Intello City

Due to the continuous rise of e-commerce and growing urbanization, demand for efficient urban logistics is higher than ever (more home deliveries, more delivery locations, more returns, shorter delivery periods, etc.). How can the Internet of Things also aid in making logistics more efficient within the city?

status: Closed | theme: Last mile | type: Regional

IoT and urban logistics

VIL is investigating how the Internet of Things (IoT) and urban logistics can be brought together: based on practical cases from urban logistics, exploring the possibilities offered by IoT and how we can ideally utilize them.

Ideal scenario

An ideal scenario: A delivery van is driving around the city. Based on the information available from a variety of sources (traffic, parking spaces, weather forecasts, supply of parcels, other vehicles, etc.), its route is constantly adapted to optimize time and load factor. The goods on board the van and the space still available are calculated continuously so that the consumer, the logistics service provider and other businesses can take this into account.

Opportunities

This project aims to demonstrate the added value of using IoT based on specific applications relating to urban logistics: optimization of delivery times (focus on the interaction between shipper, logistics service provider and store/consumer), the delivery location (focus on data exchange between the logistics service provider, store/consumer and urban infrastructure) and optimization of returns.

The result: improved efficiency for logistics service providers and shippers, greater customer satisfaction and less congestion for the city.

Results

The Internet of Things can contribute significantly to more efficient city logistics.
VIL had tested an autonomously working micro warehouse in the city using IoT technology, in collaboration with imec and the city of Antwerp.
The micro warehouse served as:
- a mini distribution center where suppliers could deliver their packages
- the starting point of an ecological last mile (bicycle couriers, electric cars,…)
- a collection point
Tests in the city center of Antwerp:
- a micro warehouse with a loading and unloading zone including parking sensors
- Use an app to lock and unlock the parking zone and the warehouse
The use of an extra warehouse means increased costs in comparison to the today’s deliveries. The warehouse should work as autonomously as possible using IoT.
Harmonisation, open systems and the use of uniform standards are necessary to integrate different smart city solutions into one platform.

Partner

The project will be executed in partnership with imec, which has already acquired experience with ‘City of Things’. The IoT infrastructure of the City of Antwerp will be used during the project.

Practical

Start: November 2016

Lead time: 24 months

Participating companies

Ten companies: bpost, City Depot, GLS Belgium Distribution, Procter & Gamble, Proximus, Samsonite, WDP and the cities of Antwerpen, Leuven and Mechelen.

Press releases (in Dutch)

Press

21/12/2018 – Value Chain Management – IoT met oog op autonomie – VIL test waarde van autonome micromagazijnen in de stad
11/12/2018 – KMO insider – Hoe vinden het Internet of Things (IoT) en stadslogistiek elkaar?
06/11/2018 – VLAIO nieuwsbrief – VIL test autonoom micromagazijn in Antwerpen
31/10/2018 – Nieuwsblad Transport – Onbemand micromagazijn voor duurzame last-mile delivery
29/10/2018 – dVO – VIL test autonoom micro-magazijn in centrum van Antwerpen
25/10/2018 – VARIO update – Kansen voor autonoom micromagazijn in stadscentrum
23/10/2018 – Value Chain – Draagt IoT bij aan slimme stadslogistiek?
19/10/2018 – VLAIO – VIL test autonoom micromagazijn in Antwerpen
19/10/2018 – Engineeringnet.be – Internet of Things belangrijk voor efficiëntere stadslogistiek
19/10/2018 – Ecommerce News België – VIL test slimme micro-hubs in de stad
19/10/2018 – Logistiek.nl – Autonoom micromagazijn in de stad is de toekomst?
19/10/2018 – Flows – Internet of Things opent mogelijkheden voor autonome micromagazijnen
27/06/2018 – Fokus – Logistieke wereld omarmt Internet of Things
26/10/2017 – Mobiel Vlaanderen – VIL stimuleert duurzame logistiek voor bedrijven
03/03/2017 – City Depot – Intello City
23/01/2017 – dVO – VIL buigt zich over slimme stadslogistiek
06/01/2017 – Gazet van Antwerpen – Antwerpen wordt eerste smart city van Vlaanderen
21/12/2016 – Smart City Connect – Intello City brings IoT to Logistics in Flanders
15/12/2016 – Value Chain – Kan IoT stadslogistiek verbeteren?
15/12/2016 – Made in Mechelen – Kan IoT stadslogistiek verbeteren?
14/12/2016 – Made in Antwerpen – Stadslogistiek verbeteren door Internet of Things
14/12/2016 – Computable – VIL wil stadslogistiek met IoT verbeteren
13/12/2016 – Flanders Investment & Trade – Intello City: Boosting city logistics with intelligent data
12/12/2016 – Emerce – Vlaams Instituut voor de Logistiek (VIL) kijkt naar Internet of Things
9/12/2016 – Flows – VIL-project maakt stadslogistiek slimmer met Internet of Things
9/12/2016 – logistiek.nl – VIL-onderzoekt kansen IoT bij stadsdistributie
8/12/2016 – Engineeringnet – Onderzoek: ”Kan Internet of Things stadslogistiek verbeteren?

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