A notable development in the field of sustainable urban logistics is unfolding as Ann Arbor-based software startup Interplai has been named one of 10 semi-finalists in the Toyota Mobility Foundation’s Sustainable Cities Challenge Detroit. This challenge, which aims to innovate solutions for urban environments, consists of two stages and includes a total funding pool of $9 million aimed at enabling cities and innovators to tackle pressing sustainability issues. The initiative is undertaken in partnership with Challenge Works and the World Resources Institute, with Detroit being selected alongside Varanasi, India, and Venice, Italy, as one of the top three cities involved in the challenge.
The focus for participants in Detroit is to propose effective strategies that will not only decrease fossil fuel usage but also reduce freight operations costs, particularly in the city’s iconic and expanding Eastern Market.
Interplai's innovative software, named Interplai Direct, has received significant attention, standing out from over 70 global entries in the competition. The software harnesses the capabilities of artificial intelligence to optimise delivery routes for vehicle fleets. "We've been working hard on our software for a couple of years now, so this is really exciting for us," said Mark Crawford, the founder of Interplai, regarding the recognition from Toyota. "It's nice to have a company like Toyota seeing enough promise in us to get us to this level of the challenge."
The operational complexities that Interplai aims to address are typical of companies managing thousands of delivery orders daily. Crawford elaborated on the functionality of their software by explaining a common logistical scenario: “Say you got a bunch of things that need to be picked up someplace, and then dropped off someplace. And you also have a bunch of vehicles scattered all over the place. The challenge is figuring out: Can you group some of those orders together? And if you can, which vehicle should actually make that delivery?” This capability is particularly vital as businesses navigate the variability of orders throughout the day, compounded by the need for vehicles to go in and out of service at different intervals.
Interplai Direct employs a sophisticated algorithm that conducts millions of optimisations throughout the day, ultimately determining the most efficient delivery patterns and bundling orders for their customers. "Our software takes all this information all throughout the day and we perform millions of optimizations," stated Crawford. "Then we tell our customers, 'Okay, this order needs to be delivered by this vehicle. You can bundle these orders.'”
Another key element of Interplai's proposal is the emphasis on collaborative logistics. The software permits multiple entities—be they partners or competitors—to explore ways in which they can share resources, thereby reducing not only delivery costs but also the combined environmental footprint associated with urban logistics.
Given that Detroit is currently ranked as the 13th worst city in the United States for air quality, and with a noted increase in diesel trucks anticipated due to the expansion of Eastern Market, Crawford highlighted the urgency of this initiative, stating, "We need to minimize that. That's why Toyota Mobility Foundation was interested in us."
As a semi-finalist of the challenge, Interplai will receive a $50,000 implementation grant to further refine its initiatives for Eastern Market. Participants will also gain access to the Sustainable Cities Challenge’s Innovator Academy, which provides essential resources and expert guidance for aspiring urban solution-makers. "We see this as an opportunity to really dig in," Crawford added, reflecting positively on the validation and support from the Toyota Mobility Foundation as they continue to advance their project.
Source: Noah Wire Services