Transmodal Logistics System for Automated Multi-Mode Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current software solutions are limited in their ability to automatically plan end-to-end shipment routes that span multiple transportation modes and providers, requiring manual intervention and lacking the capability to consolidate shipments effectively across different transportation modes.
Innovation Solution
A transmodal and logistics system that identifies and optimizes transportation routes using a combination of modules such as location validation, transportation routing, dynamic consolidation, intelligent sourcing, and simulation, allowing for automatic generation of routes across multiple providers and modes, including validation of locations, calculation of costs, and simulation of scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual building of inter-connected routes is used for multi-mode transportation, then flexibility in route planning is maintained, but productivity and operational efficiency deteriorate due to time-consuming manual processes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs end-to-end shipment route planning automatically without requiring manual intervention. The software self-services by identifying optimal transportation routes across multiple modes and providers, consolidating shipments, and deconsolidating at destination, thereby maintaining operational flexibility while dramatically improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical processes with an automated software system that uses algorithms to plan routes, consolidate shipments, and manage multi-modal transportation. This substitution eliminates time-consuming manual operations while maintaining or enhancing route planning capabilities
2Productivity
If software solutions are used for shipment routing, then productivity improves through automation, but adaptability deteriorates due to inability to handle multi-mode and multi-provider scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The software system is designed with multi-functionality to handle diverse transportation scenarios. It can plan routes across multiple transportation modes (air, ground, rail, ocean) and multiple providers simultaneously, consolidating shipments at interchange locations and deconsolidating at destination, thereby achieving both automation and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to different transportation scenarios by automatically identifying optimal routes across multiple modes and providers. It flexibly consolidates and deconsolidates shipments based on real-time conditions, maintaining high productivity while handling diverse multi-mode transportation requirements
3Loss of time
If shipments are consolidated at transportation mode interchange locations, then loss of time is reduced through efficient multi-mode transfer, but device complexity increases due to coordination requirements across multiple providers
Solution Approach 1:
The software system acts as an intermediary that coordinates between multiple transportation providers and modes. It manages the consolidation and deconsolidation processes at interchange locations, handling the complexity of multi-provider coordination while minimizing transit time between modes through automated planning
Data Source
AI summary
A transmodal and logistics method, comprising generating at least one transportation route for shipping a shipment using one or more different transportation modes and at least two transportation providers, and calculating a cost rate associated with the at least one transportation route.