Dachser is extending its research partnership with Fraunhofer through the end of 2029. Participating are the Institute for Material Flow and Logistics in Dortmund and the Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems in Sankt Augustin. The teams are to develop digital solutions, artificial intelligence, and robotics for logistics.
One notable result is @ILO. This is a digital replica of processes in less-than-truckload transshipment. It is intended to help provide better visibility of shipments and processes. According to Dachser, the solution is to be implemented at 14 European locations by the end of 2026. This is the announced expansion plan.
For less-than-truckload customers, what ultimately matters is whether the technology helps in everyday operations. A shipment must be traceable, positioned at the correct dock door on time, and continue with usable status data. The research name alone says little about this.
Anyone testing similar technology in their own warehouse should start with a clear problem. For example, with search times, incorrectly positioned pallets, or missing handover data. After that, it can be measured whether the solution actually improves the process. Equally important is how deviations are handled: damaged labels, bulky goods, and manual interventions belong in every practical test. Without these cases, the demonstration remains more polished than shift operations.