14 Best Artificial Intelligence Logistics Startups

6 min readOct 16, 2019

This article about the best artificial intelligence logistics startups is part of the “Logistics of the Future” series looking at the top logistics startups today.

We are officially living in the age of Artificial Intelligence. It’s everywhere we look, from AI-powered personal assistants to predictive analytics to making medical diagnoses, Artificial Intelligence is making incredible advances across all industries. Finance, healthcare, education, transportation — and now, in logistics and the supply chain. In fact, a recent report on the state of Artificial Intelligence for enterprises found that supply chain and operations are some of the top areas where businesses are driving revenue from AI investment.

Why is AI making such a big difference in the logistics and supply chain, particularly? The answer most likely stems from the fact that typically, the logistics industry has lagged a bit behind when it comes to implementing new technologies — in fact, one survey reported that 85% of shippers and consignees agreed that the industry is either “slow to change” or “far behind the curve.” But those that do adopt new tech such as AI, predictive analytics, blockchain solutions, RFID tagging and Internet of Things devices are ultimately able to see high ROI and improved efficiency for their businesses.

From last-mile delivery robots, to warehouse automated picking systems and predictive optimization software, Artificial Intelligence is already making a huge difference in the logistics industry in a variety of ways that benefit everyone — carriers, shippers, suppliers, consumers — even the environment is benefitting from AI solutions in the supply chain. With dozens of incredible artificial intelligence logistics startups already out there using new tech to make real change in the industry, we’ve chosen a diverse set of 14 young companies to highlight.

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TNX Logistics

The trucking industry is yet another huge portion of logistics which, unfortunately, has lagged behind when it comes to updating its manual processes to new tech solutions. To assist logistics providers and shippers when they’re deciding how to tender transport jobs to spot-priced carriers, TNX Logistics is using practical AI technologies. Its smart software takes a list of unallocated spot loads, bundles them and produces the best tendering strategy per each load.

TNX software, with the help of AI, is able to create a tendering strategy and constructs carrier-specific offers on its own. This means deciding when and to whom to make offers, pricing, and bundling of work — creating a catalog of tendering tactics powered by optimization and machine learning. The startup says its software has a proven 7–12% sustainable reduction in trucking costs and is used by some of the top-10 3PLs and 4PLs in Europe and New Zealand. TNX benefits 4PLs, shippers, and brokers who are looking to save money while making their lives easier with AI-powered software.

Company: TNX Logistics

Founders: Alex Hoffmann, Jonah Mclntire, Joshua Bryan

Launch: 2015

Headquarters: Berlin, Germany

Learn more about TNX Logistics:

Nuro

Founded by two ex-Google engineers, Nuro was built to harness the power of robotics and Artificial Intelligence to solve new challenges on a global scale and make an impact on our everyday lives. The first challenge they’re solving? Last-mile delivery of local goods and services. The company’s battery-powered, self-driving delivery vehicles can travel up to 40 kilometers per hour with enough space to fit several bags of groceries — but not enough room for a human driver.

The startup has already raised nearly $1 billion in funding from the Japanese tech company SoftBank, a huge feat for a startup in the crowded autonomous vehicle industry. The investment has allowed them the opportunity to partner with grocery giant Kroger first in Scottsdale, Arizona and later in Houston, Texas. Nuro currently has just six of its vehicles on the roads but plans to use its new funding to manufacture more and expand their operations in the coming years.

Company: Nuro

Founders: Dave Ferguson, Jiajun Zhu

Launch: 2016

Headquarters: Mountain View, California

Learn More About Nuro:

Transmetrics

Named among the Top 5 Artificial Intelligence Logistics Startups for Supply Chain Management by Business Insider Intelligence, Transmetrics offers predictive optimization tools for the cargo transport industry. The company’s goal is to improve logistics planning by using AI, though not exactly in the sense of “Artificial Intelligence”, but rather “Augmented Intelligence”.

Transmetrics’ Augmented Intelligence approach combines inputs from human planners together with Artificial Intelligence algorithms that are doing repetitive and mundane tasks and calculations (cleaning the data, using all the available data inputs for calculations, updating models based on machine learning, providing fall-back decisions if the planner is not available, etc.). For instance, complex processes such as optimal carrier selection may take 10 minutes or longer to gather the required information, which includes sorting through numerous carriers, schedules, and routes. When that process is turned over to AI, the sorting and finding the most optimal options can be done in just seconds, leaving the human planner with a much easier final choice.

Transmetrics’ tools are applicable to a wide range of logistics companies starting from groupage businesses to container shipping lines. Using Transmetrics’ tools already helped many well-known logistics companies significantly reduce operating costs and save time from manual planning. For example, a large container shipping line NileDutch lowered the total costs for managing empty containers by a double-digit percentage. Another success story is Speedy, a member of DPDgroup, that has improved its fleet utilization, ultimately saving over 7% of the total costs, thanks to Transmetrics’ solution.