T-Systems, the business customer segment of Deutsche Telekom, and the DHL Innovation Center, the research centre of Deutsche Post World Net, have begun their joint search for an innovative means of optimising the freight volume of the logistics company’s 120,000 vehicles. With goods transport increasing all over the world, freight volume information is a key factor in achieving more efficiency in logistics. Such optimisations can result in both lower costs and reduced CO2 emissions. “If the control centre can use satellite technology to keep track of the vehicles' location at all times as well as what their current freight volume is, the dispatchers will be able to keep vehicle capacity utilisation at a maximum, which will enable us to reduce the number of trips,” explains Dr. Keith Ulrich, director of the DHL Innovation Center.
The company that comes up with the best solution will have the chance to realise its concept along with T-Systems at the DHL Innovation Center. The winning idea will have to be well defined and capable of being brought to market in a short period of time. “A high level of logistics expertise on the one hand and a high level of technology expertise on the other combined with the creative, innovative force of a young company - that's a strong combination that we can use to sustainably optimise logistics processes with satellite technology,” says Ralf Nejedl, head of Galileo and satellite applications at T-Systems.
The winner will thus need to demonstrate more than technological sophistication; innovative and business potential will be at least as crucial. DHL transports over 40 million tons of road freight alone every year. The special topic prize winner will have to present a sound business model, ideally with a modular structure that can be expanded to include further means of transport, such as ships and aircraft.
Solutions from all over the world can be submitted until 31st July at
www.galileo-masters.com.
Note: An interview with Dr. Keith Ulrich and Ralf Nejedl is available at www.t-systems.com/.... Information on the DHL Innovation Center can be found at www.dhl-innovation.com.