Dec. 2013, Volume 1, No. 1 (Serial No. 1), pp. 30-38 Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, ISSN 2328-2142, USA Cloud Computing Applications in Global Logistics Information System Infrastructure Vladimir Ilin 1 , Dragan Simic 1 , Vasa Svircevic 2 and Nenad Saulic 1 1. Department for Traffic Engineering, Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad 21000, Serbia 2. Lames d.o.o. Sremska Mitrovica, Novi Sad 21000, Serbia Abstract: Information and communication technology (ICT) and systems are essential for every business. They can be used in retail, manufacturing and other industries. Nevertheless, new and innovative ideas and solutions are constantly emerging and introducing new possibilities for the reorganization of traditional logistics processes. Particularly, attention is given to basic concept of CC (cloud computing) service models and opportunities in logistics. This paper provides comprehensive review and comparison of different ICT solutions and CC applications. As a new and cutting-edge technology, CC is changing the form and function of information technology infrastructures making supply chain information collaboration easy and feasible. It can also be an enabler of fully electronic logistics management systems. Adoption of CC concept involves strong hardware support, good internet connectivity and implied reorganization of traditional business activities. Key words: Cloud computing, information and communication technology, logistics, supply chain, service models. 1. Introduction Information technology systems and applications are essential to businesses and enterprises. In the last two decades, ICT (information and communication technology) has strongly influenced organizational processes and logistics as well. IT (information technology) service is an interconnected set of hardware and software resources, and is conceptually similar to a manufacture or retail supply chain. Supply chains generally have two functions: a physical function—the production of a particular product and transportation of all components to the right place at the right time; a market mediation function—to ensure that the product meets market needs. In general, logistics involves a multitude of suppliers, manufacturers, carriers, 3PLs (third logistics partners), 4PLs (fourth logistics partners) and financial institutions that are essential to transporting Corresponding author: Vladimir Ilin, M.Sc., research assistant, research fields: logistics, ICT in logistics, metaheuristics. E-mail: v.ilin@uns.ac.rs. a product from place of origin into customer’s hands. A study of cloud information technology suggests each of these partners owns a portion of the data that drives the logistics process, and each has a stake in the successful delivery of goods to the final location [1]. A supply chain must be classified according to its components and the end-product it supplies. As a new business model, CC (cloud computing) has and will have a profound impact on the entire IT industry [2]. CC is offering competitive advantages to companies through flexible and scalable access to computing resources. For a business to successfully utilise the cloud, it needs to migrate some or all of its IT services to the cloud, and then manage the new environment. The undertaken research has shown that, by using a cloud lifecycle, both the migration and the on-going management of the cloud can be planned and controlled to ensure success [2]. Global view, transparency of each phase during realization of logistics processes and comprehensive control over the crucial data are imposed as a priority in contemporary logistics. ICT provides support for logistics processes and solves many logistics problems. DAVID PUBLISHING D