Enabling Systemic Trust in the Physical Internet: An eDSR Approach to Governance Model Design

Abstract

The Physical Internet (PI) envisions a hyperconnected cyber‐physical logistics system inspired by the Digital Internet, yet adoption remains limited due to persistent trust and governance challenges. This study addresses these barriers by conceptualizing systemic trust as a foundational requirement for broad participation in the PI. We apply the echeloned Design Science Research methodology to develop the Governance and Trust Orchestration Layer (GTOL), an extension of existing layered PI models that incorporates mechanisms for rule enforcement, credentialing, dispute resolution, and fair matching. Based on empirical interviews with logistics practitioners and evaluated through scenario‐based walkthroughs, the GTOL addresses core commercial, institutional, and technological trust concerns. We contribute mid‐range design theory through six design principles that provide transferable guidance for embedding trust in decentralized logistics networks. They serve as a practical and theoretical blueprint for enabling governance structures that are transparent, enforceable, and adaptable across diverse logistics contexts.