A cloud-fog architecture for physical-internet-enabled supply chain

ABSTRACT In today’s global economy, factors such as increasing and varied customer requirements, complex business models, and growing concerns about environmental, social, and legal aspects are crucial challenges facing logistics companies. Supply chain efficiency and sustainability are among the key issues that logistics systems have increasingly considered in recent years. In this context, this paper proposes a cloud-fog architecture to meet the new requirements of logistic networks based on the Physical Internet (PI) model. This study uses a simulation approach to evaluate supply chain performance in terms of time and cost-effectiveness by comparing two scenario models: the ‘cloud-only’ model and the ‘cloud-fog’ model. The strategy adopted is based on both the A-star (A*) pathfinding algorithm and the real-time processing capabilities enabled by the Internet of Things (IoT) and fog computing. The proposed solution allows for optimal physical routing at a competitive cost and within a reasonable time frame. Furthermore, increased visibility and traceability are achieved throughout the supply chain.