamic and Secure Messaging for Logistics and Construction
Their core challenge was how to securely and efficiently exchange data across multiple parties in the logistics sector, a need that ultimately led them to Harmony eDelivery Access. The logistics industry often involves multiple actors – suppliers, contractors, and government regulators – who need to exchange data quickly and securely. “We work with large construction companies that have hundreds of vendors in their supply chains. Each of these needs to exchange information securely, and the flexibility to onboard new partners is key,” Lammi explains.
Initially, DBE Core experimented with Domibus, the European Commission’s reference implementation for eDelivery access point. However, as a reference implementation only, it proved to be challenging to configure and maintain. So, DBE Core turned to Harmony eDelivery Access as a more user-friendly and scalable solution.
Harmony eDelivery Access provided the flexibility DBE Core needed. Unlike Domibus, Harmony’s installation process was streamlined and user-friendly. Lammi remembers the relief: “When Harmony came along, it was like a breath of fresh air. Everything that was difficult about Domibus, Harmony had streamlined into an automated process. I fell in love with it immediately.”
That, obviously, if one could fall in love with an asynchronous messaging system.
Implementing Harmony eDelivery Access for Secure B2B Messaging
Harmony eDelivery Access operates on a four-corner model, facilitating secure communication between parties through standardised access points. These access points allow organisations to send and receive messages securely, optionally using SMP (Service Metadata Publisher) and SML (Service Metadata Locator) to dynamically route messages. This architecture makes Harmony particularly well-suited to industries like logistics, where participants and partners frequently change.
“Harmony is much more of an open book compared to other systems. It allows for dynamic participation, meaning that any number of recipients or access points can join the network. This is essential in logistics, where we don’t always know in advance who all the players will be,” Lammi continues.
For DBE Core, this open architecture allowed to meet the needs of their logistics clients. Large construction companies typically deal with hundreds of subcontractors and suppliers, and having a flexible, secure messaging platform like Harmony helps ensure that critical data – such as purchase orders, delivery confirmations, and logistics updates – can be shared reliably.
As part of its operations, DBE Core also leverages blockchain technology to add an additional layer of security and traceability to the data exchanged through Harmony eDelivery Access. Lammi explains, “We’ve integrated Harmony with our blockchain solution, which acts as a secure, permanent database for all the messages exchanged. This ensures that not only is the data secure, but it’s also auditable, which is a key requirement in the industries we operate.”
Enhanced Flexibility and Quality of Information Exchange
The adoption of Harmony eDelivery Access provided a secure and flexible framework for digital messaging and has allowed DBE Core to deliver a more efficient service to its clients. All the while also enhancing the security and traceability of the data exchanged.
Lammi highlights the impact on the quality of information exchange. “With Harmony, we’re not just improving security – we’re also improving the reliability of the information being exchanged. When you’re dealing with logistics, you need to know that the data you’re sending is reaching the right recipient, and Harmony ensures that happens.”
The PEPPOL network, where DBE Core operates as a licensed operator, serves as a prime example of how Harmony eDelivery Access improves messaging efficiency. PEPPOL facilitates the exchange of electronic invoices and procurement documents across Europe, and DBE Core has integrated Harmony into its services to ensure that these exchanges are secure and scalable.
“We use Harmony to run our PEPPOL access points, so we can serve thousands of clients efficiently,” Lammi says. “It’s a perfect match for what we do, offering the flexibility we need without sacrificing security.”
Additionally, the FTI4EU project, a European Union initiative to create a secure messaging network for reporting transport and cargo data across borders, has benefited from Harmony’s capabilities. As Lammi points out, “The network for FTI4EU will rely on Harmony for secure cross-border messaging, ensuring that data flows seamlessly between national authorities without needing to stop or delay shipments.”
In logistics, indeed, speed and accuracy of information exchange are very important. “Delays in communication can have serious knock-on effects. But Harmony ensures that the data is exchanged in real-time, securely, and with full traceability, which is a game-changer for our clients.” The flexibility to dynamically add new partners into the network also means that companies can scale their operations more effectively without having to worry about integrating new communication channels each time a new partner is onboarded.
DBE Core’s adoption of Harmony eDelivery Access has addressed the company’s immediate technical challenges. It has also provided a scalable solution that continues to add value across different projects, from operating access points in the PEPPOL network to ensuring secure communication in the FTI4EU project. Perhaps, such added value can be extended to other domains, too.
In fact, Lammi says, “Harmony is domain-neutral, which means we can apply it across multiple sectors. So far, in logistics, it’s been a perfect fit.” Carrying potential for further applications, too.