On Tuesday, 35 companies gathered at Transparency18 to show off their tech-oriented products and demonstrate how this technology will move the transportation industry into the future. However, there was a catch—each company only had 7 minutes to demo their product.
The fast-paced event was filled with highlights and impressive technology, but only five were voted “Best in Show” by attendees: BOXLOCK, Learning Machine, Slync.io, TMC C.H. Robinson and TriumphPay.
BOXLOCK
BOXLOCK IoT security is for last mile delivery. Unique bar code scan and actual box lock to work at a variety of places. It works with UPS, USPS, FedEx, and Amazon. The lock automatically scans from the bar code from the package. If it’s the right package, the lock pops open and the package can be delivered. The service is also an app, which verifies the package and unlocks when you press the button.
They have one for home and one for more industrial application. In this case, the bill of lading can scan the lock and can act as a trigger point for payment and delivery.
Learning Machine
Learning Machine unveiled a self-sovereign Universal Driver ID based on the BlockCerts open standards for issuing and verifying documents and official records on the blockchain.
Natalie Smolenski from Learning Machine pointed out that 10% of all fictitious pickups in the American freight industry involve identity theft, which is only becoming more common. Those fictitious pickups average $140K in value.
“If you’re a carrier and you’re hiring a new driver, and are presented a BlockCert, verifying it is just as easy—you can do it with one click, or by scanning a QR code, or by pasting a link into our universal verifier,” said Smolenski.
Learning Machine wants to use cryptographically secured identity documents to eliminate identity fraud, double brokering, and issues with lost paperwork that introduce new costs and inefficiencies in logistics processes.
Slync.io
Slync is a blockchain-based platform designed to increase efficiencies by making blockchain simple to understand and use.
“Our passion is to bring every day applications for customers to be more productive.”
Slync allows users to also create smart contracts, which can establish the chain of custody. They also have a chat and communication channel to speak directly with the partner who may have failed in the supply chain. It helps have greater impact and will increase KPIs. Especially things of high value can currently work with Slync. All clicks and no code.
At Transparency18, Slync announced its new partnership with UPS. They also offered a critical feature of an objective partner score with everyone you’re working with on the supply chain.
TMC C.H. Robinson / Microsoft
TMC-C.H. Robinson is focused on 4PLs and global shipments. They want to accelerate commerce through the most powerful platform. In order to accomplish this, TMC C.H. Robinson collaborates with Microsoft.
“At any moment in time we want to know where every piece of inventory is. We want to be proactive rather than reactive.”
The data gets granular and is live-tracked through a 3rd party API. Also live tracking of flights, all through their Navisphere Vision platform. Whether truckload or ship or air.
TriumphPay
TriumphPay showcased a payment platform that it believes could change the industry.
“We believe [blockchain] should be used to improve on system integration on existing APIs,” said Jordan Graft, EVP of payment solutions.
Triumph’s demonstration utilized a spot load and tracked it through blockchain to end payment. Built to work on any TMS system, the blockchain collects data from the original tender, any accessorials that need to be added, and the delivery, and once approved executes the specifics of the contract, including giving the driver/fleet the ability to choose QuickPay. All that information is loaded on to the blockchain ledger in a standardized format that speeds the entire process, including payment.
“We have the ability to fundamentally change the payments industry,” Graft said. “We waste hundreds of billions of dollars doing this manually.”
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