The overall SoA architecture of the ICT platform is presented in Figure 2. It consists of the core platform of the system, data providers to the system including Escrow Database of Products and any other legacy data that could be potentially needed, three independent modules (each for one CEBM) and four different end users’ environments.
Figure 2. Overview of the ICT Platform design
The core platform of the system includes all the databases, in a harmonised data format, the website/API manager for service provision and the Access Control manager to ensure security of the whole system. As a core system backend, it handles all the data needed for the eco-Point computation (product purchasing), eco-Credit computation (product recycling), the user transaction history, as well as a SoA that handles all the services needed by the frontend systems.
Data providers consist of database and entry systems that handle interaction with external systems and data entry containing product data together with supporting resources describing the product. They are used as an intermediate data input interface to the core platform.
Each CEBM is handled by an independent module with business logic. The “Recycle/Reuse Module” serves also for the recycling bins which will be placed to collect tablets or other electronic devices. This module is used to capture and store online recycling and reuse data of EoL products such as tablets, lighting and meat products, and then to reward users for their reuse or recycling activities (bringing the devices to the recycling containers).
In the “Traceability Module” the capturing interfaces are used to gather data from the partners and load it into the module. Access applications are developed to transform the data and provide APIs to the platform through which it can be used. Traceability data is used to monitor individual products throughout their lifecycle. The “LCA Module” is a tool that provides the functions to conduct online Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). LCA is performed to analyze the product’s environmental/social impacts through their lifecycle, in order to calculate their impact in a standardized format of Eco-points (a rewarding system to encourage users to have a more sustainable behavior when buying or recycling products).
There are four end users’ environments that provide all the interfaces needed by the system user. End User Toolbox (consisting of Consumer Eco-Account and Eco-Shopping Module) through which the customer can follow the eco-information linked to his purchasing and recycling activities. The second end user environment i.e. Retailer Tool for Eco-Accounting allows the consumer to obtain the eco-point information together with the payment information on the same receipt at the check-out point.
The Impact Assessment Tool, the third of the end user’s environments, is a system that contributes to the design of new products by displaying the impact of various materials and possibly also providing information about reuse or recycling of those materials.
Last but not least, the Stakeholders Interaction Tool in the form of a Brokerage System and a Marketplace enables the companies willing to close their loop to find the right circular economy business partners.
Service Oriented Architecture has proven to serve well circular economy business models. It offers enough flexibility to adapt to the iterative changes of the end user requirements. For the same reason, it was confirmed that the use of modular systems is of benefit for CEBM’s ICT platform. Such approach can easily deal with large variety of data, that is advantageous in case of circular business models that involve interactions between different stakeholders along the values chain.
Recent Comments