SYNCHRO-NET Nominated for Freight Award
SYNCHRO-NET: Nomination at the Global Freight Awards
SYNCHRO-NET has been nominated for the Sea Freight Award at the Global Freight Awards. During the SYNCHRO-NET project MJC² has developed real-time synchromodal logistics algorithms, which have been applied to Cosco's operations in Valencia and Piraeus.
The GFA award is given to freight forwarders that demonstrate "expertise and high performance, a drive for innovation, customer centricity, continuous improvement and results for customers and themselves".
SYNCHRO-NET has developed a highly innovative set of "smart steaming" and "synchromodal logistics" Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms. The focus of these new tools is "de-stressing" the supply chain. The project, coordinated by DHL, involves 20 logistics, technology and research organisations from 8 countries in Europe, supported by the European Commission's Horizon 2020 programme.
De-stressing the Supply Chain
Smart steaming algorithms allow shipping services to be optimized strategically and operationally, enabling intelligent, fuel-efficient response to delays caused by port congestion and weather.
The synchromodal logistics optimization software is a ground-breaking multimodal logistics planning solution, addressing what is known as multi-objective optimization i.e. taking into account not only cost, but also GHG emissions and risk/reliability when choosing the optimal multimodal route for a shipment through the global supply chain.
Smart Steaming
In this manner the supply chain can be de-stressed in a number of ways. Smart steaming increases reliability for shipping operations, making it much easier for the customer to plan and manage their supply chain. At the same time, fuel usage, costs and emissions are reduced - all hot topics in the maritime world.
SYNCHRO-NET takes a holistic view of costs and factors affecting voyages, including, for example, dynamic inputs from weather forecasts and berth schedules, and all operating costs associated with the vessel.
Synchromodal Logistics
Similarly, the real-time synchromodal logistics algorithms de-stress the supply chain in terms of the way consignments are routed through the multimodal network and allocated to services/resources.
In the current economic climate, the customer typically looks for the lowest cost solution. However, such solutions are often not the greenest, and often depend on everything working to plan to achieve the required delivery date.
SYNCHRO-NET adopts a more intelligent optimization strategy, finding not just the cheapest solution, but also other solutions based on a range of key performance indicators.
Real-time Optimization
Furthermore, the real-time algorithms allow the consignment to be dynamically re-routed in response to (e.g.) delays, with all subsequent required changes cascading automatically down the supply chain (e.g. changing rail, barge and feeder vessel bookings and even last-mile haulier and truck allocations).
SYNCHRO-NET Innovation
The SYNCHRO-NET algorithms deliver concrete, tangible benefits, not just for the shipping companies, but also for their customers, suppliers and other stakeholders in the supply chain.
Shipping companies benefit from reduced costs while offering increased service to their customers, and reaching their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) objectives.
In turn, customers can benefit from an increased range and flexibility of available services, and even more competitive commercial rates.
SYNCHRO-NET also includes optimization tools to support logistics suppliers: real-time planning and scheduling of rail, truck and shipping operations, plus integrated port scheduling and berth allocation systems.
SYNCHRO-NET has presented many technical challenges. Perhaps the most significant feature is the requirement to integrate voyage optimization with port/berth scheduling and hinterland logistics optimization, all in real-time.
Existing solutions on the market do not address this breadth of scope, for a simple reason - it is very hard! Mathematically the problem is known as "NP-hard" - a technical term which effectively means that naïve approaches to solving it would literally take longer than the lifetime of the universe.
[A simple explanation of why multimodal optimization is challenging is here.]
Innovative AI algorithms enable SYNCHRO-NET to handle the dynamic nature of the supply chain and the ever-increasing expectations of shippers and customers.
Positive Results
Despite being very ambitious, involving cutting-edge AI algorithms, SYNCHRO-NET has already been proven to succeed.
Trials and analysis undertaken by Cosco, DHL and Kuehne+Nagel showed substantial cost and efficiency savings. Operational savings of around 5-10% have been observed, along with corresponding reduction in emissions.
Furthermore, the wider stakeholder community benefits from reduced emissions and congestion, especially in busy shipping lanes and around major ports and terminals.
SYNCHRO-NET maximises the ROI on major infrastructure projects, optimizing the use of new capacity on rail and inland waterway connections.