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Shipping
Transforming transport
AI wants to turn ‘ ugly freight ’ beautiful , but bad data could mar its efforts
Just as the internet and the cloud did before , AI has reached an inflection point . While the technology ’ s usage has doubled since 2020 , business leaders ’ concerns around its cost have increased by more than 14 times this year alone . With the present AI reality marked by cost overruns and inaccuracies , corporate decision-makers are justified in their feelings of unease , particularly in the economical and meticulous logistics space .
As AI ’ s hype cycle evolves and matures , it ’ s increasingly clear that the path to successful implementation intersects three key factors : 1 ) AI adoption by carriers of oversized , largerthan-parcel items — or “ ugly freight ” in industry parlance , 2 ) high data quality for training and inferencing applications , and 3 ) customer contributions — at scale .
Boosting AI adoption
Last year , AI advancements in logistics seemed destined to transform the parcel space , led by many of the same industry players who normalized one-day delivery during the e-commerce boom . Amazon asserted that its AI tech would “ make holiday shopping seamless ,” UPS claimed the technology could combat porch pirates , and FedEx promised more accurate delivery estimates . Yet , the technology ’ s actual impact remained in question . Only one in four parcel shippers are actually using the technology today , and the industry as a whole remains sluggish in its AI adoption .
Enter “ ugly freight ,” the most compelling use case for AI in logistics , and one that thus far has seen little exploration . Although ugly freight like an antique furniture piece or a vintage motorcycle can be beautiful , moving it rarely is . It can be frustrating , expensive , and prone to damage . For these reasons , any AI advancements in this space are far more valuable than in the already-well-oiled parcel shipping sector . Non-conveyable oversized items are nearly impossible to automate , because moving them brings distinctive challenges . The weight , irregular size , and fragility of many ugly freight shipments all introduce unique variables into the shipping process . These unique attributes can also slow shipping times and introduce additional costs for services such as specialized white-glove delivery to prevent item damage and ensure a positive customer experience .
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