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Automatic Package Selection & Ordering for cargo logistics

Published October 6, 2023 by Mateo Stipanicic

Streamline your loading operations with APSO, an innovative quantum optimization tool.

At Quantum-South, we are proud to announce the latest release of APSO (Automatic Package Selection & Ordering). Designed for cargo companies by a cargo software company, APSO optimizes the selection of items to be packed in any freight loading environment. We envisioned a product that caters to the needs of airlines, liners, 3PLs, truckers, rail operators and cargo generalists alike.

Product description

Problem definition

APSO is the latest version from our solution to the Bin-Packing problem (BPP) and it signifies an enhanced, more robust and elaborated instance. The BPP is an optimization challenge where a set of items with varying sizes must be packed into a minimum number of containers/bins, while minimizing the unused space in those bins.

We are releasing new functionalities that make this tool a business-relevant way of solving the BPP. From truck operators in interstate roads and freight trains in distant railways, all the way to colossal container ships and cargo airplanes in the world’s busiest ports and airports, cargo operators are interested in maximizing their used capacities. However, not only do we want to carry more, but also carry better: the BPP in real-world scenarios implies considering package priorities, revenue, handling instructions, and many more.

You are a logistics provider: you have a universe of items to be loaded into a restricted combination of containers, ULDs, truck beds or, abstractly, “bins”. Our goal is to provide the best selection of items to be loaded. Now, what is “best” is defined by you, the user, as you may want to optimize revenue, weight, volume, priority, or even a mix of all depending on the scenario. There’s our product: flexible multi-objective optimization with physical, operational and commercial constraints.

Functionalities

Our Automated Package Selection and Ordering system offers a range of functionalities tailored to address shipping operations’ unique requirements. The product is offered as a SaaS (Software-as-a-Service), where you can either connect to our API, input data manually or a CSV. Just type available containers with their information, data on the items ready to be loaded, the maximum weight of the trip and your optimization objective: voilá, your flexible multi-objective optimization is ready in seconds.

Here are the key considerations you can expect:

Quantum-Inspired Algorithms

Harnessing the power of quantum
algorithms, our solution revolutionizes the
way you tackle the BPP.
Benefit from state-of-the-art optimization
methods that deliver superior results,
ensuring every package is strategically
placed within your containers.

Physical and commercial constraints

APSO ensures items loaded fit into the container mix and that maximum weigh for both each bin and the whole bin combination is not surpassed. Similar items can be grouped by billing, client or destination.

Operational considerations

We support varied container types and sizes (you can even create your very own!), as well as handling instructions management, dangerous goods manipulation and pre-built containers. Our intelligent ordering algorithm guarantees compact, stable builds with minimal overhangs and optimal container utilization.

Product use

The optimization objective is taken as an input, enabling multiple runs of the algorithm with different objectives for a single trip. We output a visual guidance on how to build up the cargo (a full load plan).

More benefits

Our target is improving your most precious KPIs: from cargo load factor, contribution margins per kilogram or cubic meter, package mix indicators, priority metrics and more. Besides optimization, APSO provides:

  • A quantum-compatible framework, with its unmatched potential of ensuring optimality in the solutions found and decreasing computational time.
  • A step forward into process digitalization and automation, given that these problems are usually solved manually/semi-automatically.
  • Restriction adherence guarantee, built-in into the core of our algorithm.
Here’s how APSO can be applied to the air cargo industry, for example.

Useful links and contact