  Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) constitute a core representative of a
paradigm shift in the transport sector. The extent to which the transport
sector has adapted itself to this digital era relies considerably on the
availability of suitable and reliable data. Currently, several data-related
limitations, such as the scarcity of available datasets, hinder the deployment
of ITS services. Such limitations may be overcome with the deployment of
properly designed data exchange platforms that enable a seamless life-cycle of
data harvesting, processing, and sharing. The European Union recognizing the
potential benefits of such platforms has, through the relevant Delegated
Regulations, proposed the development of a National Access Point (NAP) by each
individual Member State. This paper aims to ascertain the role of a NAP within
the ITS ecosystem, to investigate methodologies used in designing such
platforms, and, through the drafting of an extended use case, showcase a NAP
operational process and associate possible benefits with specific steps of it.
