Skip to main content

servizio: Custom solutions

TUPLES

Written by giada.optit on .

In 2024–2025, as part of the European project TUPLES – Trustworthy AI, the European aerospace leader AIRBUS partnered with Optit to design and manage a competition on a logistics planning problem, focused on the storage and load planning of cargo for the Airbus Beluga XL. These cargo aircraft require a complex load movement, both inbound and outbound, managed through a bidirectional, multi-queue rack system. From this complexity arose the need to launch a competition to assess different approaches proposed by the scientific community across three key areas:
  • deterministic and probabilistic scenarios, to optimise load plans under fixed or uncertain conditions linked to arrivals and departures;
  • explainability, to clarify infeasibility issues and propose alternative solutions.
To address this challenge, Optit developed a Competition Platform designed to manage complex competitions and accurately replicate real-world industrial cases. The platform enables the simulation of realistic and complex industrial scenarios, ensuring repeatable, traceable and reliable assessments, both in terms of performance and solution quality. Key features of the Competition Platform include:
  • iterative evaluations using algorithms under probabilistic conditions;
  • integrated GenAI with LLM available to participants for explainability challenges;
  • isolated, reproducible executions automatically orchestrated by the Optit platform, designed to ensure robustness and reliability.
The impact was significant for both participants and organisers: a real and high-level testbed for researchers and professionals in the fields of decision-making and Trustworthy AI. Participants engaged with real industrial use cases, working alongside experts and high-profile researchers, while the organisers benefited from an adaptive and scalable platform that simplified the management and evaluation of the challenge throughout its entire lifecycle. Our work provided AIRBUS with a competition platform capable of managing challenges of varying complexity, integrating heterogeneous and innovative solution approaches, and accelerating their adoption.

Number1 Logistics Group

Written by on .

In 2021, Number1, the main Italian logistics operator for the grocery sector, chose Optit to take care of a common but decisive challenge in logistics: load dimension optimisation, or the difference between what is planned and what is actually loaded. The goals were clear: to bridge the gap between the theoretical plan and the physical load, to improve vehicle capacity, to standardise key processes and to make them more measurable and manageable.

Optit rose to the task with an advanced and customisable system for calculating dimensions, divided into three phases:

  • cartonisation (Pick & Pack): calculates how many boxes are needed to pack items as efficiently as possible;
  • palletisation: allocates boxes to an optimal number of pallets, taking into account variations in size, display requirements or out-of-gauge customisations;
  • stacking: calculates how many stacks are required, taking advantage of pallet stacking to optimise space inside the vehicles.

The system exploits synergies between orders to increase load saturation, improve service efficiency and reduce waste.

The algorithm, running in the cloud as an on-demand service, made it possible to:

  • increasing the average height of the columns: the new calculation makes it possible to reduce the overall number of columns by more than 2.5% per year, achieving a significant efficiency gain;
  • automate the scheduling of dozens of loads per day;
  • upgrade manual operations to be repeatable and scalable;
  • monitor the logistics process in order to identify and manage anomalies.

Dimar

Written by on .

Dimar S.p.A., a large retailer in Piedmont and Liguria (Italy), has over 300 stores and a €1.3 billion turnover. For a structured approach to the operational challenges of retail, it has chosen Optit as a technology partner to digitise key-point-of-sale processes.

The collaboration stems from a shared desire to embed efficiency and an integrated vision into daily processes, using tailored solutions developed incrementally. These are some of our main projects:

  • management of store loads outsourced to service companies: a web and mobile app supports the planning of loading processes in stores, improving load distribution and reducing operational errors;
  • simulation of delivery trips: using our logistics platform (OptiLogistics), Dimar can compare alternative scenarios for distribution routes, optimising times, costs and service levels;
  • real-time delivery monitoring: thanks to a dedicated module, the company can detect delays and potential issues, intervening promptly to ensure operational continuity;
  • point-of-sale unloading management: a mobile application and web interface allow supermarkets to manage incoming shipments (seals, temperature, pallet tickets) and monitor upcoming unloads;
  • anomaly and dispute management: integration into the point-of-sale mobile application during the roll-out phase allows clients to better document detected anomalies, reducing disputes as well as hidden costs.

All the solutions can be accessed through the Optit cloud, used every day by dozens of users to streamline operational activities, leverage data and generate useful insights for continuous improvement.

Contarina

Written by on .

Contarina, a leading public company in waste management in Veneto (Italy), boasting one of the highest recycling rates in Europe, has embarked on a new strategic challenge: optimising the management of on-demand environmental services.

Operations such as bulky waste collection or container replacement are difficult to plan in advance, yet essential to ensure the cleanliness of urban areas and the satisfaction of their inhabitants. 

To address these challenges, Contarina partnered with Optit to develop an advanced two-step solution, designed to transform uncertainty into efficiency:

  1. Capacity Planning
    A forecasting module calculates weekly requirements for staff and vehicles, anticipating fluctuations in demand (e.g. seasonal or based on local events). This makes it possible to allocate resources a few days in advance without compromising on flexibility.
  2. Daily Planning
    Optimisation algorithms schedule incoming orders on a daily basis: routes are generated, resources assigned, and optimal sequences allocated for each service. All key processes are integrated into a web-based software platform connected to Contarina’s systems, ensuring real-time, agile, and efficient management.

Concrete benefits:

  • enhanced responsiveness to fluctuations in demand, even in unforeseen scenarios;
  • increased operational efficiency thanks to optimisation models tailored to each service type;
  • quick balancing of costs and service levels, even in the case of emergency contexts.

This project is a real-world application of Industry 4.0 principles to the environmental services sector: the integration of predictive algorithms and operational intelligence as an effective driver for the digital transformation of public services. It is a replicable innovation model that can mitigate environmental impact while offering many benefits for citizens.

Beko Europe

Written by on .

For over five years, Beko Europe has relied on Optit to optimise the outbound logistics of large household appliances: hundreds of daily shipments, dozens of production sites, and strict constraints on timing, order management, and load saturation. The goal? To make every shipment more efficient, flexible, and traceable.

Our contribution operates on three levels:

  1. Planning shipments to local warehouses
    An SAP-integrated solution plans shipments from production sites to local logistics centres. The system maximizes truck load saturation, adapts to changes in the production schedule, and supports dynamic, up-to-date planning. The software is delivered as-a-service via Optit’s cloud platform and optimises around 150 routes daily across Europe.
  2. Planning direct shipments to end customers
    This order portfolio optimization solution is identifying orders eligible for direct shipment from the production site to the customer, managing Full Truck Load (FTL) shipments according to logistics constraints and vehicle availability. The system detects up to 20% of orders that can be shipped directly, with a positive impact on the transport cost efficiency and lead times.
  3. Planning secondary distribution and transit point flows
    The “Planning” module of our platform manages shipments either directly or via hub, validating plans against KPIs and delivery windows. The deployed solution supports real-time adjustments and optimises each shipment step.

Thanks to this modular and scalable architecture, Beko Europe has achieved:

  • a significant reduction in transport costs;
  • increased operational flexibility;
  • a simplified planning process.

Hera Comm

Written by on .

To optimise the work of operators, reduce waiting times and improve the customer experience, Heracomm, a commercial company within Gruppo Hera, relies on Optit to develop a bespoke, intelligent resource-planning solution.

The solution, delivered in SaaS mode, integrates:

  • demand forecasting models which take into account a range of factors (turnout, campaigns, channels);
  • shift optimisation and simulation tools capable of managing operational constraints and staff availability;
  • monitoring and reporting dashboards that support decision-making and consistent improvement.

The results have been significant:

  • 90% reduction in backlog within just a few months;
  • 30% reduction in waiting times;
  • customer satisfaction increased by over 10%, measured on an ongoing basis.

The project has become a successful case study, cited within scientific literature and shortlisted for the EURO Excellence in Practice Award and the Wagner Prize for Excellence in Operations Research Practice in 2012 and 2013. 

This is a real-world demonstration of how the optimisation of internal processes can become a strategic lever for the quality of community services.

Selex Commercial Group

Written by on .

Selex Commercial Group is Italy’s leading organised retail group. Made up of 18 member companies, with a network of more than 3,330 stores and revenues exceeding €21 billion, Selex Commercial Group chose Optit to support its nationwide digital transformation: strategically organising the distribution of its workforce resources across the network.

A decade-long collaboration between Optit and five affiliate partners of the Selex Commercial Group (Dimar, L’Abbondanza, Superemme, Italbrix and Unicomm) gave rise to an advanced digital system for weekly shift planning. The solution has replaced Office Automation tools and old-fashioned methods, translating experience and know-how into a user-friendly, integrated and scalable interface.

The solution covers three key areas:

  • estimation of needs based on the daily turnover forecasts per department;
  • scheduling of shifts, taking into consideration regulatory requirements, availabilities and alignment with operational requirements;
  • performance monitoring, based on reports that compare forecasts to final outcomes.

Along the way, the system has been upgraded with modules for holiday planning and team resizing, an HR interface for clocking in and out, tools for data analysis and for feeding data into data warehouses and data lakes.

Today, over 500 points of sale deploy the solution, a testament to its ability to spread expertise and transform the complexity of planning into a strategic lever for efficiency and operational continuity.

Gruppo Hera

Written by on .

Serving over 200 municipalities across five Italian regions, Gruppo Hera is a leading Italian multi-utility provider in the environmental sector. Every day it manages the collection and treatment of waste using a highly complex logistics network. To tackle this challenge, Hera chose to partner with Optit.

At the heart of this collaboration is OptiRoute, a solution for the design and optimisation of collection services. Hera’s design engineers use OptiRoute to:

  • estimate waste production by type, cross-referencing historical data and collection intervals;
  • draw up collection areas and calendars, optimising shifts and vehicle capacities;
  • build routes that comply with movement restrictions and contribute to efficiency goals.

Consistent user feedback has enriched the tool with new features, increasing its precision, adaptability and capacity to meet the Group’s operational needs. At the same time, Optit has also supported Hera in the management of data related to collection, sweeping and door-to-door pick-ups, areas where robust information is crucial for the effective digitisation of operations.

It is in this context that Optit built a customised web application integrated with the Hera Data Platform and a diverse range of other sources such as management systems, geospatial data and field sensors. 

The main features include:

  • the option to view and edit itineraries;
  • a virtual assistant to improve route design;
  • advanced routing algorithms;
  • simplified exporting compliant with management system standards.

With OptiRoute, Hera has been able to optimise operational management and gain greater control over the services it provides. The result is a marked improvement in efficiency, stronger progress towards sustainability goals, and an enhanced ability to adapt to new regulatory and territorial standards.

Con Edison Steam

Written by on .

In the heart of Manhattan, Con Edison operates one of the largest and most historic steam distribution networks in the world: 170 kilometres of pipes that supply steam for heat, hot water, air conditioning, sterilisation, and humidification to iconic buildings such as the Empire State Building, the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, the New York Stock Exchange, Macy’s, and the World Trade Center.

In today’s energy transition landscape, this infrastructure faces the challenge of balancing service continuity, operational efficiency and ambitious decarbonisation goals.

Since 2022, Optit has been a strategic partner to Con Edison on this journey. Starting with an in-depth analysis of existing digital systems, Optit developed a full Digital Twin of the steam system, based on our OptiEPTM platform. The tool enables the simulation of complex scenarios and the optimisation of steam generation, improving operational margins, and reducing emissions. In the first case study, emission reductions of several percentage points were identified without requiring infrastructure investments.

In parallel and in collaboration with a global consulting firm, Optit supported the “Steam Decarbonization Project,” simulating the integration of new technologies such as heat pumps, electric boilers, and long-duration thermal storage systems; all aimed at full decarbonisation of the Steam System by 2050.

Optit’s approach and simulation modelling combined strategic vision with technical feasibility, providing Con Edison with a concrete roadmap towards climate neutrality.

Con Edison Gas

Written by on .

Con Edison, one of the leading utility providers in the United States, selected Optit for a strategic project in collaboration with its Energy Management and Gas Engineering Departments. The goal: develop an advanced mathematical tool for forecasting gas consumption peak demands for the gas distribution system.

Optit developed, tested, implemented, and delivered the Gas Distribution Forecasting Tool (GDFT) to optimise future natural gas investments and to support both operational and regulatory decision-making in Con Edison’s natural gas service territory.

The tool integrates natural gas consumption data from over 1 million customers with multi-level hydraulic models that reflect the physical structure of the network across Manhattan, the Bronx, parts of Queens, and Westchester.

This approach enables daily and hourly load forecasts at varying levels of granularity (districts, regulators, city gates), which are crucial for proactively planning, improving supply, and strengthening regulatory compliance with New York City and New York State’s ambitious decarbonisation plans.

One of the project’s main innovations is a custom-designed web app that allows users to:

  • manage clustering, forecasting, and backcasting models;
  • visualise results through heatmaps, tables, and charts;
  • intuitively identify consumption peaks at critical points in the distribution network.

The interface is designed to deliver immediate insights and facilitate the integration of the tool into daily decision-making processes.

The project is part of a broader plan to decarbonise the region’s energy infrastructure and stands as a strong example of how data potential can be transformed into strategic action, reducing operational risks and guiding infrastructure investments with intelligence.

Hera Trading

Written by on .

Gruppo Hera has worked with Optit for over a decade to optimise the management of cogeneration and trigeneration facilities serving district heating networks. It is a large and intricate system consisting of a range of different technologies including endothermic engines, turbines, heat pumps, geothermal units, cooling units and storage systems.  The network is subject to increasingly stringent regulatory, technical and local constraints within a broader context of enhanced integration with the electrical grid.

To meet the challenge, Optit employs a tailored version of OptiEPTM that is integrated with field systems as well as weather and market data. The solution, offered as SaaS, automates the planning of optimal dispatch, improving the operating margin of each heating plant. Its features, including forecasting of heat demand, short-term optimisation for the Day-Ahead Market, and predictive simulations, are now integral parts of Gruppo Hera’s industrial operations.

Since 2021, the platform has evolved to support electricity market trading including intraday, XBID and MSD. This development has transformed the system into a leading example of sector integration in Europe, enhancing the flexibility of its heating and energy plants from both an economic and strategic perspective.

Our collaboration with Hera Trading showcases an expertly designed digital ecosystem built on data, analytical models and operational synergies. It generates measurable efficiency, breaks down complexity and opens new doors to sustainable growth.

This site is registered on wpml.org as a development site. Switch to a production site key to remove this banner.