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Tag: Inform

Logistics Business Magazine, September 2025

Posted on by Will Priestman

The September 2025 issue of Logistics Business magazine is packed with insights into the technologies, strategies and solutions reshaping global supply chains. A strong focus is placed on artificial intelligence and automation, with Samsara showcasing its latest driver safety and fleet optimisation tech from the Beyond event in San Diego. Further AI coverage includes interviews with Coupa’s international head and Transporeon, both exploring how data-driven platforms are transforming spend management and freight visibility.

Supply chain strategy takes centre stage in an exclusive interview with Siemens’ Alexander Tschentscher, who advocates a shift from reactive resilience to strategic robustness. Meanwhile, Ewals Cargo Care shares how its “warehouse on wheels” model and modal shift approach are reducing emissions while expanding operations across Europe. Port innovation is also in the spotlight as PEMA President Achim Dries outlines how ports and terminals are digitising, automating, and gradually weaning off diesel in favour of electrification and smart power management.

Inside the warehouse, automation continues to surge. Hyster discusses its big-truck innovations at TOC Europe, and a new automated distribution centre in Coventry demonstrates what’s possible in modern DC design. Case studies from CLAAS, Axfood, and others show how internal logistics and fulfilment strategies are evolving to meet increasingly complex demands.

Sustainability is another dominant theme throughout this edition. The magazine looks at how plastic pallets, automated packaging and green fuels—such as HVO used by DHL’s Formula 1 fleet—are cutting carbon without compromising performance. E-commerce brands like Bathroom Mountain and major supply chain software providers such as Soloplan and IFS also feature prominently, revealing how automation, AI and smart planning tools are supporting faster, leaner, and more resilient operations.

From warehouse doors to multimodal transport, and from predictive software to people-centric AI, this issue offers a comprehensive and engaging snapshot of the forces shaping logistics in 2025.

Stack Management, Yard and Crane Optimizer Live at Terminal

Posted on by David Priestman

INFORM has announced that it has successfully deployed its Syncrotess Optimization Plus solution at Norfolk Southern’s Austell terminal in Atlanta, Georgia enabling the terminal to have complete transparency of their stacked operations, as well as optimized yard storage and crane movement operations.

Will Deshazor, Norfolk Southern Group Vice President Intermodal Automotive Terminal Operations, commented, “INFORM’s Syncrotess Optimization Plus solution is helping revolutionize our operations at Norfolk Southern’s Austell and Rossville terminals, providing us with unparalleled visibility and efficiency in our stacked operations, yard storage, and crane movements. Our rollout in Austell marks another step forward in our commitment to delivering exceptional service to our customers while optimizing our terminal operations.”

Matthew Wittemeier, Director of Marketing and Sales at INFORM’s Terminal & Distribution Center Logistics Division said, “No doubt, it’s been a journey to get the Austell terminal up and running, but we’re excited to be in a position now to demonstrate our world class optimization solutions working in live operations!”

Dr. Eva Savelsberg, Senior Vice President at INFORM’s Terminal & Distribution Center Logistics Division commented, “I’m tremendously proud of INFORM’s team and their commitment to the Norfolk Southern project. It is great to have the second Norfolk Southern site go-live; it is a strong demonstration of our continued partnership with NS.”

INFORM’s add-on AI and optimization solution takes a modular approach to adding advanced intelligence to a terminal’s existing TOS. This path allows them to isolate the terminal’s specific challenges and provide a bespoke solution for their specific operational challenges. As an add-on optimization solution, Norfolk Southern has built the required optimization on top of their existing Terminal Operating System (TOS) OPTCS 2.0.

Stack Management

Austell is the second Norfolk Southern site running INFORM’s Syncrotess Optimization Plus solution. Norfolk Southern took the solution live at their Rossville terminal in 2023. Norfolk Southern is using INFORM’s Yard Optimizer (YO) to intelligently manage their stacked operations. The Yard Optimizer works in conjunction with the TOS to allocate storage locations for containers within the yard, to automatically determine the next operationally efficient move, and to better allocate handover locations for external trucks in order to minimize travel distance for the container in and out of the stack.

Matthew Wittemeier added, “The future of most North American intermodal terminals is stacked; being able to demonstrate to the industry that stacking can be done effectively without sacrificing customer delivery times and with that the customer experience was a primary goal of the project from its outset.”

Additionally, Norfolk Southern is utilizing INFORM’s Crane Optimizer (CO) to optimize the movements of overhead cranes to minimize empty travel and maximize productivity of the lift equipment. Austell is using Kuenz RTG Freerider cranes.

INFORM has a suite of six industry proven optimization modules designed to improve operational efficiency and reduce operational costs which ultimately allows for improved revenues. These modules include: Crane Optimizer (CO), Yard Optimizer (YO), Vehicle Optimizer (VO), Train Load Optimizer (TLO), Rail Scheduler (RS), and Machine Learning (ML) modules.

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Stack Management and Crane Optimizer Goes Live

 

New AI-driven TOS at Duisburg Gateway

Posted on by Will Priestman

INFORM is poised to enhance the Duisburg Gateway Terminal (DGT) operations through its advanced AI-based solutions, ensuring a robust start as the terminal initiates operations and scales up. This partnership focuses on leveraging AI technologies to streamline intermodal logistics, pioneering Europe’s first CO2-neutral intermodal terminal in the heart of Duisburg’s port.

New AI-based TOS solution at Duisburg Gateway

DGT is on trackto establish itself as the largest intermodal terminal in the European hinterland, with an ambitious annual throughput goal of 850,000 TEU. Located on the historical coal island in the port of Duisburg, the terminal is innovatively planned and will be operated exclusively with crane systems and vehicles without fossil fuels, sidestepping conventional terminal equipment to minimize its environmental impact. Covering 235,000 square meters in total, this terminal represents a monumental step in the logistics sector, handling up to 1 million containers per year across its six cranes and 12 rail tracks, with daily operations for 20 trains, around 400 trucks, and 6 ships. The first construction phase of the terminal will open in summer 2024, utilizing INFORM’s Syncrotess Intermodal TOS.

Sven Zölle, Managing Director at Duisburg Gateway Terminal GmbH, remarked, “Partnering with INFORM enables us to harness the full potential of AI in our terminal operations, setting a strong foundation for DGT’s operational excellence from the outset. As INFORM’s Intermodal TOS covers both the administrative parts of a Terminal Operating Systems and has a strong focus on optimization and automation, this partnership reinforces our commitment to environmental stewardship but also ensures that we remain at the forefront of technological innovation in the logistics industry.”

INFORM’s AI-Driven Solution: Elevating Terminal Operations

INFORM will implement its Intermodal TOS at DGT, leveraging a modular design that enables a high degree of automation and operational optimization. Key features include:

  • Barge Handling: Utilizing AI to streamline barge handling, enhancing throughput and minimizing operational delays.
  • Crane Optimization: Creation and optimization of crane jobs to refine the operations of six intermodal barge cranes, essential for the terminal’s efficiency. The TOS aims to organize crane jobs to substantially decrease handling times. Together, the goal is to stepwise introduce crane automation at DGT throughout the project.
  • Optimized Train Loading: Leveraging advanced algorithms to efficiently plan and execute train loading operations, ensuring optimal use of resources, and reducing turnaround times.
  • Stack Optimization: Employing AI to intelligently optimize container stacking, improving space utilization and accessibility while reducing re-handling.
  • Billing Module Integration: Facilitating the billing process with a tailored module that accurately captures services rendered, streamlining financial operations.
  • Booking Platform Interface: Facilitating seamless integration with the DXI platform to streamline combined transport bookings and enhance operational coordination.

“This expanded suite of services underscores our commitment to delivering a highly efficient, scalable, and sustainable operating environment for DGT, utilizing cutting-edge AI to optimize every aspect of terminal operations,” said Alex van Winckel, Director Strategic Relations and Sales at INFORM’s Terminal & Distribution Center Logistics Division at INFORM. “We are thrilled to partner with the team at DGT on this groundbreaking project.”

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New Shareholder of Duisburg Gateway Terminal

Key IT Advances Shaping Vehicle Logistics

Posted on by David Priestman

INFORM, a leading software developer specializing in artificial intelligence and operations research, is thrilled to announce its latest study on IT in vehicle logistics, highlighting key findings on IT and AI’s transformative impact in the vehicle logistics sector. With a detailed analysis of current challenges, including capacity constraints and the need for greater operational efficiency and transparency, this report is grounded in insights from 106 industry professionals. The comprehensive study underscores a robust forecast for market growth and identifies key technologies driving innovation, also reflecting on the need for enhancements.

The publication of the “INFORM Trend Report on IT in Vehicle Logistics 2024 – Transforming Vehicle Logistics: Pivotal Role of IT and AI” marks the third installment in a comprehensive series of trend reports that delves into the evolving dynamics of vehicle logistics management. The 2024 Trend Report, built on the insights from previous surveys in 2018 and 2013, presents an in-depth analysis of the challenges and advancements within the vehicle logistics sector.

Key Findings from the Report

1. Market growth and increasing demands: One-third of participants each believe that the volume of vehicles handled will increase by 10-20% (33%) or even by more than 20% (34%) over the next five years. At the same time, more than half of those surveyed (56%) fear they will have to contend with capacity issues until 2025 or much longer.

2. Challenges in the industry: Increase of efficiency in operational processes (71%), flexible reaction to deviations from the plan (66%), and transparency about the data related to each vehicle (49%) are the three current challenges most often rated as “very important” for the vehicle management process. For the first time, understanding and reporting CO2 emissions is also seen as essential, rated “very important” by one-third of respondents.

3. IT in vehicle logistics: The majority of companies (83%) rely on specialized software applications for vehicle logistics. Most companies deployed them in the last decade (58%). As for technologies that will affect businesses the most over the next five years, participants selected electric vehicles and trucks (72% and 47%, respectively), artificial intelligence (55%), and vehicle-based GPS telematics (44%).

4. Benefits of IT systems: The three predominant perceptions in the companies surveyed are that IT is a necessary business tool (61%) that helps in optimizing (58%) and automating (55%) processes. Looking at the next five years, respondents consider better data analysis (95%), increased operational efficiency (94%), and support for strategic and tactical decisions (94%) to be particularly important.

5. Less than state-of-the-art technology: A full third of respondents (33%) do not consider their own IT to be future-proof. Just 11% are completely satisfied with their vehicle logistics software. The most frequent complaints concern a lack of reporting, data mining, and analytics options (41%), web portals for communicating with partners (40%), and poor usability (38%).

“As we navigate through the rapidly evolving landscape of vehicle logistics, the role of technology has never been more pivotal,” said Hartmut Haubrich, Director Vehicle Logistics Systems at INFORM. “We recognize the transformative impact of AI on our industry, and it is with great enthusiasm that we present our latest survey report reflecting on the current market trends. It emphasizes the critical need for operational efficiency improvements and the transformative potential of AI in vehicle logistics. Our results also highlight the industry’s needed shift towards more collaborative and partnership-driven approaches to address capacity challenges and foster innovation.”

INFORM remains committed to driving innovation in vehicle logistics through its cutting-edge software solutions, helping businesses increase profitability and resilience in a rapidly evolving landscape.

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INFORM Delivers Time Slot and Yard Management to Swiss Retail Giant

 

Optimize Compound, Workshop Vehicle Logistics

Posted on by David Priestman

D’Ieteren Automotive, the official distributor of Volkswagen Group brands in Belgium, has selected INFORM, a global leader in optimization software, to provide a comprehensive solution for vehicle logistics and compound management. This collaboration aims to replace D’Ieteren’s former system with INFORM’s state-of-the-art software, enhancing efficiency and transparency across all vehicle logistics processes including Workshop and PDI.

With a market share of 22.5% and over 1.2 million vehicles on the road, D’Ieteren Automotive is a significant player in the Belgian automotive industry. The company manages a robust network of independent dealers across the country and offers a wide range of services, including maintenance, financing, leasing, and used vehicle sales.

The project’s goal is to implement INFORM’s software suite, designed specifically for the complexities of the vehicle logistics sector. The system, based on Artificial Intelligence and Operations Research, will cover yard and workshop operations at the compound in Kortenberg, near Bruxelles airport. It will provide comprehensive capabilities for optimized parking, real-time work order assignment as well as automatic workshop activity scheduling and efficient execution. All processes will be highly automized and improved by using the proven INFORM algorithms. With the new system and central data management in place, D’Ieteren Automotive will be able to control all its vehicle processes more efficiently at their compound.

“D’Ieteren Automotive is committed to providing fluid and sustainable mobility solutions to our customers,” said Christian Quaedpeerds, Automotive Logistics Manager for D’Ieteren Automotive. “By partnering with INFORM, we aim to leverage their expertise in digital decision-making and AI to enhance our vehicle logistics processes and additional services, ultimately delivering better service to our customers.”

The new system will offer a range of benefits, including higher punctuality, increased efficiency, shorter delivery and processing times, higher customer satisfaction, and future-proof company structures. The solution is expected to go live in 2024.

“We are excited to embark on this journey with D’Ieteren Automotive,” said Hartmut Haubrich, Director Vehicle Logistics at INFORM. “Our solution is designed to handle the complexities of the Vehicle Logistics industry, and we are confident that it will bring significant benefits to D’Ieteren Automotive. We look forward to driving the digitalization of their logistics processes and support D’Ieteren on their journey as the mobility provider for Belgium.”

This partnership marks another milestone in INFORM’s mission to supplement classic IT systems and increase the profitability and resilience of many companies. With over 1,000 software engineers, data analysts, and consultants supporting more than 1,000 customers worldwide, INFORM continues to lead the expansion of digital decision-making through AI applications in vehicle logistics and many other sectors.

Stack Management and Crane Optimizer Goes Live

Posted on by David Priestman

Inform has announced that it has successfully deployed its Syncrotess Optimization Plus solution at Norfolk Southern’s Rossville terminal just outside of Memphis, Tennessee, enabling the terminal to have transparency of their stacked operations.

The go-live at Rossville is the first of two planned go-lives this year, the second being scheduled at their larger, Austell facility located just outside of Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Rafael Velasquez, Director of Optimization and Integration at INFORM’s Terminal & Distribution Centre Logistics Division said, “After several successful live tests and careful planning, the entire team was confident in the solution going live at Rossville. Now, we’re laser focused on the next challenge with taking the system live at Norfolk Southern’s larger operation in Austell.”

INFORM’s optimization solution takes a modular approach to adding advanced intelligence to a terminal’s existing TOS. This path allows them to isolate the terminal’s specific challenges and provide a bespoke solution for their specific operational challenges. As an add-on optimization solution, Norfolk Southern have built the required optimization on top of their existing Terminal Operating System (TOS) OPTCS.

Dr. Eva Savelsberg, Senior Vice President at INFORM’s Terminal & Distribution Centre Logistics Division commented, “Our add-on optimization approach has proven very successful in the North American maritime market and I’m very excited to see that it is now up and running in the intermodal industry as well.”

INFORM has a suite of six industry proven optimization modules designed to improve operational efficiency reducing operational costs and allowing for improved revenues. They include: Crane Optimizer (CO), Yard Optimizer (YO), Vehicle Optimizer (VO), Train Load Optimizer (TLO), Rail Scheduler (RS), and Machine Learning (ML) modules.

Norfolk Southern is using INFORM’s Yard Optimizer (YO) to intelligently manage their stacked operations. The Yard Optimizer works in conjunction with TOS to allocate storage locations for containers within the yard as well as a suitable handover location, or transfer spot, for external trucks to use to minimize travel distance for the container into and out of the stack.

INFORM is the market leader in AI and optimization software to facilitate improved decision making. Based in Aachen, Germany, the company has been in the optimization business for 50 years and serves a wide span of logistics industries including ports, maritime, and intermodal terminals with both add-on optimization modules as well as TOS solutions.

Austrian Post Selects Yard Management System

Posted on by Keith McKinley

Austrian Post has selected INFORM’s Yard Management System (YMS) for their Yard Excellence Tool Integration (YETI) project for deployment to ten sites across their parcel network in Austria, with the project having commenced in 2022.

INFORM will deliver their market-proven Syncrotess YMS to ten Austrian Post sites enabling them to digitalize and optimize their yard operations driving down costs and increasing productivity.

Markus Sekula, Austrian Post Project Manager at INFORM’s Terminal & Distribution Center Logistics Division, added, “In addition to delivering our proven YMS, we have started adding new features, following the customer’s clear, future vision of digitized yard operations to further enrich the solution for Austrian Post.” New features that have or will be added to the solution include a new mobile application for gate and driver operations, the implementation of time slot management (appointment system), and a rules engine adding another level of decision-making support within the system to only name a few.

Dr. Eva Savelberg, Senior Vice President at INFORM’s Terminal & Distribution Center Logistics Division, commented, “It is exciting to see our YMS selected by another national post and parcel operator building on the success we’ve fostered with both Swiss Post and DHL Parcel UK.” Savelsberg continued, “Many YMS solutions are generic, while ours has very specialized features for post and parcel operators, allowing them to drive strong ROI in an even shorter period of time when compared to general YMS solutions.”

In preparation for Austrian Post’s YETI project, they were looking for a new proven solution for the management of their logistics center yards. After working with a university of applied sciences that conducted a deep YMS market research study, they launched a tender with their specific requirements, including recording of movements with the yard, digital mapping of resources to drive operational transparency, a single solution for use across their operational areas, and a solution that could be adjusted to meet their unique processes.

Andreas Brenner, YETI Project Manager at Austrian Post, commented, “INFORM was ultimately selected because of the combination of their team’s rich experience and their YMS being a proven solution already in use with other national post and parcel operators.”

INFORM commenced the project in March 2022 and successfully delivered the pilot site in May 2022. In September 2022, the first new feature was delivered, completely modernizing the way gate operators engage with the system via mobile devices instead of a more traditional PC user interface.

INFORM is a market leader in AI and optimization software to facilitate improved decision-making. Based in Aachen, Germany, the company has been in the optimization business for 50 years and serves a wide span of logistics industries, including post and parcel and distribution centre operations with an AI-empowered Yard Management System (YMS) for digitalizing, optimizing, and automating yard operations.

Add-On AI Solutions and Intermodal TOS

Posted on by Keith McKinley

INFORM, a leading provider of intelligent AI and optimization software solutions, will showcase its proven optimization add-on solutions for maritime and intermodal terminal operators at the upcoming TOC Europe conference in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. In addition to its add-on optimization modules, at booth number G90, INFORM will also showcase its Intermodal Terminal Operating System (TOS) solution.

By visiting INFORM’s booth at TOC Europe 2023, terminal operators can discover how advanced optimization modules can help them improve their operational efficiency, optimize their resource utilization, and increase overall productivity. On display will be a series of artificial intelligence (AI) and operations research (OR) based optimization modules that empower terminal operations. Having been exhibiting at the show for nearly a decade, INFORM is a regular contributor through its presence on the tradeshow floor as well as typically delivering and moderating conference sessions on the TECH TOC stage. This year, it will take place from June 13-15, 2023 at the Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Alex Van Winckel Director Strategic Relations and Sales at INFORM’s Terminal & Distribution Centre Logistics Division commented, “We are thrilled to be presenting our Intermodal TOS solution at TOC Europe. Our solution has been developed with optimization built into its core and with the specific needs of European terminal operators in mind. We believe it can make a significant impact on their operations and look forward to showcasing our system and discussing how it can help driving the industry forward.”

In addition, six proven modules for maritime and intermodal terminals with will be presented: They include INFORM’s Crane Optimizer (CO), Yard Optimizer (YO), Vehicle Optimizer (VO), Train Load Optimizer (TLO), Rail Scheduler (RS), and Machine Learning (ML) modules. As add-on solutions to the existing IT and software infrastructure (including a terminal’s TOS), these modules add an intelligence layer behind the existing operational layer to support and/or automate decision-making within a terminal.

“We believe that TOC Europe will be a great event for experts from the whole industry to learn about the latest trends and technologies,” added Dr. Eva Savelsberg (pictured), Senior Vice President at INFORM’s Terminal & Distribution Center Logistics Division. “We look forward to meeting with our customers and partners at the conference, and of course to build new relationships as well.” INFORM is a market leader in AI and optimization software to facilitate improved decision making. Based in Aachen, Germany, the company has been in the optimization business for 50 years and serves a wide span of logistics industries including ports, maritime, and intermodal terminals with both add-on optimization modules as well as TOS solutions.

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