BACKGROUND
The Algorithm People and if.Vehicles solution reduces the carbon footprint of last-mile deliveries through the use of mobile transient hubs.
Newcastle-based The Algorithm People, an award- winning developer of route optimisation solutions for businesses of all sizes, was first introduced to if.Vehicles in early 2020.
Also based in Newcastle, if.Vehicles has a unique transformable vehicle platform for last-mile delivery. The if.Micro can be driven on roads as a light-quadricycle, or operated on pavements as a power-assisted trolley.
The last mile is typically defined as the movement of goods from a transport hub to their final destination – and is usually done using vans. When it comes to delivering goods to homes and businesses, this means that the last mile is expensive, inefficient and carbon intensive.
Both companies could see huge potential by working together to help transform last-mile logistics, and in June 2021 they signed a joint agreement.
APPROACH
if.Vehicles is the developer of the world’s only dismountable and transformable zero emission vehicle platforms. The Algorithm People is a leader in optimisation software, which helps delivery companies to be as efficient as possible.
By bringing their technologies together, the collaboration makes switching to more efficient last-mile deliveries affordable and easy, whilst also reducing carbon emissions.
The partnership has developed a new logistics solution where vans or light trucks become mobile hubs, and meet with much smaller, electric vehicles on their routes to hand over parcels and goods for delivery. This solution is known as mobile transient hubs.
Furthermore, if.Vehicles is now a reseller of The Algorithm People’s route optimisation platform, My Transport Planner, and the two companies will collaborate on future R&D.
OUTCOME
- Last-mile deliveries are more efficient and affordable.
- The partnership has created a new logistics solution, known as mobile transient hubs.
- This solution supports the UK’s drive towards reducing carbon emissions.
“Our partnership with if.Vehicles will enable couriers, logistics operators and home delivery companies to transition to mobile transient hubs. This will significantly reduce emissions from the last mile, while ensuring it remains affordable and convenient for customers.”
Colin Ferguson, CEO
The Algorithm People
“As consumers and businesses increasingly shift to online shopping, reducing emissions from last-mile logistics is going to be even more critical to the UK meeting its climate change goals. Working with The Algorithm People we can offer the complete package for the last-mile that not only reduces emissions but increases capacity of the whole fleet – innovative, battery-powered vehicles, novel fleet integration methods and the software to optimise their use.”
Bill Clare, CEO
if.Vehicles
