KEYSTONE Deliverable D1.2: Focus groups report including stakeholder requirements and expectations.

This report serves as Deliverable D1.2 for Task 1.2 of the KEYSTONE project. This task, integral to Work Package 1 (Gap Analysis and State of the Art), aims to identify and prioritise the requirements for the KEYSTONE solution, which is essential to enhancing the digitalisation of cross-border EU transport and logistics. The report develops insights gathered through a series of data collection methods including a review of existing secondary data sources (documents, literature), the stakeholder survey findings (D1.1), a focus group, a round table and 13 semi-structured interviews (see Section 2). This report synthesises the stakeholder requirements for KEYSTONE from a range of European socio-economic environments.

A range of key stakeholders were interviewed or participated in a focus group and asked to offer a set of 'requirements' that need to be met for a 'digital solution' that would assist in progressing the digitalisation of cross-border transport and logistics operations in the EU.

Findings highlight the complexity of the existing regulatory frameworks and underscored the necessity for enhanced cooperation between member states to facilitate smoother cross-border transport and logistics operations. Stakeholders pointed out the urgent need for standardisation of digital tools that could ensure
compliance and facilitate seamless data exchanges across borders and stakeholders. The results of Task 1.2 have provided a notion of existing solutions that have also informed the work of Task 1.3. An analysis of the functionalities that the KEYSTONE platform should offer has also been included in the report. This inventory serves as a foundational element for ongoing development of the KEYSTONE solution, with reference to specific functionalities that could simplify complex digital processes and enhance the provision of digital information required for effective control activities by enforcement authorities across Europe. Furthermore, participants highlighted the importance of designing a solution that aligns with the real-world operational challenges and regulatory landscapes faced by stakeholders, not just adding to the plethora of platforms that already exist. This alignment is crucial for ensuring the adoption and effective implementation of the KEYSTONE solution. Participants emphasised the need for a solution that is not only technologically advanced but also user-friendly, catering to the needs of a diverse user base including SMEs which may not have the technical prowess of larger corporations.