Operational optimisation & algorithms

When volume, product range and peaks become too large to steer by experience and spreadsheets, the best operational decision becomes impossible to make by hand. Smart algorithms do calculate that decision — but in the mid-market such a model often gets stuck in Excel and never reaches the floor.

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Image A stacking station in operation — the point where a calculated stacking plan becomes visible on the floor.

About CiCT

The partner behind this pillar

CiCT Innovations from Veenendaal has been building optimisation software since 2000 for the entire chain of warehouse, transport and delivery, combining heavy-duty algorithms with practical logistics knowledge. The basis is a modular software platform that connects as an add-on to existing WMS and WCS systems: from material flow and warehouse control (IFS) to mixed palletizing and cubing (IPS), box selection, transport loading, control of automated storage systems, and baggage and ULD loading at airports. CiCT also provides consulting and design — data analysis, warehouse design and simulations — and add-on equipment such as laser stacking instructions and buffer/sequencer systems. The software runs in high-volume distribution centres and in 24/7 mission-critical environments. CiCT supplies not only companies with their own warehouse, but also WMS suppliers, system integrators and machine builders — parties that know the field themselves.

Use cases

5 use cases in practice

That is where we come in. CiCT provides the mathematical computing power that makes logistics complexity manageable: more than 25 years of optimisation software, proven in high-volume distribution centres of international retailers and in a major airport operation; Supply Today brings the operational knowledge, takes the lead and gets the calculated decision working on the floor — with end-to-end ownership until it delivers. The system does the heavy calculation; your people decide on the exceptions and the direction. The same class of optimisation the big players already have, made accessible to the mid-market. Slotting, real-time (re)planning and load optimisation below are examples of this — not a goal in themselves.

Smart Slotting: from optimisation model to working operation

“We know our product placement could be better — fewer walking metres, less congestion — but every attempt gets stuck in an Excel model that never makes it into the operation.”

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For whom

Retail and e-fulfilment DCs with high order volumes and a rapidly changing product range.

Solution

The slotting engine dynamically calculates the optimal location per item — fast/slow-mover logic, walking-distance reduction, congestion management and family grouping — and runs as a standalone system that communicates with the WMS via flat files.

Outcome

Within six weeks, a working prototype running on your own data — not a simulation, but the actual product placement for one site. That lets you see what it delivers before you decide to invest. Only once it works does it become, together with CiCT, a robust system: maintained, integrated and suitable for all DCs. At a large non-food retailer, the annual potential was calculated at around €8 million across the entire network — by the client’s controller, for their own budget. A substantiated business case, not yet a realised saving.

Rolled out at an international food retailer in four Central and Eastern European countries — higher picking productivity from day one. The slotting methodology and the prototype are our own work. That prototype is deliberately simple — it calculates well and is quick to adapt, but it is not made to carry an entire network of distribution centres for years. For that step CiCT comes in: position 1 from our division of roles — we design and prove, they make it robust.

Real-time production scheduling

“Every evening we struggle to make an optimal production plan for the night and the next day — which raw materials on which lines, in which order, through to semi-finished and packed products. But as soon as reality deviates, the plan no longer holds and we replan by hand.”

Crossdock & buffer flow

“Our WMS knows what is coming in and where it needs to go, but for crossdock — where inbound has to go straight to outbound without long storage — it does not calculate the optimal sorting, consolidation and sequence. We intervene by hand and the buffer doesn’t earn its keep.”

Mixed palletizing & cubing: optimal loading

“Our pallets, roll cages and trucks are not full or not stable — loose items and many stops make loading inefficient, with extra trips and damage.”

Read how we solve this →

For whom

Retail distribution to stores, 3PLs and producers with outbound to many destinations.

Solution

Palletizing software and a box selector calculate the optimal shipping carton and stacking per pallet, roll cage and truck — taking into account stops, weight, stability and maximum utilisation. This is the physical load optimisation that follows the crossdock sorting of use case 03.

Outcome

Higher utilisation per load carrier, fewer trips and less damage. Indicatively 30–50% fewer loading errors and faster dock turnaround (a range, not a guarantee).

At a European textile retail chain, combined with slotting: mixed palletizing/cubing for roll cages to stores, with an interface to the existing WMS and WCS.

Outbound dock scheduling

“Our loading docks fill up: trucks wait, there is congestion at inbound peaks, vehicles come back late and we run short of trailers. Outbound does not connect tightly to the production and order flow.”

One point of contact: will it become an island solution? No — the backbone connects to existing WMS/WCS/ERP (proven interfaces with the common WMS, WCS and ERP packages, including SAP EWM). Too complex or too long? Sprint-based co-design, with parts that can be tested along the way instead of one big delivery. Supply Today takes the lead, CiCT provides the technical depth.

We start with your challenge, not with a pillar — usually two or three come together

Mechanisation & implementation

Image recognition & process monitoring

Supply chain transparency & data at source

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We orchestrate your operational transformation. From technology to a working operation — for over 30 years.

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