FourKites’ AI to Automate Yard Operations

FourKites debuted Alan, an AI-powered digital worker for scheduling, and AutoGate AI, a computer vision technology solution to eliminate manual bottlenecks and transform the way facilities manage arrivals and departures.

"While companies have invested billions in warehouse robotics and transportation systems, the yard remains a costly bottleneck where 92% of facilities still rely on clipboards and radios or legacy systems," says Priya Rajagopalan, FourKites president of product, technology and operations. "Our AI solutions eliminate this constraint by automating routine decisions 24/7, transforming yards from passive storage areas into active participants in supply chain orchestration."

Key takeaways:

·        Alan serves as a scheduling expert, handling the entire appointment lifecycle across all communication channels, including those outside of a scheduling system, like shipper emails, carrier updates, and receiver portals. 

·        AutoGate AI's computer vision technology slashes check-in times from 10+ minutes to under 2 minutes, eliminating manual gate processes.

·        Together, these solutions create a seamless flow between transportation and warehouse operations.

·        The combination allows facilities to operate around the clock without additional staffing, potentially increasing throughput by 50% through extended operational hours.

·        With the addition of digital worker, Alan and AutoGate AI, key capabilities include

Dynamic Yard: The Intelligent Control Tower's Facility Twin, a real-time digital representation of tracking all assets and movements, with automated spotter task assignment and proactive detention monitoring.

AutoBooker: Intelligent scheduling system creating a unified calendar that connects stakeholders and adjusts to network conditions, with automated conflict resolution.

AutoGate AI: Computer vision-powered gate system that validates trucks automatically, reduces check-in times from 10+ minutes to under 2 minutes, and enables 24/7 secure operations.

Alan (AI Agent): Scheduling automation expert that handles appointment booking across all communication channels, reducing scheduler workload by 50% and providing a single source of truth.