INFORM Software Archives

AI is changing the way we use Software

Posted on 6 March, 202531 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Artificial intelligence (AI) will revolutionise our lives and economies in a similar way to the internet and will support software development. AI-based software will become increasingly important for both businesses and individuals. Our daily and professional lives will change, and so will the way we use software. Optimisation specialist INFORM identifies six key characteristics of this transformation.

“AI will fundamentally change the way we communicate, work and access information,” states Bernd Heinrichs, Senior Vice President Inventory & Supply Chain Division at INFORM. “Generative AI makes it possible to efficiently control and develop software using natural language and will become indispensable in everyday life as well as in the corporate world.”

INFORM identifies six ways in which AI is changing the way we interact with software in our daily lives and in business.

AI enables voice control of software

In the future, we will increasingly control software using natural language, revolutionising the use of everyday devices such as smartphones and laptops, as well as complex business software solutions. This is information that is available in a well-defined, organised and easily accessible format, such as databases or even Excel spreadsheets. The better machines communicate using language models.

AI agents complement user interface

Whether in a business or on a personal smartphone, AI-based systems will read, analyse and evaluate information across applications according to user specifications. User interfaces will be augmented by AI agents that automatically perform tasks across system boundaries. In the long term, this could lead to traditional applications, with which people interact primarily visually and haptically, fading into the background as AI-based systems dominate through natural interactions.

AI provides the basis for decisions

AI will combine, filter and prioritise knowledge and information from a wide range of sources, such as emails, chats or CRM systems, provided all privacy requirements are met. This enables instant access to relevant information on any topic. This form of intelligent knowledge management provides an indispensable basis for fast, data-based decisions, especially in business processes where the best possible decisions have to be made under time pressure.

AI supports software development

AI will play a crucial role in the future, not only for software users, but also for software developers. AI programming tools such as GitHub Copilot translate informal logic into formal code by making suggestions and completing code snippets. In this way, they accelerate development, leading to higher productivity and faster development cycles. Software developers will increasingly act as system architects, while AI takes over repetitive tasks such as testing and debugging.

AI increases the importance of software for companies

The growing power of AI in areas such as decision making and process optimisation is increasing the value of software in the enterprise. In business operations, AI is becoming increasingly effective at solving problems in areas such as optimisation, decision making, knowledge management and process automation. Process AI, as developed by INFORM, will play an increasingly important role in data-driven decision making. Fully automated, AI-based decisions could become the norm in some areas but will still need to be monitored by humans.

AI augments human intelligence

AI will augment human intelligence, not replace it. It will free humans from repetitive tasks and enable a personalised user experience by interpreting users’ intentions and responding to their preferences. AI will understand users’ intentions and be able to personalise both content and user guidance. We are already seeing this in social media and e-commerce platforms. In the future, this kind of personalisation will increasingly become standard in all software.

“With advances in artificial intelligence, software will play an even more important role. AI is opening the door to a new world of computer technology that will lead to an evolution of software,” says Heinrichs.

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Key IT Advances Shaping Vehicle Logistics

Optimization Software Implemented

Posted on 13 February, 202429 July, 2025 by David Priestman

Inform, the Aachen, Germany-based optimization specialist, is expanding its business relationship with AUTO1 Group, a digital automotive platform for buying and selling used cars. Following a pilot of INFORM’s vehicle Yard Management System (YMS) in 2022, AUTO1 Group and INFORM expanded the solution to a total of ten locations throughout Europe by the end of 2023. The system supports AUTO1 Group by providing end-to-end transparency and more efficient processes in the parking areas of the production centers. In addition, in 2023 AUTO1 Group and INFORM turned their focus from the optimization of parking areas to the optimization of work flows within the production centers.

AUTO1 Group offers consumers and professional car dealers across continental Europe a fast and easy way to buy and sell cars. AUTO1 Group has created a strong European production footprint with ten internal facilities to refurbish used cars for its Retail brand Autohero, the leading online shop for used cars for consumers in Europe. Internalizing the production of used cars allows Autohero to fully control each step of the process, including quality control, reconditioning, cleaning, as well as capturing photos and videos to ensure excellent car quality. AUTO1 Group currently has an internal production capacity of up to 179,900 vehicles per year at full capacity at their production centers across Europe.

Working with INFORM has been a success, according to Karol Niznik, Vice President Logistics & Production of AUTO1 Group: “The Yard Management Software has helped to improve our processes, giving us transparency of all vehicles at our sites at all times. It is therefore only logical to take the next step with INFORM. We expect similar improvements in the production centers by using the Workshop Optimization System.”

The process of refurbishing used cars is particularly challenging as a high variety of different makes and models from different build years goes through the process. Each car brings a high level of complexity to the production center in terms of resources required, spare parts, and scheduling. As a result, it is a complex task to estimate how much time will be needed to repair a specific vehicle at a given time, and adjustments to the schedule are inevitable. INFORM’s Workshop Optimization Software is designed to help with that. “With our Workshop Optimization Software, it is made clear who is working on what and at which workstation. The goal of the software is to automatically adjust the optimized schedule if any changes need to be made in the refurbishment process,” explains Hartmut Haubrich, Director of Vehicle Logistics at INFORM.

According to Haubrich, completed projects with other partners show up to 20 per cent higher productivity in the workshop. “We’re constantly working on optimizing our processes in the production centers in order to prepare vehicles in the most efficient way, which is essential for high customer satisfaction,” says David Len, Director Production Europe of AUTO1 Group.

A special feature of the INFORM system are mathematical algorithms based on operations research and artificial intelligence. They can calculate processes in real time, taking into account company-specific planning parameters, and automatically assign tasks to suitable resources.

Inform Software Opens Portugal Office

Posted on 30 March, 202331 July, 2025 by David Priestman

INFORM announces the opening of a new office in Portugal. With this step, the German-based optimization specialist not only aims to drive the expansion of its software solutions in the Portuguese market, but also to use the new location as a working hub to recruit international IT professionals.

With the new office in Lisbon, Portugal, the software company is expanding its presence on the Iberian Peninsula to meet the growing demand for software solutions to optimize business processes. The focus is on risk management and fraud prevention based on artificial intelligence (AI) and real-time recognition for financial institutions and the telecommunications industry. It also offers solutions for the aviation, logistics and workforce management industries, which are among the company’s core business areas in Portugal.

INFORM will also leverage the new office in Lisbon to recruit international IT professionals at the location. The newly recruited employees will then be integrated remotely into the international teams and project work at the company’s headquarters in Aachen, Germany. In addition, employees will have the opportunity to work at other INFORM Group locations for several weeks a year. INFORM thus continues on its path of offering its employees maximum flexibility for their work.

The announcement was made on March 23rd at the opening event in Lisbon, which was attended by Dr. Andreas Meyer, CEO of INFORM GmbH, and João Faísca, CEO of INFORM Portugal, among others. “We are excited to open our new office in Portugal”, said Faísca. “Our goal is to create a center for innovation and talent to attract people to work in Portugal and on international projects. At the same time, we want to demonstrate the company’s focus on the potential of the Portuguese market in the various sectors in which it operates.”

INFORM Software Appoints USA CEO

Posted on 12 January, 202331 July, 2025 by David Priestman

INFORM, a global software provider for AI-driven Digital Decision-Making optimizing business operations, headquartered in Aachen, Germany, announced today the promotion of Justin Newell to Chief Executive Officer (CEO), INFORM North America. He succeeds INFORM North America founder and Chairman, Adrian Weiler, who will continue in his role as ongoing advisor to the CEOs across all INFORM Group entities, as well as serving as a representative of the organization in leading industry associations and conferences. In addition to his new role as CEO of INFORM North America, Newell will retain his role as Chief Operating Officer, which he has held since January 2019, and as CEO emphasize profitable growth of INFORM’s business in North America by delivering INFORM’s Hybrid AI-based decision-making technologies.

As CEO of INFORM North America, Newell will continue to focus on business development in North America with a primary emphasis on key sectors. Additionally, he will continue his focus on developing the INFORM North American-based project delivery teams. In performing his role, Newell will continue to consult with Weiler and collaborate with the CEOs both in INFORM headquarters and across the other INFORM entities globally.

In discussing his new appointment, Newell said, “I was fortunate to have been recruited by Adrian and to directly work with him over the past four years. His mentorship, guidance and friendship have created a very rewarding atmosphere that has helped me contribute to the substantial growth of INFORM in North America. Adrian’s strategic vision and guidance will continue to be a resource as we continue to grow our revenue and overall capabilities in this very strategic market.”

Newell continued, “I am looking forward to assuming my new responsibilities as CEO of INFORM North America. Over the past few years, and despite the challenges brought on by the global pandemic, climate change and socio-economic developments, INFORM has advanced its mission and supported the increased profitability, process optimization, and crisis resilience for North American companies in diverse industries. Applying our Hybrid AI-based decision-making technologies, we also are enabling our customers to meet their sustainability goals by optimizing their operations and maximizing their vehicle, equipment, and human resources.”

Newell came to INFORM after having successfully performed in senior level roles with such leading brands as Reliable Carriers, Inc, Porsche Cars North America Inc., and Genuine Parts Company (NAPA). At that time, INFORM’s North American customer base was predominantly within the aviation industry, which it had been since 1992. Under the direction of Weiler, Newell’s role as COO was to focus on growing the Manufacturing Logistics (Automotive), Logistics (Maritime, Terminal, Intermodal and Distribution Centers) and Fraud Prevention business.

Newell added, “Over the past four years, the automotive and finished vehicle logistics area has grown immensely and is now INFORM’s second largest in revenue in North America following aviation. Our fraud prevention business is also on a trajectory for excellent growth opportunities as we have placed a large focus on strategic partnership alliances with companies such as Huron and will continue to pursue other valuable partners when doing so would complement our capabilities and target growth areas.”

As evidence of its growth, INFORM recently entered contracts with leading companies such as AMPORTS, a leader in the global automotive service industry and one of the largest auto processors in North America; Norfork Southern’s Rossville and Austell terminals; VinFast, a leading manufacturer of smart electric vehicles (EVs); and Volkswagen Group of America, as well as a strategic partnership with the Huron Consulting Group, among others.

Dr. Andreas Meyer, INFORM Group CEO noted that, “INFORM has established a strategic global footprint with an international presence that includes our headquarters in Aachen, Germany and our subsidiary in Lisbon, Portugal; our South American subsidiaries in Santiago, Chile and Sao Paulo, Brazil; and our Asia-Pacific subsidiaries in Sydney, Australia and Singapore, as well as our North American organization in Atlanta, Georgia. We have been very selective in establishing strong executives to lead our organization across our global network. As a result, we have been realizing steady growth and a loyal customer base that has experienced the high value and return on their INFORM optimization software investments many times over. Our focus will continue to be one of internationalization as we realize there are many organizations that have yet to embrace INFORM’s Hybrid AI technology including Machine Learning, Fuzzy Logic and Operations Research that clearly are needed to compete effectively in today’s marketplace.”

INFORM develops software for the optimization of business processes using Digital Decision Making based on Artificial Intelligence and Operations Research. The company supplements classic IT systems and increases the profitability and resilience of many companies. While data management software only provides information, INFORM systems can analyze large amounts of data in a matter of seconds, calculate numerous planning variants and suggest the best possible solution to the user for execution, often in real-time. Today, more than 900 software engineers, data analysts and consultants support more than 1,000 customers worldwide in manufacturing, trade, airports, ports, logistics, banks, telecommunication, and insurance companies. Planning and execution processes are optimized in many business operations, like sales planning, production scheduling, supply chain and inventory optimization, staff deployment, logistics and transport management, and financial crime fighting in banking, insurance, and telecommunication.