Today on average 40% of the transportation capacity is empty space. Loading plans are traditionally done without any help from digitalization.

There is a huge global potential to increase efficiency in supply chains. In the consumer goods, business e-commerce grows exponentially. New logistics centers need more intelligent solutions for efficient deliveries.

Digitalized logistics

Every day thousands of cargo ships, planes and trucks transport cargo around the world with about 40% of it being just empty space. Reducing the empty space even by 10% could save 100 million euros in fuel each year in sea transportation, in Finland alone. For the world sea traffic this would mean 1200 million tons less CO₂ emission. We provide space and route optimization algorithms, and also digital solutions, in order to make the logistics operations more efficient.

BOXBOT is a cloud-based service for ports and logistics centers. It provides the necessary tools for packing planning, warehouse order picking optimization, and vehicle planning and routing. Vehicle can be anything from a matchbox to a pallet, an automative or a ship.

Our mission is to be the leading logistics solutions provider, and make our solutions globally available and widely used, in order to have a higher impact and make a real difference.

Our vision is to enhance the space usage of transportation, and improve port and logistics center operations, in order to reduce fuel costs, reduce the need for transportation resources, and make loading and unloading times shorter.

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Packing Planning

BOXBOT has been used in packing planning for various sizes and types of boxed products mixed together.

Our multi-objective meta-heuristic algorithm produces physically stable packing plans with high space utilization.

The algorithm is given a list of products and possible special rules for each product such as stackability and durability. The packing plans contain information about the pallet and all the positions and orientations for each product item.

The algorithm supports last minute changes, for example if a product item is not available when it is needed for packing, and it prevents other items from being packed, then a greedy plan will be produced, in order to keep the packing process continuous with as little amount of stops as possible.

Easy Visual Information

BOXBOT optimizes the cargo picking and packing in right unloading order, which will work as delivery order for the transport vehicle.

The algorithm is given a list of cargo items, their size, amount, and priorities. The priority can be for example the delivery order of the cargo items, so that the items in the front are delivered first. Removes hassle and searching during delivery and create a picking order for loading.

Logistics Center Operations

Many logistics centers are not digitalized in a way that would enable the workers and managers to utilize modern techology such as smartphones, tablets, and augmented reality glasses.

Currently, printed papers are still being passed around, while tablets could be used instead. Digitalization would not only improve work efficiency, but also communications and information flow.

We provide digital platform for managing and operating in logistics centers more efficiently and reliably. The platform is also capable of optimizing truck loads and routes.

There are tablet apps for different operations:

Entering terminal ~ shows truck drivers platforms where to drive when entering a terminal
Unloading truck ~ shows workers platforms where to unload items and helps in navigation within a terminal
Loading truck ~ shows workers places in a truck where to load items from a platform

To eliminate the time normally spent in searching and reading barcodes and figuring out where to transport items, the items are automatically identified with RFID tag readers. Workers can then see this information and further instructions immediately in their smartphones or tablets.

General Cargo Ship Planning

BOXBOT can be used as a decision support system in general cargo ship planning.

Our algorithm optimizes bulkhead/tweendeck positions and space utilization of general cargo ships based on different parameters such as cargo properties, operational rules, and ship loading and discharging ports.

Examples of cargo properties:

weight limits
temperature limits
humidity limits
durability and stackability

Examples of operational rules:

loading/unloading order
partial hold opening possibilities
crane positions and limitations
delivery schedules

Port Operations

BOXBOT digitalizes the operations, communication and information sharing in ports, in order to make use of the optimized general cargo ship plans and to make the port operations more efficient.

Instead of passing printed papers around hierarchically to the personnel, mobile platforms such as tablets and smartphones can be used to get the latest information on loading and unloading plans, cargo locations, and schedules.