Transport company Overbeek BV ready for the future thanks to MIT innovation broker
Transport and logistics are incredibly important for our economy, but how do we ensure that the sector becomes smarter, more flexible, greener and safer? The answer is simple: by continuing to innovate. An MIT Innovation Broker helps you do just that. Transport company Overbeek BV engaged one and plans to do so more often. One of our country's most important logistics hubs can be found in the Port of Rotterdam. Thousands of people work here every day to ensure the smooth handling of shipping. Their goal? To create the safest, most efficient and sustainable port in the world. One company that has been dedicated to the transport, storage, transhipment and trade of sea containers for decades is Overbeek BV. With 50 employees and 40 trucks, the Rotterdam-based transport company now operates throughout Western Europe.
Need for digitisation
Technological developments and climate change have a great impact on organisations like Overbeek BV. To keep up with those changes, they need to constantly adjust the way they work. Innovate. From the need for digitalisation and data linking in their container transport, Kees Overbeek, managing director of Overbeek BV, therefore engaged an MIT Innovation Broker. "Within container transport, everything is focused on bundling as many containers within a trip, as this is the only way to make a healthy profit despite low margins for individual orders. We needed advice on how to link and share data that could reduce the number of transport movements. This way, we can not only work more efficiently, but also more sustainably."
MIT innovation broker
The MIT Innovation Broker, in collaboration with Overbeek BV, went to work and within a few months came up with advice that suited the company's objectives. Kees is therefore very enthusiastic about the scheme for SME entrepreneurs: "You can put forward a problem yourself that is going on within your organisation and the innovation broker will then come up with a suitable advice that is focused on practice. So you can start working on it immediately." Applying for the scheme also works very easily, according to Kees: "You quickly know whether your application has been approved, or not."
Getting started with Artificial Intelligence
With the advice, Kees and his colleagues can make huge strides in data sharing, but in the meantime, he is already thinking about hiring an innovation broker again. "We live in a unique time when technological developments follow each other at lightning speed. Moreover, as a transport sector, we have an important role to play when it comes to reducing CO2 emissions. This poses such challenges that advice and guidance is always welcome." So he already has a next innovation question in mind. "We have so much valuable information in our organisation and hundreds of e-mails are added to that every day. That is why I would like to delve into Artificial Intelligence. With this technology, we can optimise our business processes and take the entire logistics sector to the next level. The technology is there. It's up to us to make use of it too!"
A MIT innovation broker too?
Are you also an SME entrepreneur with an innovative idea? Then submit an application for an MIT Innovation Broker. The maximum grant per project is €7,500 per SME entrepreneur and the new scheme will start soon. For more information, feel free to contact Paul Huijbregts.
