The iSHARE Scheme is a collaborative effort to improve the exchange of data between organisations involved with the Dutch logistics sector. The iSHARE Scheme results in a set of agreements which improve circumstances for data exchange.

The ambition of iSHARE is to lower barriers for sharing data, to empower new forms of collaboration in chains and to help scale up existing initiatives that aim to improve conditions for data exchange. The underlying assumption is that if data can flow in a controlled and smart way, it will lead to a more efficient use of infrastructure, less carbon emissions and a more competitive logistics sector. 

The iSHARE Scheme's scope focuses on three main topics that are crucial in any data exchange context:

1. Identification;
2. Authentication;
3. Authorisation.

iSHARE focuses on these three aspects as they are considered indispensable in any communication between parties, also in the context of exchanging logistical data. Within the iSHARE Scheme, agreements are made on the above three topics with the aim of to work towards a more uniform, straightforward and controlled way of exchanging data on a bigger scale than is possible right now*.

• Uniform: one uniform way of working across all types of modalities, small and large organisations, public and private organisations, suppliers and receivers of data or their softwarepartners, etc. iSHARE aims to create new possibilities for efficiency improvements, time gains and cost savings. 
• Straightforward: Easy to connect with new, existing and third-party business partners throughout the sector, more certainty on trustworthiness of parties you exchange data with, a building block which is easy to implement by your software partners or your IT department and an addition that empowers your existing solutions. 
• Controlled: The basic principle within iSHARE is that the owner of the data stays in control at all times; the owner decides with whom what data is exchanged on what terms. 

These three aims can only be reached when a variety of perspectives are considered during the establishment of the scheme. To this end, a variety of organisations are involved in defining the agreements for iSHARE. During the co-creation phase of the iSHARE project, the involved organisations invest in the iSHARE Scheme in terms of expertise. 

*Notes:

• The scope of the iSHARE Scheme does not include the specification of possible business models for sharing data and/or payments related to data exchange;
• The iSHARE Scheme can in some way be compared with the institute of the passport: the iSHARE Scheme will be usable by anyone who owns a digital identity compatible with the iSHARE Scheme. This will greatly simplify authentication and authorisation processes, also between different organisations (however: even though organisations can have valid certificates, it does not rule out possible malign intentions).