AF Blakemore & Son, the company behind SPAR convenience stores, has partnered with Digital Catapult to pilot a solution aimed at reducing the environmental impact of empty trucks on UK roads. This initiative demonstrated a potential reduction in CO₂ emissions by 15-30%.
Pilot Program Overview
The pilot explored the use of a shared digital infrastructure to enable intelligent vehicle slot filling, routing, and tracking. By combining distributed ledger technology (DLT) and the Internet of Things (IoT) with an algorithm developed by project partner Fuuse, the solution optimized route planning and truck utilization. This approach matched vehicle transport capacity with shipment needs across multiple organizations.
Key Outcomes
- Cost Reduction: AF Blakemore & Son experienced a 37% decrease in overall transport costs.
- Improved Efficiency: The company achieved a 9% improvement in vehicle fill rate.
Logistics Living Lab
This project, titled the Logistics Living Lab, is part of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) backed Made Smarter Innovation | Digital Supply Chain Hub. Led by Digital Catapult, the hub has assisted over 40 startups and SMEs in securing more than £3 million in funding.
Industry Perspectives
Tim Lawrence, Director of the Digital Supply Chain Hub at Digital Catapult, emphasized the project’s impact, stating that the solutions developed through this collaboration deliver a triple benefit to the UK logistics sector by enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and making a lasting environmental difference.
Phil Roe, President at Logistics UK, highlighted the importance of digital technologies and industry collaboration in accelerating the journey to net zero, allowing UK logistics businesses to optimize operations and contribute to the growth of the UK economy.
